German names
141 names from the German naming tradition, each with its meaning, origin, pronunciation and how it is seen around the world.
- Achim (German)BoyShort form of Joachim, ultimately from the Hebrew Yehoyakim: "Yahweh raises up".
- Ada (German)GirlA short form of Germanic names built on the element adal, "noble".
- AdalberhtBoyFrom Old German adal "noble" and beraht "bright, illustrious".
- AdalbernBoyFrom Old German adal "noble" and bern "bear".
- AdalbertBoyFrom Old German adal "noble" and beraht "bright, illustrious".
- AdalfarusBoyFrom Old German adal "noble" and fara "journey, expedition".
- AdalfunsBoyFrom Old German adal "noble" and funs meaning "ready" or "willing".
- AdalgundGirlFrom Old German adal "noble" and gunda "battle".
- AdalhaidGirlFrom Old German adal "noble" and heid "brightness, clarity".
- AdalhardBoyFrom Old German adal "noble" and hart "hard, firm, brave".
- AdalheidisGirlFrom Old German adal "noble" and heid "brightness, clarity".
- AdalinBoyFrom Old German adal "noble" with a diminutive or masculine suffix -in.
- Adi (German)BoyA shortened form of Adolf or names beginning with similar sounds, used as an independent given name.
- AirmanagildBoyBuilt from Gothic elements reconstructed as airmans, "great, mighty", and gild, "payment, tribute", read together as…
- AirmanareiksBoyBuilt from Gothic elements reconstructed as airmans, "great, mighty", and reiks, "ruler", giving something like "great…
- AiwareiksBoyBuilt from the Gothic words aiws, "age, eternity", and reiks, "ruler", read together as "eternal ruler".
- AlaricBoyFrom Gothic elements reconstructed as alls, "all", and reiks, "ruler", read together as "ruler of all".
- AlbertineGirlFrench feminine form of Albert, from Germanic elements: "æthal" (noble) + "beraht" (bright).
- AldricBoyFrom Germanic elements: "alt" (old) + "rih" (ruler, king). Literally "old ruler".
- AlodiaGirlPossibly from Gothic alls, "all", or aljis, "other", combined with a word for wealth; the exact roots are debated.
- AlphonsusBoyFrom the Gothic roots aþal, "noble", and funs, "eager, ready".
- AlvarusBoyA Latinized medieval spelling of a Visigothic name, generally linked to words for "all" and "cautious, aware".
- AmalabergaGirlFrom the Gothic name element amal, tied to the royal Amali dynasty and meaning "vigorous, brave", combined with bairgo…
- AmalareiksBoyFrom the Gothic amal, tied to the Amali royal line and meaning "vigorous, brave", and reiks, "ruler".
- AmalaswinþaGirlFrom the Gothic amal, tied to the Amali dynasty and meaning "vigorous, brave", and swinþs, "strong".
- AmaliaGirlA shortened form of Germanic names built with the element amal, meaning "unceasing", "vigorous" or "brave". Some…
- AmalricBoyFrom the Gothic amal, the name of the Amali ruling dynasty and a word for "vigorous, brave", and reiks, "ruler, king".
- AthanagildBoyFrom Gothic elements meaning "year" and "payment, tribute".
- AthanaricBoyFrom reconstructed Gothic elements: aþn, "year", and reiks, "ruler, king".
- AthaulfBoyFrom Gothic elements meaning either "nobility" or "father", joined with wulfs, "wolf".
- AudawakrsBoyFrom Gothic elements meaning "wealth, fortune" and "watchful, vigilant".
- Ava (German)GirlDerived from the Germanic element awi, whose original significance remains obscure.
- AþalafunsBoyFrom Gothic elements meaning "noble" and "ready, willing".
- AþawulfsBoyA modern reconstruction of a Gothic name read as "noble wolf", built from elements matching Old High German adal…
- BeatBoyFrom Latin Beatus: "blessed".
- BerlinUnisexTaken from the German capital city, whose etymological origin is uncertain.
- BrunhildGirlCombines two Old High German roots, brunna, meaning armour or protection, and hilt, meaning battle.
- EdselBoyA variant form of Etzel, derived from Germanic roots meaning "noble" or "well-born".
- EuricBoyFrom a reconstructed Gothic compound read as "eternal ruler", joining aiws, "eternity, age", with reiks, "ruler, king".
- FredenandusBoyA Latin-styled medieval spelling of the Gothic name behind Ferdinand, from roots meaning "peace" and "daring".
- FriþunanþsBoyA modern reconstruction of the Gothic name behind Ferdinand, read as "bold for peace" from friþu, "peace", and nanþs…
- GailaweraGirlA hypothetical Gothic name proposed as the root of Elvira, perhaps joining gails, "joyful", with an element close to…
- GalswinthaGirlFrom Gothic roots usually split as swinþs, "strong", and an element read either as "spear" or as "joyful".
- GeloyraGirlMeaning uncertain: an early Latin spelling of a Visigothic name that developed into the modern Elvira.
- GomesendusBoyFrom the Gothic guma "man" and sinþs "way, journey", the historical source of the name Gumersindo.
- GumaBoyThe Gothic word for "man", reused as a personal name and as the root of compound names such as Gomesendus.
- HagenBoyFrom an Old High German word for a hedged or fenced-in piece of ground.
- HänselBoyA pet form of Hans, "little Hans," ultimately from Johannes, "Yahweh is gracious."
- HansruediBoyCompound of Hans and Ruedi: "God is gracious" and "famous power".
- HaþufunsBoyFrom the Gothic haþus, "battle", and funs, "ready, eager": together, roughly "ready for battle".
- HelmaGirlA contracted form of Wilhelmina, meaning "resolute protector" or "desired helmet".
- HelmfriedBoyA compound name from Old German words meaning "helmet" and "peace".
- HelmineGirlA feminine form derived from Wilhelmine, rooted in Germanic elements for "will" and "helmet" or "protection".
- HelmutBoyA German name composed of Germanic elements meaning "helmet" (or possibly "healthy, whole") and "mind" or "spirit".
- HenningBoyA diminutive of Henrik, ultimately from Greek meaning "home ruler" or "estate ruler".
- HenrikeGirlThe German feminine form of Heinrich, derived from Germanic roots for "home" and "ruler" or "power".
- HerlindeGirlA Germanic compound name meaning "army" and "soft" or "tender", combining strength and gentleness.
- HermannBoyThe German form of Herman, from Old Germanic roots for "army" and "man", literally meaning "warrior" or "army man".
- HermenegildusBoyLatinised form of a Gothic name combining airmans, "whole, great", and gild, "value, tribute".
- HermineGirlThe German feminine form of Herman, derived from Germanic elements meaning "army" and "man".
- HerthaGirlA Germanic name derived from Nerthus, an ancient deity, with the initial letter altered in medieval written sources.
- HildebrandBoyA compound of Old High German hilt, "battle," and brant, "sword" or "firebrand," so roughly "battle blade."
- HildifunsBoyFrom the Gothic hildi, "battle", and funs, "ready": the proposed source of the Spanish name Ildefonso.
- HildiwaraGirlFrom the reconstructed Gothic elements hildi- "battle" and wars "aware, watchful".
- HiltrudGirlFrom Old High German hilt, "battle," and drud, "strength," together read as "strength in battle."
- HroþireiksBoyFrom the reconstructed Gothic elements hroþs "fame, glory" and reiks "ruler": roughly "famous ruler".
- HroþisinþsBoyFrom the reconstructed Gothic elements hroþs "fame, glory" and sinþs "way, journey": roughly "famous journey".
- IldefonsusBoyFrom the Gothic-Visigothic elements hild "battle" and funs "ready, eager": roughly "ready for battle".
- InkaGirlA Frisian and Finnish pet form of Inge, from Ing, an old Germanic god.
- JeremiasBoyThe form used in German, Portuguese and Finnish for the Hebrew prophet's name that English calls Jeremiah.
- JürgBoyFrom Greek Georgios: "farmer, worker of the earth".
- KaiserBoyFrom the German word Kaiser, the title for an emperor, derived from the Latin name Caesar.
- KarlBoyFrom Old High German karl: "man, free man".
- LeutwinBoyCombines Old German liut meaning "people" and wini meaning "friend".
- LiupoldBoyPossibly an early variant combining Old German liut meaning "people" and bald/pald meaning "bold" or "powerful".
- LiutgardGirlFormed from Old German liut meaning "people" and gard meaning "enclosure" or "protector".
- LudovicusBoyThe Latinized form of the Old Germanic Hludwig, combining hludda meaning "famous" and wig meaning "battle" or "war".
- LutgardisGirlDerived from Old Germanic liut meaning "people" and gard meaning "enclosure" or "protector", presented in Latinized…
- MädchenGirlFrom German Mädchen: "girl".
- MahthiltGirlBuilt from Old German maht meaning "might" or "power" and hild meaning "battle".
- MalgerBoyCombines Old German mahal meaning "assembly", "court", or "meeting place" with ger meaning "spear".
- ManagoldBoyFormed from Old German manag meaning "many" and walt meaning "power" or "authority".
- MannoBoyDerived from the Proto-Germanic element mannô meaning "person" or "man", originally used as an abbreviation for longer…
- MargrithGirlFrom Persian and Greek: "pearl" and "great".
- MeginfridBoyCombines Old German megin meaning "strength" or "power" with fridu meaning "peace".
- MelittaGirlAn Ancient Greek variant of Melissa, meaning "bee".
- MinnaGirlFrom Middle High German minne, "love" as celebrated in medieval courtly romance; sometimes a pet form of the longer…
- MitziGirlA shortened form of Maria, meaning "of the sea" or "beloved".
- MonikaGirlFrom Latin Monica: meaning unknown, possibly connected to "counsel" or "to warn".
- MoritzBoyFrom Latin Mauritius: "dark-skinned" or "of Moorish origin".
- NadjaGirlFrom Russian Nadezhda: "hope".
- NataschaGirlFrom Russian Natasha: a diminutive of Natalia, which derives from Latin "natalis" meaning "birthday" or "born on…
- NeleGirlA diminutive of Cornelia, from Latin "cornelia": the feminine form of the Roman family name Cornelius.
- Nicola (German)GirlFrom Greek Nikolaos: "victory of the people".
- NiklausBoyFrom Greek Nikolaos: "victory of the people".
- NikolausBoyFrom Greek Nikolaos: "victory of the people".
- NorbertBoyFrom Old German elements: nord "north" and beraht "bright", together meaning "bright from the north" or "famous…
- OdoacerBoyFrom the reconstructed Gothic name Audawakrs: auda "wealth, riches" + wakrs "vigilant, watchful".
- OttoBoyFrom Old High German ōt: "wealth, fortune".
- PirminBoyOrigin and meaning uncertain; possibly related to ancient Germanic roots.
- RamirusBoyFrom a reconstructed Gothic compound usually rendered *Raginamers, joining ragin, "counsel," with mers, "famous."
- RanamersBoyA reconstructed Gothic compound of ragin, "counsel," and mers, "famous": literally "famed for counsel."
- RegulaGirlFrom Latin regula: "straight rod, rule".
- RetoBoyDerived from Rhaetia, the ancient name for the Alpine region of eastern Switzerland.
- Roza (German)GirlA short form of Germanic female names beginning with hruod or hroþi: "fame".
- RudericusBoyFrom a reconstructed Gothic compound of hroþi, "fame," and reiks, "ruler": "famous ruler."
- RudesindusBoyFrom a reconstructed Gothic compound of hroþi, "fame," and sinþs, "journey": roughly "renowned expedition."
- RuediBoyFrom Old High German: "famous power".
- RupertBoyGerman variant of Robert, from Old High German Hrodperht: "bright fame".
- SiegfriedBoyFrom Old High German elements meaning "victory" and "peace".
- SieglindeGirlFrom Old High German elements meaning "victory" and "gentle".
- SigmundBoyFrom Old High German elements meaning "victory" and "protection".
- StephanBoyFrom Greek stephanos: "crown, victory wreath".
- TheloniusBoyA Latinised form of Tielo, derived from Germanic roots, meaning purpose or divine.
- TheodemirBoyFrom the Gothic elements þiuda, "people," and mers, "famous": literally "famed among the people."
- TheodoricBoyFrom the Gothic elements þiuda, "people," and reiks, "ruler": "ruler of the people."
- TheudoricusBoyFrom the Gothic elements þiuda "people" and reiks "ruler": "ruler of the people".
- UeliBoyFrom Old High German: "homeland" and "power".
- UrsBoyFrom Latin Ursus: "bear".
- VreniGirlFrom the Latin name Verena, likely derived from verus: "true".
- WaldoBoyA short form of Germanic names containing wald or walt, meaning power or authority.
- WibkeGirlFeminine form of the Old German name Wiebe.
- WigandBoyFrom Old German wigant meaning 'warrior'.
- WilfriedBoyFrom Old German elements wil (will, desire) and fred (peace).
- WilhelmBoyA German name meaning 'one who is willing to protect', built from Old Germanic elements for will and helmet.
- WilhelmineGirlFeminine form of Wilhelm, from Old Germanic elements wil (will, desire) and helm (helmet).
- WilliBoyDiminutive of Wilhelm, from Old Germanic elements meaning will and helmet.
- WillibaldBoyA German name combining elements meaning 'resolute' and 'brave'.
- WilmaGirlShort form of Wilhelmina, derived from Old Germanic elements wil (will) and helm (helmet).
- WiltrudGirlA German name combining elements meaning 'will' and 'strength'.
- WolfBoyFrom Old German wolf meaning 'wolf', or as a short form of names like Wolfgang or Wolfram.
- WolfdietrichBoyA German name combining 'wolf' with 'ruler', built from Old Germanic elements.
- WolfgangBoyFrom Old German elements wolf (wolf) and gang (path, way).
- WolfhardBoyFrom Old German elements wolf (wolf) and hart (hard, firm, brave).
- WolframBoyFrom Old German elements wolf (wolf) and hram (raven).
- WulfilaBoyFrom Gothic wulfs "wolf" with a diminutive suffix: "little wolf".
- YunaGirlA Japanese name whose meaning varies based on the kanji characters used to write it.
- ZentaGirlGerman diminutive of Kreszentia, a name related to the Latin word for growth or increase.
- ZenziGirlDiminutive of Kreszenz, a name related to the Latin word for growth.
- ZiskaGirlShort form of Franziska, the German feminine form of Francis.
- ÞiudamersBoyFrom the Gothic elements þiuda "people" and mers "famous, great": "famous among the people".