Balthazar is a Greek name for a boy that means "Baal defends the King." This fascinating name, sometimes written Balthasar, of one of the Three Wise Men of the Orient, may be ready for prime time. First recorded in England around A.D. 800, it became popular after appearing in John Bunyan's 1670 classic The Pilgrim's Progress. Today, Balthazar is used as an English name alone and in pairs. It also appears in German, Italian, and Spanish names. Balthazar is made up of two elements: Baal and hartazan. The first part, Baal, comes from the Hebrew word for God. The second part, hartazan, refers to a small black cat. Together, these elements make up some of the most common Jewish names of all time - Benjamin (son of Jacob), David, Moses, and Hannah (mother of prophets Samuel and Isaiah). Balthazar has several variations including Balzhar, Balzhaz, Balthazar, and Baltshar.