Bru is the Catalan form of Bruno. It shares the same etymology, with Bruno derived from the Old German element brunna meaning "armour, protection" (from Proto-Germanic *brunjǭ) or from brun meaning "brown" (from Proto-Germanic *brūnaz). The name has a strong cultural and religious significance through Saint Bruno of Cologne, an 11th-century German monk who founded the Carthusian Order. The name Bruno also has historical importance through Giordano Bruno, an Italian philosopher who was executed by the Inquisition for his ideas. In modern times, the name is famously borne by American singer Bruno Mars (born Peter Gene Hernandez). The Catalan form, Bru, follows typical Catalan phonetic reductions and is a masculine name used primarily in Catalan-speaking regions such as Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands. Variants The name Bru has several related forms in other languages: Italian Brunello (a diminutive), Spanish Bruno (direct cognate), Italian Nello (often a short form), Polish Brunon, and Limburgish Broen. Additionally, "Bru" appears as a noun in an unrelated context: a member of the Bru ethnic group of Southeast Asia, whose language belongs to the Katuic branch of Austroasiatic. Meaning: Armour, protection or brown (from Bruno) Origin: Old German, via Bruno Type: First name (used as a given name and surname) Usage regions: Catalan-speaking areas