pirmin

Pirmin is a masculine given name of Germanic origin, used in German-speaking Europe, especially in Switzerland and parts of southern Germany. The name is historically associated with Saint Pirmin (also known as Pirminius), an early medieval Benedictine monk and missionary who helped organize the church in the Alemannic regions and founded Reichenau Abbey on Lake Constance; he is venerated as a saint in some Christian traditions.

The exact etymology of Pirmin is uncertain. It appears in medieval texts as a Latinized form (Pirminus or Pirminius) of a Germanic name, and it was commonly used in religious and secular contexts in the medieval and early modern periods.

In modern usage, Pirmin remains relatively rare outside German-speaking areas but is still given in Switzerland and southern Germany. Variants include the Latinized Pirminius, and the name has occasional use in historical or religious writing.

Notable people named Pirmin include Pirmin Zurbriggen, a Swiss alpine ski racer who achieved prominence in the 1980s and 1990s, and Pirmin Schwegler, a Swiss footballer active in the 2000s and 2010s. The name also appears in hagiographic and ecclesiastical contexts due to its association with Saint Pirmin, whose legacy includes the early Christianization efforts and the foundation of monastic centers in southwestern German-speaking lands.