Wotan
/ˈwoʊ.tɑːn/noun
A Germanic name for the god Odin, especially in older German and scholarly contexts.
Did you know?Wotan is a Germanic reflex of the same god-name behind Odin, and the deeper root is tied to a Proto-Germanic idea of fury, inspiration, and ecstatic possession rather than simple “wisdom.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*Wōđanaz
“the inspired or furious god”
Old Norse
ON
Óðinn
“Odin, chief god associated with poetry, wisdom, and ecstatic power”
Old High German
OHG
Wuotan
“the Germanic god Wotan”
Middle High German
MHG
Wuotan
“Wotan, the pagan god-name in German tradition”
Modern German
German
Wotan
“a literary or historical name for Odin”