Elmar is a modern German masculine given name, typically considered a form of Adelmar or Egilmar. These older Germanic names derive from elements meaning 'noble' (from adal) or 'edge of a sword' (from egi) combined with mari 'famous'. Thus, Elmar inherits meanings such as 'noble and famous' or 'famous sword-edge'. In the English context, Elmar is cognate with the Old English name Æðelmær, composed of the elements æðele 'noble' and mære 'famous'. A notable bearer was Æðelmær of Malmesbury, an 11th-century English monk who attempted to fly with a gliding apparatus, breaking his legs in the process. Notable Bearers Elmar is widely used in German-speaking countries and has been borne by many notable individuals. These include Elmar Brok (born 1946), a German politician and long-time Member of the European Parliament; Elmar Altvater (1938–2018), a prominent German political scientist; and Elmar Huseynov (1967–2005), an Azerbaijani journalist murdered for his reporting. In sports, Elmar Borrmann (born 1957) is a German fencer who won Olympic gold, and Elmar Gasimov (born 1988) is an Azerbaijani judoka. The name also appears in the arts, with Elmar Gasanov (born 1983) being a Ukrainian pianist and Elmar Brandt (born 1971) a German comedian. Distribution and Variants While most common in Germany, Elmar also has a presence in Nordic and Baltic countries. Latvian uses the form Elmārs (with a macron). Related Germanic variants include Adelmar, Agimar, and Ēģilmar (older forms), as well as Frisian Amse. The name's modern popularity is moderate, but it remains in steady use. Meaning: 'noble and famous' or 'famous sword-edge' Origin: Germanic, from Adelmar or Egilmar Type: Given name Usage: Mainly German, also Latvian (Elmārs)