Ruprecht

Ruprecht is a male given name of German origin. It is a variant of Rupert, itself derived from the Old High German Hrōdberht, composed of hrōd meaning fame or glory and berht meaning bright. The name has historical usage in German-speaking regions and in parts of Central Europe; today Ruprecht is uncommon as a given name, but it persists in folklore and literature as a traditional form.

In folklore, Knecht Ruprecht is a well-known Christmas figure in parts of Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. He accompanies Saint Nicholas on the eve of Saint Nicholas Day (December 5–6) and is typically depicted as a dark-clad man who checks children's behavior and administers punishment to the naughty, sometimes with a switch or a bag of ashes. Regional variations describe him as stern but fair, while some modern retellings emphasize a more symbolic or benign role.

In culture and media, Ruprecht appears as a character name in works drawn from German traditions, and the spelling variants Ruprecht, Rupert, and Ruppert are linked. The name remains a historical reference in discussions of Christmas folklore and Germanic onomastics.