Meaning and history
Odovacar is a form of Odoacer, the Germanic name borne by the military leader who deposed the last western Roman emperor in 476 and ruled Italy as king. The name’s Germanic elements and exact meaning are disputed, with proposed connections to wealth, vigilance, or spears. Because no interpretation is secure, its historical association is more important than a speculative translation. Modern use is rare, and the spelling Odoacer is more familiar in English-language history.