Gender Feminine
Usage German (Rare), Literature
Meaning & History
Originally a variant of Irmgard, Ehrengard is reinterpreted as a combination of the German word Ehre "honour" and the name element gard "guard". The name is relatively rare and has historical usage in German-speaking regions.Notably, "Ehrengard" is the title of a novella by Danish author Karen Blixen, published posthumously in 1963. The story is set in the early 19th century in the Grand Duchy of Babenhausen and revolves around the court painter, Herr Cazotte, and his attempts to seduce Ehrengard, a maid of honour to Princess Ludmilla. This novella has inspired adaptations, including the 2023 Danish film "Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction," directed by Bille August and released on Netflix. The film features Alice Bier Zandén as Ehrengard and Mikkel Følsgaard as Mr. Cazotte.