Lazarus

The first name Lazarus, of male gender, is a Latinized variant of the Greek name Lazaros (Λάζαρος), which itself is a Hellenized form of the name Eleazar. The name can be literally translated as 'God helps' or 'God has helped'.

What does the name Lazarus mean?

Lazarus is a masculine first name that traces back to the Latinized form of the Greek Lazaros (Λάζαρος), which is a Hellenized derivation of Eleazar. The literal meaning is 'God helps' or 'God has helped'. The name has its roots in the biblically Hebrew El'azar (אֶלְעָזָר), which is composed of the ancient Hebrew components 'el (אֶלְ), meaning 'God', and 'azar (עָזָר), meaning 'to help', 'to assist', or 'to support'. In the Old Testament, Eleazar is the son of Aaron, who restored and consecrated the walls of Jerusalem during the time of Ezra. In the New Testament, Lazarus is mentioned as the brother of Mary and Martha, who was raised from the dead by Jesus. Variants include Eleasar, Lazar, Lazare, Lazaro, Lazzaro, and Lasar. Additionally, Lazarus is also known as a surname. A prominent example is Lazarus, the first bishop of Marseille.

Where does the name Lazarus come from?

The first name Lazarus has its etymological roots in ancient Hebrew and means 'God helps'. The composition in ancient Hebrew is 'el (אֶלְ) for 'God' and 'azar (עָזָר) for 'to help', 'to assist', or 'to support'. The languages in which this name appears include Biblical, German, Latin, and it is widespread in its Latinized form.

How do you pronounce Lazarus?

The pronunciation of Lazarus is three syllables and is pronounced as 'La-za-rus' [ˈlaːtsaʁʊs]. The long 'A' sound at the beginning gives the name a certain expansiveness and warmth, while the voiced -z- creates a lively center. The final -us brings a biblically classical dignity to the sound. Lazarus sounds meaningful and sonorous – traditional, serious, and with spiritual depth.

When is the name day of Lazarus?

The name day for Lazarus is celebrated on April 19, July 29, and December 17.

Popularity

In Germany, Lazarus is a rather rare first name. In 2020, it ranked 4,047th on the list of the most common male first names. Its best placement was in 2011, reaching 2,275th. Over the last ten years, Lazarus has been given as a first name about 20 times, placing it 5,888th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 6,053rd.

Nicknames & pet names

Laz / Lazy / Zarus

Famous people

• Bernard Lazarus Nyoni Mkhabela (Bishop)
• Lazarus Adler (1810–1886), Rabbi and writer
• Lazarus Bendavid (German mathematician)
• Lazarus Fletcher (British geologist)
• Lazarus Fuchs (German mathematician)
• Lazarus Geiger (German philosopher)
• Lazarus Kaimbi (Namibian footballer)
• Lazarus Leonard Aaronson (poet from Great Britain)
• Lazarus Muhone (Zimbabwean football player)
• Lazarus Muhoni (football player from Zimbabwe)
• Lazarus Röting (German painter)
• Lazarus Spengler (1479-1534) councilor and supporter of the Reformation in Nuremberg
• Travis Lazarus McCoy (American singer)