German Names for Girls

Cute tomboyish diminutive that's popular in Germany but has not spread far.  An interesting choice for the parent who wants an elaborate feminine proper name with a modern short form.

Neele

Senta is a lovely name, but if you name your daughter Senta, will the kids call her Santa? Maybe, but this obscure yet simple <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/493/german-names-for-girls">German name for girls</a>.may appeal to parents searching the untraveled name routes.

There is an unrelated Italian name for girls Santa, the feminine of Santo, meaning saint. Senta Berger is an Austrian actress most famous in the 1960s and 1970s.

Senta

The <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/493/german-names-for-girls">German name for girls</a> Wylda was introduced to the world by British filmmaker/artist, director of Fifty Shades of Gray Sam Taylor-Wood and her actor husband, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who named their daughter Wylda Rae. Is that Wylda, which rhymes with Hilda, and might be found inhabiting a sod hut on the Kansas prairie in 1901? Or Wylda, sister of Wilder, destined for a future as a hell-raising singer in a rock band?

Wylda

Along with the more common Silke, a diminutive used in Germany for Cecilia and Celia. Both Silke and Zilke are unknown yet usable <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/493/german-names-for-girls">German names for girls</a>.

Zilke

Helisent was used in the medieval days and has royal antecedents found in both France and Germany. Information on its origins is sketchy, but some say it's related to Elise or Helen or Heloise, or that it derives from a Visigothic name meaning "temple path". Variants include Elisende, Elisenda, Elysant, Elysande, Elissent and Elisent. 

 In modern times, it's found in the "Final Fantasy" video game and very occasionally on a real live baby.

Helisent

Meret is an interesting name found in several cultures. In Egyptian mythology, she was a goddess associated with singing, dancing and rejoicing and her meaning is 'beloved.' But the name also has significance in Hebrew, Danish and Norwegian. Close relatives include Merete and Maret.
 The most famous namesake is Méret Oppenheim, the German-born Swiss Surrealist artist, and photographer--as well as model for Man Ray--who was a leading figure in the Surrealist movement of the 1920s. She was named after Meretlein, a wild child who lives in the woods in the novel 'Der Grüne Heinrich(The Green Henry) by Gottfried Kelle.
 We think Meret has merit.

Meret

There are not one but two notable modern women with this name: journalist Christiane Amanpour and physician/author Christiane Northrup. In Germany, the pronunciation is kris-tee-AH-na while in France, it's kris-tee-AHN — and in the U.S., there's sure to be confusion. While Christiane is not stylish, it's a strong, attractive, unusual-though-familiar name.

Christiane

Clunky Gertrude is heading towards obscurity in the US, but here's a variation that might intrigue - Gesine, also spelled Gesina. 

Gesine comes from the same roots - Geretrudis - and shares the name's strong meaning. But Gesine has a smoother sound. 

Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock has a sister with this intriguing <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/493/german-names-for-girls">German name for girls</a>, Gesine Bullock-Prado, a baker and writer. Their mother, Helga, was born in Germany.

Gesine

A sophisticated <a href="https://nameberry.com/girls-names">girls' name</a> for those attracted to Leona, Leonie and Leonore.

Leopoldine

Ermentrude was the name of two medieval queens of France. Despite these distinguished beginnings, this antique name is unlikely to catch on with contemporary parents, perhaps because the first syllable may sound unattractive to the modern ear and the last two syllables are the equivalent of intrude. Then there's that rude final syllable. English variant Ermintrude is equally unlikely to find favor. 

 The numbers bear this out: Zero baby girls were named Ermentrude by any spelling last year....or in 1880, 1920, 1950, or 1990.

Ermentrude

The ancient Roman name that gave us Cecilia, Cecily, and related names. This spelling looks authentic, but might raise more pronunciation problems than it solves.

Caecilia

Strong but sweet with the emphasis on the second syllable, Marlies is a blend of Maria and Lies (a German and Dutch diminutive of Elisabeth) that might appear to those who enjoy Martha and Elise. It was popular in Belgium back in the 90s and has been notably borne by fashion designer Marlies Dekkers, model and influence Marlies Pia Pfeifhofer, and sprinter, Marlies Göhr. 
 
Marlise and Marlys are alternative spellings of the name.

Marlies

This nickname-name is very popular in Germany, though Lottie is still the preferred version in the US. The problem, of course, is that you'll have to put up with a lotta jokes. See?

Lotta

Cinnia is one of those names we recently discovered and couldn't believe we didn't know it before now. Its pronunciation and spelling are fairly straightforward in English, and it sounds not unlike the very familiar Cynthia. But it's a form of the flower name Zinnia, named after German botanist Johann Zinn, which is an occupational surname referring to someone who worked with pewter.

Cinnia

Poetic and whimsical but with touch of valor about it, Roselotte is a rare compound name, blending two classics together. It would likely be pronounced with four syllables ("RO-zuh-law-tuh") in German, three in Dutch ("ROZ-law-tuh") and two or three in English ("ROZ-loht" or ROZ-uh-loht").

Roselotte

A short form of Hilda, or any name containing the hild or hildr element, from Mathilda to Swanhild and Hildegard. Hildie has never ranked as a stand-alone name, but with names like Birdie, Bonnie, Hattie, and Millie in vogue, perhaps Hildie might appeal to parents wanting something with that same clunky-cute vintage style. Meaning "battle", Hildie was given to 5 girls in the US in a recent year, while similar Hilda was given around 50.

Hildie

Linchen is a feminine name with Germanic roots, functioning primarily as an affectionate diminutive form of names like Caroline, Karoline, Lina, or Angelina in German-speaking regions. The suffix "-chen" is a traditional German diminutive that conveys endearment and smallness. Historically used more as a nickname than a formal given name, Linchen carries a sweet, tender quality. Outside German-speaking countries, it remains quite rare, giving it an distinctive character for those seeking uncommon names. The name's soft sounds and gentle associations make it appealing despite its rarity. For families with German heritage, Linchen can serve as a connection to linguistic and cultural traditions.

Linchen

Line is a feminine name with multiple origins and pronunciations. In Scandinavian countries, particularly Norway and Denmark, it's pronounced 'LEE-neh' and often serves as a diminutive of names like Caroline, Karoline, or Oline. In French contexts, Line (pronounced 'LEEN') may be a short form of names ending in '-line' like Adeline or Jacqueline. The name is characterized by its simplicity and minimalist charm. Line has a modern, sleek quality while maintaining connections to traditional naming patterns. Though relatively uncommon internationally, it enjoys moderate popularity in Nordic countries. The name's brevity makes it distinctive in an era of longer names, offering a refreshing simplicity with cross-cultural appeal.

Line

Gitta is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. It commonly functions as a diminutive of Brigitta or Birgitta in German, Swedish, and Hungarian usage. These names derive from the Celtic Brigid, meaning 'strength' or 'exalted one.' In Jewish communities, Gitta can serve as a Yiddish nickname for names like Gittel or Gitel, meaning 'good' or 'pleasant.' With its concise structure and soft sound, Gitta carries a gentle charm while remaining uncommon in English-speaking countries. The name's cross-cultural versatility gives it broad appeal, while its brevity makes it refreshingly straightforward compared to its longer parent names.

Gitta

Bertilde is a feminine name with Germanic origins, combining the elements 'beraht' meaning 'bright' or 'famous' and 'hild' meaning 'battle.' This powerful combination creates a meaning along the lines of 'bright battle maiden' or 'famous warrior woman.' Popular during the early medieval period in parts of Western Europe, particularly among noble families in Frankish territories, Bertilde has since become quite rare. The name reflects the Germanic tradition of combining meaningful elements to create compound names. While uncommon in modern usage, Bertilde carries an air of historical dignity and strength. For contemporary bearers, the name offers distinctive character with potential nicknames like Berti or Tilde making it more accessible for everyday use.

Bertilde

German girl names include such classics as Alice and Emma along with many girl names that rank among the most fashionable today, both in Germany and the English-speaking world.

 in the US Top 1000 today include Adele, Amelia, Annalise, Ella, Elsa, Emmeline, Millie, and Zelda. In Germany, 

 with modern style include Anja, Frieda, Ida, Maude, Romy, and Tilly.

 include both those popular throughout Europe and North America, such as Emma, Mia, and Sophia, along with girl names particular to Germany, such as Lotta, Leni, and Nele, a German short form of Cornelia.

In Germanophone Switzerland, Emma and Emilia are the most popular German names for girls.

The roster of top German girl names includes German variations of many familiar names, often with a spelling twist. Emilia ranks among Germany’s top names rather than Amelia, Klara takes the place of Clara, Emilie stands in for Emily, Sofie and Lilly are used instead of the usual English versions Sophie and Lily.

You can browse the complete roster of German girl names on Nameberry here, ordered by their popularity on Nameberry. 

German names for girls with meanings and popularity (Page 14)

German Girl Names