Ostara

Ostara is a name derived from the Germanic goddess Eostre (or Ostara in Germanic languages), who is associated with spring, dawn, and fertility. Her name is believed to be the origin of the English word 'Easter' and the German word 'Ostern'. While the goddess herself is ancient, the name 'Ostara' as a given name is quite rare and largely a modern revival, often used by those with an interest in paganism, mythology, or nature-based spirituality.

The historical evidence for the goddess Eostre comes primarily from the Venerable Bede's 8th-century work 'De temporum ratione' (The Reckoning of Time), where he mentions that the Anglo-Saxons called the month of April 'Eosturmonath' after a goddess named Eostre. While some scholars have debated the extent of her worship, her connection to spring festivals and the renewal of life is widely accepted. The name 'Ostara' itself gained some recognition in the 19th century through Jacob Grimm's 'Deutsche Mythologie', which further popularized the idea of a Germanic spring goddess.