From the weird and wonderful to timeless and traditional, names shape our entire lives and a rather large part of our identities. So if you're in the midst of choosing a name for your baby - and if you've ended up on this page you're likely interested in a German name 👀 - no pressure.
If you're looking for unique and unusual names, this list might do the trick. It's especially a lovely idea if distant family are of German origin.
If you're looking to relocate to Germany however, you might want to reconsider some name choices, as the rules are a lot stricter there. Baby names have to be approved by the civil registration office and if the name is rejected, parents have to appeal or submit a new name. Who'd have thought?
So take a good look, have a good think and see if any of these beautiful names offer some inspiration.
Popular German names
For boys
Anton: German form of Anthony, meaning 'priceless'.
Archie: diminutive of Archibald, which is composed of the Germanic elements 'ercan', meaning 'genuine' and 'bald', meaning 'brave.'
Charles: from the Old German 'carl,' meaning 'a man'.
Edward: strong as a boar.
Harry: from the Germanic name Heimirich, with 'heim' meaning 'home' and 'ric' meaning 'power, ruler'.
Henry: also from the Germanic name Heimerich.
Johan: German variant of the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning 'God gave pardon.'
Leon: lion.
Louis: from Old German name Ludwig, meaning 'famous warrior'.
Lukas: German variant of Lucas.
Max: a Germanic name which can ultimately be traced back to the common Roman family name Maximus, meaning 'greatest'.
Oskar: German variant of Oscar.
Otis: wealthy.
Theo: from Germanic name Theobald, composed of the elements 'theod' meaning 'people' and 'bald' meaning 'bold'.
William: from Old Germanic name Wilhelm which means 'resolute protector' or 'strong-willed warrior'.
For girls
Alice: sweet, pleasant, noble.
Adele: same as Alice!
Amelia: industrious.
Ella: from the Old German name Alia, meaning 'all'.
Emily: feminine form of Emil, from the Roman family name Aemilius, meaning industrious.
Emilia: variant of Emily.
Emma: from the Old German 'ermin' or 'irmin', meaning universal.
Hanna: German variant of Hannah.
Ida: industrious.
Johanna: of Hebrew and German origin, meaning 'God is Gracious.'
Louise: feminine form of Louis, meaning 'famous warrior'.
Lorelei: the enchantress.
Marlene: star of the sea.
Matilda: mighty in battle.
Stefanie: crown.
Names with German origin for boys
Arnie: diminutive of Arnold. The eagle rules, strong as an eagle.
Armin: Old German name taken from the latin 'arminus', meaning 'hero'.
August: German form of the Latin name Augustus, meaning 'majestic dignity'.
Axel: father of peace
Barrett: from the Old German name Beroald meaning 'bear power'. Brave as a bear.
Brendan: flame.
Bruno: from the Old German 'brun' meaning 'brown'.
Christofer: with Christ inside.
Emery: meaning 'industrious'.
Emerson: son of Emery.
Emil: of German origin that means 'to strive'.
Emmett: powerful.
Engel: angel.
Everett: comes from Germanic composed of the elements 'eber' meaning 'wild boar' and 'hardy' or 'strong.'
Franz: meaning French man, or free man.
Hayden: of Old German origin, meaning heathen.
Hugo: mind.
Jay: swift.
Kellen: slender.
Luther: of Old German origin, meaning is "warrior, soldier of the people".
Leonard: of Old German origin, Leonhard meaning 'brave lion'.
Raymond: from Germanic name Reginmund, in Old German 'regin' meaning 'counsel'.
Richard: brave ruler, from Germanic elements ric 'ruler, mighty' and hard 'brave, hardy'.
Roland: meaning 'famous throughout the land'.
Rudy: abbreviation of Rudolph, meaning famed wolf.
Rupert: comes from the Germanic 'hrod', meaning 'fame' and 'berhtl', meaning 'bright'.
Milo: soft-hearted, merciful.
Odis: wealthy.
Otto: same as Odis!
Varick: honorable defender.
Names with German origin for girls
Ada: sweet, pleasant, noble.
Adalia: God is my noble one.
Annelise: from the German origin composed of the names Anna and Lisa.
Annemarie: bitter grace.
Amalda: eagle, or strong.
Ava: a bird
Belle: white, light, fair.
Billie: diminutive form of Wilhelmina.
Carla: feminine form of Carl, meaning 'free man'.
Cheryl: feminine form of Charles, also meaning 'free man'.
Edith: riches, blessed.
Eloise: derived from the Old German name Helewidis, meaning 'hale' and 'wide'.
Elsa: a diminutive of Elizabeth, meaning 'my god is bountiful', or 'god of plenty'.
Etta: little one
Freya: from the Old German 'frouwa', meaning 'lady'.
Greta: abbreviation of Margaret, pearl.
Harriet: home ruler.
Heidi: brave, noble.
Ilse: a diminutive of Elizabeth, meaning 'my god is bountiful', or 'god of plenty'.
Isolde: meaning 'ice' and 'rule'.
Juliane: youthful.
Madelyn: means 'woman from Magdala' or 'high tower'.
Millie: variant of Amelia, meaning 'strength'.
Ottilie: feminine form of Otto, meaning Elfin spear.
Ramona: wise protector.
Robyn: bright, famous one.
Romy: means rosemary, or person from Rome.
Rosamund: from the Germanic 'hros', meaning 'horse' and 'mund', meaning 'protection'.
Tilly: variant of Matilda, meaning mighty in battle.
Zelda: strong woman.
Traditional German names
For boys
Albert: bright, noble.
Bill: diminutive of William meaning will-helmet.
Bobbie: diminutive of Robert meaning famed, bright, shining.
Ernest: from the Old German 'Ernust,' meaning serious, determined.
Gunther: from an Old German name meaning war or battle.
Hans: German variant of John, which means 'Gift from God' or 'God has been gracious'.
Herbert: illustrious warrior.
Herman: soldier.
Jürgen: son of George.
Karl: man.
Klaus: diminutive of Nikolaus, meaning people of victory.
Stefan: German variant of Stephen, which means 'crown' or 'garland'.
Walter / Walt: commander of the army.
Wagner: is derived from the Germanic surname 'Waganari', meaning 'wagonmaker' or 'wagon driver'.
Wolfgang: from Old German, meaning wolf and 'gang' meaning 'path'.
For girls
Elsie: noble.
Emmeline: variant of Emily, meaning hardworking.
Ernestine: feminine of Ernest, meaning serious.
Ethel: noble
Geraldine: feminine of Gerald. Rules with a spear.
Gertrude:** from the Old German name, meaning strong spear.
Gisela:** plegdge.
Gretel: pearl.
Helga: pious.
Ingrid: beautiful.
Irma: comes from Old German meaning 'world'.
Isolde: variant of Isolda, meaning 'ice' and 'rule'.
Maude:** powerful battler.
Ursula: little bear.
Waltraud: strength.
Names based on German locations
Berlin: the capital of Germany.
Celle: is a town and capital of the district of Celle, features a beautiful castle.
Dresden: a city in the capital of Saxony
Essen: a city in western Germany.
Hagen: German city.
Halle: a city in central Germany.
Jena: German city.
Kiel: a port city in Germany.
Raven: inspired by the district of Ravensburg.
Owen: a German town.
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These common UK surnames are actually of German origin:
Frost: from Old English and Old High German meaning 'frost', a nickname for a person who had a cold personality or a white beard.
Holland: Indicated a person from the Dutch province of Holland
Lowe: means 'lion' in German.
Mann: from a nickname meaning 'man', this may have originally been given in order to distinguish the bearer from a younger person with the same name.
Peters: son of Peter.
Warner: variant of Werner, meaning 'guard' or 'army'.
West: a person who lived to the west of something, or who came from the west.