Kurt

Kurt is a masculine given name of Germanic origin, commonly used as a short form of Konrad or Curt. The name Konrad derives from elements meaning bold or brave and advice or counsel, typically interpreted as "bold counselor" or "brave adviser." Kurt has been used independently since the early 20th century in German-speaking regions and elsewhere, and it has spread to many languages through immigration and popular culture.

In Germanic and Northern European contexts, Kurt remained popular into the late 20th century, though usage has varied by country and generation. In Turkish, Kurt means "wolf" and is unrelated to the given name; this has sometimes caused cross-linguistic interest or confusion when the word appears in texts.

Notable people named Kurt include musicians Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) and Kurt Weill (composer), and author Kurt Vonnegut. The name is also associated with scientists and mathematicians such as Kurt Gödel; actors Kurt Russell and Kurtwood Smith; and athletes Kurt Warner (American football), Kurt Busch (NASCAR), and Kurt Angle (wrestling).

In fictional contexts, Kurt appears as a given name for various characters and is notably used for Kurt Wagner, the mutant Nightcrawler in Marvel Comics, who embodies the name’s compact, punchy sound.