Rising since 1985, #5,399 for boys today.
Popularity of Gunther since 1924
Babies named Gunther per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 56 |
| 1930s | 76 |
| 1940s | 18 |
| 1950s | 31 |
| 1960s | 92 |
| 1970s | 72 |
| 1980s | 70 |
| 1990s | 238 |
| 2000s | 155 |
| 2010s | 180 |
| 2020s | 110 |
Meaning & origin
Gunther is a distinctly masculine name rooted in ancient Germanic warrior culture. It derives from the Old High German elements for "battle" and "army," and its best-known bearer is the ill-fated Burgundian king from the medieval epic Nibelungenlied. In the United States, the name first appeared in the Social Security records in 1924, and its peak popularity occurred in 1995. In 2025 it ranked 5399, with roughly 1 in 100,475 newborn boys receiving the name. While never common, Gunther has shown a modest upward trajectory since 1985, suggesting a quiet revival among parents seeking strong, traditional Germanic names.
Gunther derives from the Old High German "gund" (battle) and "heri" (army). It was the name of the Burgundian king in the medieval epic "Nibelungenlied," and has seen scattered use in German-speaking regions and among families of German descent.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Gunn, Gunny
Variants: Günther, Guenther
Sibling names for Gunther
Names that share Gunther's style, for a brother or sister.
