lothar

Lothar is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. It derives from the elements hlod, meaning fame, and hari or heri, meaning army, and is commonly interpreted as “famous warrior” or “renowned army.” The name has appeared in Germanic royal and noble lineages since the early Middle Ages and remains in use in German-speaking countries. Variants include Lothar, Lotharius, and the English form Lothair.

Medieval rulers named Lothar include Lothar I (c. 795–855), Holy Roman Emperor and king of East Francia; Lothar II (c. 835–869), Duke of Lotharingia; and Lothar III (c. 1075–1137), Holy Roman Emperor from the House of Supplinburg. The name spread through central Europe during the medieval period and later recurred among nobility and clergy.

In modern times, Lothar is borne by several notable individuals. Lothar Matthäus, born in 1961, is a German former footballer who captained the national team to the 1990 FIFA World Cup title. Lothar Späth (1937–2016) served as the Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg. Lothar de Maizière (born 1940) was East Germany's last democratically elected prime minister. Lothar Wieler is a German veterinarian and public-health administrator who has led the Robert Koch Institute.

The name Lothar also appears in fiction and popular culture as a character name in German-language media and fantasy works; it remains most common in German-speaking regions today as both a given name and surname.