szilárd

Szilárd is a Hungarian masculine given name and surname. In Hungarian, szilárd means “solid,” “firm,” “stable,” or “resolute,” and the word functions as both an adjective and a source for personal names. As a given name, it has a long history in Hungary and remains in occasional use today, often chosen to convey a sense of steadfastness. It also occurs as a surname among people of Hungarian descent.

Etymology and usage: The name Szilárd is taken directly from the native Hungarian adjective szilárd. In everyday speech, szilárd is used to describe something solid or reliable, as in szilárd alap (solid foundation) or szilárd vélemény (firm opinion). The practice of adopting adjectives with positive qualities as personal names is well established in Hungarian naming traditions.

Notable bearers: The most internationally prominent figure associated with the name is Leó Szilárd (1901–1964), a Hungarian-born physicist who became a naturalized American. Szilárd is renowned for conceiving the idea of a nuclear chain reaction and for his later efforts toward responsible use and control of nuclear energy, including advocacy related to the Manhattan Project.

See also: Szilárd as a surname appears among various Hungarian families, while Szilárd as a given name continues to be part of Hungarian naming culture.