Common German Names for Boys and Girls

You can't name your baby anything you want if you live in Germany. You can't pick just any name or make one up that you think sounds nice.

Rules for First Names in Germany

In Germany, there are certain restrictions when it comes to choosing a name for a child. The justification: Names should protect the well-being of the child, and some names could possibly defame him or her or evoke potential future violence against the person.

The first name:

needs to be recognizable as a name.
should not be associated with evil, like "Satan" or "Judas."
should not be insensitive to religious feelings, like "Christus" (earlier "Jesus" was forbidden).
can't be a brand name or name of a place.
has to be approved to clearly identify the sex of the child.

A child can have several first names. These are often inspired by godparents or other relatives.

As is the case almost anywhere, German children's names can be subject to tradition, trends, and the names of popular sports heroes and other cultural icons. Still, German names must be officially approved by the local office of vital statistics (Standesamt).

Common German Boy Names

Some German boys' names are identical or similar to English names for boys (Benjamin, David, Dennis, Daniel). An approximate pronunciation guide for some names is shown in brackets.

German Boys' First Names - Vornamen
Symbols used: Gr. (Greek), Lat. (Latin), OHG (Old High German), Sp. (Spanish).

Abbo, Abo Short form of names with "Adal-" (Adelbert)	Amalbert The "Amal-" prefix may refer to the Amaler/Amelungen, the name of the eastern Gothic (Ostgotisch) royal house. OHG "beraht" means "shining."	Achim Short form of "Joachim" (of Hebrew origin, "whom God exalts"); Joachim and Anne were said to be the parents of the Virgin Mary. Name day: Aug. 16
Alberich, Elberich From OHG for "ruler of natural spirits"	Amalfried See "Amal-" above. OHG "fried" means "peace."	Ambros, Ambrosius From Gr. ambr—sios (divine, immortal)
Albrun From OHG for "advised by natural spirits"	Andreas From Gr. andreios (brave, masculine)	Adolf, Adolph from Adalwolf/Adalwulf
Alex, Alexander From Gr. for "protector"	Alfred from English	Adrian (Hadrian) from Lat. (H)adrianus
Agilbert, Agilo From OHG for "shining blade/sword"	Alois, Aloisus, Aloys, Aloysus From Italian; popular in Catholic regions. Possibly originally Germanic; "very wise."	Anselm, Anshelm From OHG for "helmet of God." Name day: April 21
Adal-/Adel-: Names beginning with this prefix derive from the OHG adal, meaning noble, aristocratic (modern Ger. edel). Representative are: Adalbald (Adalbold), Adalbert (Adelbert, Albert), Adalbrand (Adelbrand), Adalbrecht (Albrecht), Adalfried, Adalger, Adelgund(e), Adalhard, Adelheid (Engl., Adelaide), Adalhelm, Adelhild(e), Adelar, Adelinde, Adalmann, Adalmar (Adelmar, Aldemar), Adalrich, Adalwin, Adalwolf.
Amadeus, Amadeo Lat. form of Ger. Gottlieb (God and love)	Axel from Swedish	Archibald from OHG Erkenbald
Armin m. from Lat. Arminius (Hermann), who defeated the Romans in Germania in 9 A.D.	Artur, Arthur from Engl. Arthur	August(in), Augusta from Lat. Augustus
Arnold: An old German name from OHG arn (eagle) and waltan (to rule) means "he who rules like an eagle." Popular during the Middle Ages, the name later fell out of favor but returned in the 1800s. Famous Arnolds include German author Arnold Zweig, Austrian composer Arnold Schönberg and Austrian-American film actor/director and California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Arnd, Arndt, Arno are derived from Arnold.
Berthold, Bertold, Bertolt from OHG Berhtwald: beraht(splendid) and waltan (rule)	Balder, Baldur m. From Baldr, Germanic god of light and fertility	Berti m. fam. form of Berthold
Balduin m. from OHG bald (bold) and wini(friend). Related to Engl. Baldwin, Fren. Badouin	Balthasar Along with Kaspar and Melchior, one the Three Wise Men (Heilige Drei Könige)	Björn m. from Norwegian, Swedish (bear)

Bodo, Boto, Botho from OHG boto (messenger)	Boris from Slavic, Russian	Bruno old German name meaning "brown (bear)"
Benno, Bernd short form of Bernhard	Burk, Burkhard from OHG burg (castle) and harti (hard)	Carl, Karl The c spelling of this form of Charles has been popular in German.
Chlodwig older form of Ludwig	Dieter, Diether diot (people) and (army); also a short form of Dietrich	Christoph, Cristof Related to Christian from Gr./Lat. The martyr Christophorus ("Christ-bearer") died in the third century.
Clemens, Klemens from the Lat. clemens (mild, merciful); related to Engl. clemency	Conrad, Konrad Connie, Conny (fam.) - Konrad is an old Germanic name meaning "bold counselor/advisor" (OHG kuoni and rat)	Dagmar from Denmark around 1900

Dagobert Celtic dago(good) + OHG beraht (gleaming) Disney's Uncle Scrooge is named "Dagobert" in German.	Dietrich from OHG diot (people) and rik (ruler)	Detlef, Detlev Low German form of Dietlieb (son of the people)
Dolf from names ending in -dolf/dolph (Adolph, Rudolph)	Eckart, Eckehard, Eckehart, Eckhart from OHG ecka (tip, sword blade) and harti (hard)	Eduard from French and English
Emil m. from French and Latin, Aemilius (eager, competitive)	Emmerich, Emerich old German name related to Heinrich (Henry)	Engelbert, Engelbrecht related to Angel/Engel (as in Anglo-Saxon) and OHG for "splendid"
Erhard, Ehrhard, Erhart from OHG era (honor) and harti (hard)	Erkenbald, Erkenbert, Erkenfried Variations of an old Germanic name that is rare today. OHG "erken" means "noble, genuine, true."	Ernest, Ernst (m.) From German "ernst" (serious, decisive)
Erwin An old Germanic name that evolved from Herwin ("friend of the army"). The female Erwine is rare today.	Erich, Erik from Nordic for "all powerful"	Ewald Old German name meaning "he who rules by law."
Fabian, Fabien, Fabius From Lat. for "of the house of Fabier"	Falco, Falko, Falk Old German name meaning "falcon." The Austrian pop star Falco used the name.	Felix From Lat. for "happy"
Ferdinand (m.) From Spanish Fernando/Hernando, but the origin is actually Germanic ("bold marksman"). The Habsburgs adopted the name in the 16th century.	Florian, Florianus (m.) From Lat. Florus, "blooming"	Frank Although the name means "of the Franks" (Germanic tribe), the name only became popular in Germany in the 19th century because of the English name.
Fred, Freddy Short form of names like Alfred or Manfred, as well as a variation of Frederic, Frederick or Friedrich	Friedrich Old Germanic name meaning "ruling in peace"	Fritz (m.), Fritzi (f.) An old nickname for Friedrich/Friederike; this was such a common name that in WWI the British and French used it as a term for any German soldier.
Gabriel Biblical name meaning "man of God"	Gandolf, Gandulf Old German name meaning "magic wolf"	Gebhard Old German name: "gift" and "hard"

Georg (m.) From Greek for "farmer" - English: George	Gerald, Gerold, Gerwald Old Germanic masc. name that is rare today. OHG "ger" = "spear" and "walt" means rule, or "rules by spear." Ital. "Giraldo"	Gerbert m. Old Germanic name meaning "glittering spear"
Gerhard/Gerhart An old Germanic name dating back to the Middle Ages meaning "hard spear."	Gerke /Gerko,Gerrit/ Gerit Low German and Frisian name used as a nickname for "Gerhard" and other names with "Ger-."	Gerolf Old German name: "spear" and "wolf"
Gerwig Old Germanic name meaning "spear fighter"	Gisbert, Giselbert Old Germanic name; the "gisel" meaning is uncertain, the "bert" part means "shining"	Godehard An old Low German variation of "Gotthard"
Gerwin Old German name: "spear" and "friend"	Golo Old Germanic name, a short form of names with "Gode-" or "Gott-"	Gorch Low German form of "Georg" Example: Gorch Fock (German writer), real name: Hans Kinau (1880-1916)
Godehard m. An old Low German variation of "Gotthard"	Gorch Low German form of "Georg" Example: Gorch Fock (German writer); real name was Hans Kinau (1880-1916)	Gottbert Old German name: "God" and "shining"
Gottfried Old German name: "God" and "peace"; related to Engl. "Godfrey" and "Geoffrey"	Gotthard, Gotthold, Gottlieb, Gottschalk, Gottwald, Gottwin. Old German male names with "God" and adjective.	Götz Old German name, short for "Gott" names, especially "Gottfried." Examples: Goethe's Götz von Berlichingen and the German actor Götz George.

Gott-names - In the era of Pietism (17th/18th century) it was popular to create German male names with Gott (God) plus a pious adjective. Gotthard ("God" and "hard"), Gotthold (God and "fair/sweet"), Gottlieb (God and "love"), Gottschalk ("God's servant"), Gottwald (God and "rule"), Gottwin (God and "friend").

Hansdieter Combination of Hans and Dieter	Harold Low German name derived from OHG Herwald: "army" (heri) and "rule" (waltan). Variations of Harold are found in many other languages: Araldo, Geraldo, Harald, Hérault, etc.	Hartmann Old German name ("hard" and "man") popular in the Middle Ages. Rarely used today; more common as a surname.
Hartmut m. Old German name ("hard" and "sense, mind")	Heiko Friesian nickname for Heinrich ("strong ruler" - "Henry" in English). More under Heinrich below.	Hasso Old German name derived from "Hesse" (Hessian). Once used only by nobility, the name is today a popular German name for dogs.
Hein North/Low German nickname for Heinrich. The old German phrase "Freund Hein" means death.	Harald Borrowed (since early 1900s) Nordic form of Harold	Hauke Friesian nickname for Hugo and names with the Hug- prefix.

Walbert Variation of Waldebert(below)	Walram Old German masc. name: "battleground" + "raven"	Weikhard Variation of Wichard
Walburg, Walburga, Walpurga, Walpurgis An old German name meaning "ruling castle/fortress." It is a rare name today but goes back to St. Walpurga in the eighth century, an Anglo-Saxon missionary and abbess in Germany.	Walter, Walther Old Germanic name meaning "army commander." In use from the Middle Ages on, the name became popular through the "Walter saga" (Waltharilied) and the famous German poet Walther von der Vogelweide. Famous Germans with the name: Walter Gropius (architect), Walter Neusel (boxer), and Walter Hettich (movie actor).	Welf Old German name meaning "young dog;" a nickname used by the royal house of the Welfs (Welfen). Related to Welfhard, Old German name meaning "strong pup;" not used today
Waldebert Old German name meaning roughly "shining ruler." Female form: Waldeberta.	Wendelbert Old German name: "Vandal" and "shining" Wendelburg Old German name: "Vandal" and "castle." Short form: Wendel	Waldemar, Woldemar An old Germanic name: "rule" and "great." Several Danish kings bore the name: Waldemar I and IV. Waldemar Bonsels (1880-1952) was a German writer (Biene Maja).
Wendelin Short or familiar form of names with Wendel-; once a popular German name because of St. Wendelin (seventh cent.), patron of herders.	Waldo Short form of Waldemar and other Wald- names	Wendelmar Old German name: "Vandal" and "famous"
Wastl Nickname for Sebastian (in Bavaria, Austria)	Wenzel German nickname derived from the Slavic Wenzeslaus (Václav/Venceslav)	Walfried Old German name: "rule" and "peace"
Werner, Wernher Old German name that evolved from the OHG names Warinheri or Werinher. The first element of the name (weri) may refer to a Germanic tribe; the second part (heri) means "army." Wern(h)er has been a popular name since the Middle Ages.	Wedekind Variation of Widukind	Wernfried Old German name: "Vandal" and "peace"

Common German Girl Names

Naming things (Namensgebung), as well as people, is a popular German pastime. While the rest of the world may name hurricanes or typhoons, the German Weather Service (Deutscher Wetterdienst) has gone so far as to name ordinary high (hoch) and low (tief) pressure zones. (This prompted a debate about whether masculine or feminine names should be applied to a high or a low. Since 2000, they have alternated in even and odd years.)

Boys and girls in the German-speaking world born at the end of the 1990s bear first names that are very different from earlier generations or children born even a decade earlier. Popular German names of the past (Hans, Jürgen, Edeltraut, Ursula) have given way to more "international" names today (Tim, Lukas, Sara, Emily).

Here are some common traditional and contemporary German girl names and their meanings.

German Girls' First Names - Vornamen

Amalfrieda OHG "fried" means "peace."	Ada, Adda Short for names with "Adel-" (Adelheid, Adelgunde)	Alberta from Adalbert
Amalie, Amalia Short for names with "Amal-"	Adalberta Names beginning with Adal (adel) derive from the OHG adal, meaning noble, aristocratic (modern Ger. edel)	Albrun, Albruna From OHG for "advised by natural spirits"
Andrea From Gr. andreios (brave, masculine)	Alexandra, Alessandra From Gr. for "protector"	Angela, Angelika from Gr./Lat. for angel
Adolfa, Adolfine from masculine Adolf	Anita from Sp. for Anna/Johanna	Adriane from Lat. (H)adrianus
Anna/Anne/Antje: This popular name has two sources: Germanic and Hebraic. The latter (meaning "grace") predominated and is also found in many Germanic and borrowed variations: Anja (Russian), Anka (Polish), Anke/Antje (Niederdeutsch), Ännchen/Annerl (diminutive), Annette. It has also been popular in compound names: Annaheide, Annekathrin, Annelene, Annelies(e), Annelore, Annemarie and Annerose.
Agathe, Agatha from Gr. agathos (good)	Antonia, Antoinette Antonius was a Roman family name. Today Anthony is a popular name in many languages. Antoinette, made famous by the Austrian Marie Antoinette, is the French diminutive form of Antoine/Antonia.	Asta from Anastasia/Astrid Made famous by Asta Nielsen.
Beate, Beate, Beatrix, Beatrice from Lat. beatus, happy. Popular German name in the 1960s and '70s.	Brigitte, Brigitta, Birgitta Celtic name: "sublime one"	Charlotte Related to Charles/Karl. Made popular by Queen Sophie Charlotte, for whom Berlin's Charlottenburg Palace is named.
Barbara: From the Greek (barbaros) and Latin (barbarus, -a, -um) words for foreign (later: rough, barbaric). The name was first made popular in Europe through the veneration of Barbara of Nicomedia, a legendary holy figure (see below) said to have been martyred in 306. Her legend, however, did not emerge until at least the seventh century. Her name became popular in German (Barbara, Bärbel).
Christiane f. from Gr./Lat.	Dora, Dorothea, Dore, Dorel, Dorle from Dorothea or Theodora, Gr. for God's gift"	Elke from Frisian nickname for Adelheid
Elisabeth, Elsbeth, Else Biblical name meaning "God is perfection" in Hebrew	Emma old German name; short for names with Erm- or Irm-	Edda f. short form of names with Ed-

Erna, Erne Female form of Ernst, from German "ernst" (serious, decisive)	Eva Biblical Hebrew name meaning "life." (Adam und Eva)	Frieda, Frida, Friedel Short form of names with Fried- or -frieda in them (Elfriede, Friedericke, Friedrich)
Fausta From Lat. for "favorable, joyful" - a rare name today.	Fabia, Fabiola, Fabius From Lat. for "of the house of Fabier"	Felicitas, Felizitas From Lat. for "happiness" - English: Felicity
Frauke Low German/Frisian diminutive form of Frau ("little woman")	Gabi, Gaby Short form of Gabriele (a fem. form of Gabriel)	Gabriele Biblical masc. name meaning "man of God"
Fieke Low German short form of Sophie	Geli Short form of Angelika	Geralde, Geraldine Fem. form of "Gerald"
Gerda A borrowing of an old Nordic/Icelandic feminine name (meaning "protector") made popular in Germany in part by Hans Christian Andersen's name for the "Snow Queen." Also used as a short form of "Gertrude."	Gerlinde, Gerlind, Gerlindis f. Old Germanic name meaning "spear shield" (of wood).	Gert/Gerta Short form for masc. or fem. "Ger-" names
Gertraud, Gertraude, Gertraut, Gertrud/Gertrude Old Germanic name meaning "strong spear."	Gerwine Old German name: "spear" and "friend"	Gesa Low German/Frisian form of "Gertrud"
Gisa A short form of "Gisela" and other "Gis-" names	Gisbert m., Gisberta f. Old Germanic name related to "Giselbert"	Gisela Old German name whose meaning is uncertain. Charlemagne's (Karl der Große) sister was named "Gisela."
Giselbert m., Giselberta Old Germanic name; the "gisel" meaning is uncertain, the "bert" part means "shining"	Gitta/Gitte Short form of "Brigitte/Brigitta"	Hedwig Old German name derived from OHG Hadwig ("war" and "battle"). The name gained popularity in the Middle Ages in honor of St. Hedwig, the patron saint of Silesia (Schlesien).
Heike Short form of Heinrike (fem. form of Heinrich). Heike was a popular German girl's name in the 1950s and '60s. This Friesian name is similar to Elke, Frauke and Silke - also fashionable names at the time.	Hedda, Hede Borrowed (1800s) Nordic name, a nickname for Hedwig. Famous German: Author, poet Hedda Zinner (1905-1994).	Walthild(e), Waldhild(e) Old German name: "rule" and "fight"

Waldegund(e)
Old German name: "rule" and "battle"

Waltrada, Waltrade
Old German name: "rule" and "advice;" not used today.

Waltraud, Waltraut, Waltrud
Old German name meaning roughly "strong ruler." Very popular girl's name in German-speaking countries until the 1970s or so; now rarely used.

Wendelgard
Old German name: "Vandal" and "Gerda" (possibly)

Waltrun(e)
Old German name meaning "secret advice"

Wanda
Name borrowed from Polish. Also a figure in Gerhart Hauptmann's novel Wanda.

Waldtraut, Waltraud, Waltraut, Waltrud

Old German name meaning roughly "strong ruler." Popular girl's name in German-speaking countries until the 1970s or so; now rarely used.

Walfried
Old German masc. name: "rule" and "peace"

Weda, Wedis
Frisian (N. Ger.) name; meaning unknown

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Flippo, Hyde. "A List of Common German Names for Boys and Girls." ThoughtCo, Jul. 31, 2021, thoughtco.com/traditional-and-contemporary-german-names-4066183. Flippo, Hyde. (2021, July 31). A List of Common German Names for Boys and Girls. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/traditional-and-contemporary-german-names-4066183 Flippo, Hyde. "A List of Common German Names for Boys and Girls." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/traditional-and-contemporary-german-names-4066183 (accessed May 30, 2023).