German Names

Spelling variation of Amalia, rising in popularity throughout Europe.

Amalya

Bettina is a dainty ballerina version of Betty, that has not been heard much since its 1950s-60s heyday.  Bettina appeared in the Danielle Steele novel Loving, and in real life as one of Grace Kelly's bridesmaids. 

Bettina

Simply a Dutch and German form of Mike, said the same. 

Maik

Sometimes pronounced MAY-nerd, which is death to a name. However, the name Maynard was given to 25 boys in 2022. 

Maynard

Though she has long stood on her own, Elke has many longer cross-cultural connections, to the Dutch/German/Scandinavian Adelheid and Alice and the English Adelaide, as a feminine version of Elkanah and as a Yiddish form of Eleanor.
 The name became best known in the U.S. via the Berlin-born Elke Sommer,a popular actress and pin-up girl in the 1960s.

Elke

The unusual-to-the-English-ear Moritz is a Top 25 name in Austria and a form of Maurice or Morris, which are modern variations of the ancient Roman Maurus. There were several early saints named Maurus and a famous 3rd century Saint Maurice, who was a Roman infantryman who was martyred when he refused to worship Roman gods. The Moritz form also references the posh Swiss ski resort St. Moritz and Justine Moritz is a character from Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein.

Moritz

Also spelled Sigfrid, this hefty German name has an appropriately majestic meaning: "victorious peace". Fittingly, a famous bearer was the English World War I poet and pacifist Siegfried Sassoon. Sassoon was named after the hero of a Wagner opera, which in turn was based on a tragic hero from German legend.

Siegfried

The connection to Freud is a strong one, but this German name has a strong and interesting sound and great nickname potential: Ziggy, Iggy, Sim, Sid...

Sigmund

Lotte is a short form of Charlotte and a name used in its own right in Scandinavia as well as Dutch- and German-speaking countries. It’s unlikely to catch on in the US, where even Lottie hasn’t reached its full potential. Unisex Charlie will remain Charlotte’s nickname of choice for the foreseeable future.
 
Lotta is the phonetic spelling, albeit one with more teasing potential.

Lotte

A popular choice for girls, that has appeared in the US stats for boys. Many of these appearances are likely down to to data entry mistakes, especially before the system was computerized, however, that might not explain the nine boys given in the name in the most recent year.

Amelia

An elaborate diminutive name that had its (quiet) heyday back in the 1920s and 30s, Sydelle is likely derived from Sarah (via Sadie), Siegfriede (meaning "victorious peace"), or Sydney ("St Denis"). Alternative theories are it was inspired by the surnames Sidell ("wide recess; wide valley") and Seidel (either from Siegfried or a German word meaning "tankard"). 
 
Also spelled as Sydell, Sydelle peaked in 1930 when it was given to 46 girls, though it appeared in the charts as recently as 2023, when 10 girls were given the name. Actress Sydelle Noel is a notable bearer.

Sydelle

A German occupational surname deriving from the German word Bad, meaning "bath". Its most famous bearer in recent years has been (the notorious) RBG – former Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, making this a great feminist name or a nod to a lawyer in the family. Its simple, dynamic, er-ending sound fits right in with the likes of Hunter, Carter and Baker.

 Bader also has a separate derivation from Arabic, where it means "full moon" and is also transcribed as Badr or Badar.

Bader

Claudius is one of the most user-friendly of the ancient Roman names – even though it's associated with the villainous character in Shakespeare's Hamlet. But as with feminine form Claudia, the "lame" meaning may stymie the rise of Claudius. Some etymologists theorize that the name may relate to the word for enclosure or clause, an alternate meaning that may appeal to a child with a form of this otherwise-appealing name.

Claudius

Amory is best known for the hero of Fitzgerald's 1920 This Side of Paradise, Princeton student Amory Blaine. Amory is in some danger of being borrowed by the girls, a la Avery. Alternate spellings Amori or Amorie also relate to the Latin word for love.

Amory

Analiese is the rarest form of this increasingly popular German smoosh name, at least in the US. Only 26 baby girls were named Analiese in one recent years, versus about 75 called Annaliese, 100 named Analiese, and 750 given the popular Annalise spelling.
 
The Liese part of the name is the German form of Lisa, a short form of Elizabeth.

Analiese

Like Horace, Horatio is a variation on the Latin Horatius, but its Shakespearean and optimistic Horatio Alger pedigree makes it an attractive up-and-comer, especially with its cool final o. A modern reference is the charismatic TV character Horatio Caine played by David Caruso in CSI: Miami.
 Horatio was the given name of Lord Nelson, one of the most dashing of British heroes, the naval commander who led the British fleet to destroy the French at Trafalgar, and it also belonged to Hamlet's loyal friend. Another literary namesake is Captain Horatio Hornblower, the protagonist of a long-running series of naval novels penned by C. S. Forester, played on screen by Gregory Peck.

Horatio

Kasimir is a masculine name of Slavic origin, specifically from Polish and Russian traditions. Derived from the elements 'kazi' (destroy) and 'mir' (peace or world), it paradoxically means 'destroyer of peace' or 'one who establishes peace.' The name has royal connections, borne by several Polish kings and saints. The alternative spelling Casimir is also common. Though relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries, Kasimir offers a distinctive option with historical depth. The name carries an air of nobility and strength, and may appeal to parents with Eastern European heritage or those seeking a unique yet historically grounded name with a powerful meaning.

Kasimir

Many popular Dutch short forms are drawn from the middle or end of their proper name: Sanne from Susanne, Bas from Sebastian. Jette could be from a name like Henriette or Mariette.

Jette

Kiefer is a strong occupational surname associated with "24" star Kiefer Sutherland, but one that could well join the other 'er' surnames currently in favor. Keifer is a German surname transferred to first name use, derived from two old Germanic words, kien and forhe, both of which mean "pine tree."
 Kiefer Sutherland, the son of actor Donald Sutherland, was named for director Warren Kiefer, who gave Donald Sutherland his first movie role. Donald was a firm believer in honoring valued friends and mentors--his other sons are named Roeg, Rossif and Angus. Kiefer Sutherland's full name is Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus.

 Another possible cultural namesake is the esteemed German artist Anselm Kiefer.

Kiefer

A surname-style choice, in a similar style to Miller and Palmer, Meyer also has the sounds of Maia, Myla, and Myra. Derived from German (in which case it means "tenant, farmer, bailiff" or "leader of the household") and from Dutch (via Latin, meaning "great"), it is also a variation on the Hebrew Meir, meaning "enlightened" or "shining".
 
Familiar for boys in the early 20th century, it has been seeing a quiet revival in recent years. Given to around 100 boys in the US in the latest count, it has been appearing as a rare girl name since 2012.

Meyer

German baby names on this list are those that have their roots in German and Germanic languages, which is not necessarily the same as names popular in modern Germany.

 include many choices that may not necessarily be German, such as the Latinate Mia and Sofia or the Irish Finn.

One of the top girl names in the US today is Emma, a German name. Along with Emma, German names in the US Top 500 for girls include Angela, Amelia, Alice, Adele, Amelia, Ella, Edith, Millie, and Matilda.

 is William. Along with William, the German boy names in the US Top 500 include Henry, Charles, Conrad, Henry, Leo, and Max.

 include Lina, Neele, Leni, and Ida. Popular boy names in Germany include Louis, Oskar, Moritz, and Anton.

 is near the head of the list in Germany as well as many other countries, and names of German origin such as Alice and Axel rank highly in many places in the Western World.

If you're looking for German names for your baby girl or baby boy, browse this full list of possibilities, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.

German names for girls and boys, with meanings and popularity, including top German names and unique German baby names in Germany, the US, and around the world. (Page 18)