Ruprecht

Ruprecht is the German form of Robert, ultimately derived from the Old High German elements hrod, meaning fame or glory, and beraht, meaning bright or shining. The name was borne by Ruprecht von der Pfalz, also known as Rupert of the Rhine, a prominent 17th-century military commander and nephew of the English King Charles I. In German folklore, Ruprecht is familiar as Knecht Ruprecht, a companion figure to Saint Nicholas who accompanies him on his Christmas rounds. Closely related forms include Rupert, Rupprecht, and the wider family of Robert variants found across European languages.