German Names for Girls

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

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

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

Aldine and the related Alda are ocean-related names that are highly unusual in the US. No babies were given these names, though hundreds of baby boys were named Aldo or Alden. There were even a few dozen baby girls named Alden.

If you love the sound of Alma and Alba, then perhaps Alda or its elaboration Aldine will appeal to you.

Aldine

Previously reserved for Ernie's companion on Sesame Street, Bert may find new life as a girl's name amid the rising trend of boyish nicknames for girls. With its short, spunky style, Bert fits alongside other vintage picks like Max and Lou.

Bert

More familiar perhaps as Ludivine or Ludwina, this name is the Walloon feminine form of the Old Germanic name Leutwin. With its friendly meaning and a sound that is both clunky and regal, it is used among Walloon speakers, who typically reside in the South of Belgium. 


Ludvina

Part Amalia, part Winifred, Amalfried is an Old Germanic name with the beautiful meaning "noble peace". It may be a striking choice for a character in a historical fantasy novel, or perhaps for a baby, thanks to its familiar elements. 
 
Other variations of the name include Amalfrida, Amalfriede, and Amalfrieda, while the masculine form is Amalfrid.

Amalfried

Part Amalia, part Winifred, part Frederika, Amalfrida is an Old Germanic name, combining the elements amal and fridu, to give the charming meaning, "noble peace". With a hint of historical fantasy about it, it could make a memorable choice, but with grounding nicknames Molly, Mallie, Freddie, Alfie, Frida, and Ami.
 
Borne by a fifth century queen of the Vandals, other forms of the name include Amalfried and Amalfrieda, along with masculine form, Amalfrid.

Amalfrida

Annelore

A gentle sounding name with multiple origins, Tale may be a variation of Thale, a popular choice in Norway. As such, it comes from either the Germanic element adal and is used as shortform of Adalheid, or it is a variant of Tole and Tóli, diminutives of Old Norse names that evoke the thunder god, Thor. 
 
Other possibilities include that it is a Latvian nickname for Natālija ("born at Christmas") or from the word tāle meaning "far away; distance". Alternatively, it may be from the Old Norse tala, meaning "speech", in turn linking it to telling tales, stories, and narratives.
 
There's also the Azerbaijani Tale, from the Arabic tali, associating the name with luck, fortune, and destiny. While it is traditionally masculine, it has been used as a feminine name in Azerbaijan.
 
While it is typically pronounced as TAH-leh or TAHL-eh rather than to rhyme with the English "tail" or "pale", if it was said like this, then it may also be considered a slightly whimsical word name.

Tale

Brunhilde

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 20)

German Girl Names