German Names that Start With B
By Nameberry
Updated Tue Oct 01 2024
Share
Copy link
- Bruno
Origin:
GermanicMeaning:
"brown"Description:
Tough-yet-cuddly Bruno is an international name even in its origins: it derives from the Germanic word for "brown" plus a Latin ending, and was borrowed as a color word in many European languages.
- Barrett
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"bear strength"Description:
Barrett is one of many surname names that are up and coming for boys in recent years. Barrett joints Bennett, Beckett, and others in the trend of "-tt" ending boy names taking over the charts.
- Bernadette
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"brave as a bear"Description:
Although feminizations ending in "ette" are not particularly popular now, Bernadette is a pleasant, feminine, but strong name that doesn't feel prohibitively dated. And though strongly associated with the saint who saw visions of the Virgin Mary—Saint Bernadette of Lourdes—it is now no longer strictly inhabiting the Catholic diocese.
- Bernard
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"strong, brave as a bear"Description:
Bernard is obviously a saint's name, but how did it get to the big, benevolent dog? The eleventh century monk, patron saint of mountain climbers, who lived in the Alps, was famed for setting up safe houses for pilgrims on their way to Rome over the treacherous St. Bernard Pass, and the canine breed, also used to rescue people in treacherous conditions, was named for him.
- Bobby
Origin:
Diminutive of RobertMeaning:
"bright fame"Description:
Bobby is the quintessential mid-century nickname, the name of the son on Mad Men and overused to the point of cliche. Though Robert is still a highly popular choice, most Roberts today are called by their full name or Rob or Robbie rather than Bob or Bobby.
- Boden
Origin:
English or German surname, variation of Beauden, FrenchMeaning:
"hill shaped like a bow; floor; beautiful"Description:
Boden is most often inspired by the clothing catalog of the same name, and it feels like an appropriate first name for boys because of its stylish two-syllable -n ending rhythm, a la Logan, Mason, Owen, and other trendy choices. While Boden or Bowden is a fairly common English surname, in German it is the everyday name for "floor".
- Belinda
Origin:
Spanish or GermanMeaning:
"pretty one, or, serpent"Description:
Belinda, cousin of Linda and Melinda, enjoyed a brief return to the Top 1000 from 2005 through 2013, only to fall off again in 2014. A name that some may consider a modern spin on the midcentury popularity queen Linda is in fact a classic with deep and fascinating roots. In Babylonian mythology Belinda was the goddess of heaven and earth, and the name later was used for the heroine of Alexander Pope's satirical poem The Rape of the Lock.
- Baldwin
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"brave friend"Description:
One "bald" name we can get behind, thanks to pioneering African-American author James Baldwin – though the name is now also associated with the Baldwin brothers, particularly Alec.
- Benno
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"bear"Description:
Benno is a cool name in its own right -- there was a tenth century Saint Benno -- though it is also used as a lively nickname for Benjamin. Saint Benno of Meissen is the patron saint of anglers and weavers and, strangely enough, alliteration.
- Bing
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"kettle-shaped hollow"Description:
When Kate Hudson named her second son Bingham and announced that she would be calling him Bing, it put this zingy nickname name out on the table. Before that, there was only one, further nicknamed Der Bingle -- and he was really Harry Lillis Crosby.
- Bettina
Origin:
Diminutive of ElizabethMeaning:
"God is my oath"Description:
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.
- Brick
Origin:
Word name, various originsDescription:
This is an Anglicized form of various names; the Irish Gaelic O Bruic; German, Bruck or Breck, meaning "swamp" or "wood"; Yiddish, Brik, "bridge"; and Slovenian, Bric, "dweller from a hilly place." Gosh, and we thought it was just a macho word name invented by Tennessee Williams for the hero of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
- Bertha
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"bright, glorious"Description:
Ever since the enormous German cannon was dubbed by Allied soldiers "Big Bertha" in World War I, this name hasn't worked for a sweet little baby girl. But this was not always so. Hard as it might be to imagine now, Bertha was a Top 100 name until the 1930s, and in the 1880s was the seventh most popular name in the land--the equal of Joseph.
- Baer
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"bearlike, dweller at the sign of the bear"Description:
Reversed vowels make it seem less fierce.
- Bauer
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"farmer, tiller of the soil"Description:
A surname name with an occupational background, but although it derives from the German language it is not used as a first name there as it has pejorative connotations – sometimes used as slag for an uneducated person. In the US, a prominent association is the character Jack Bauer from 24.
- Brandt
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"dweller on burnt land"Description:
Less commercial-sounding than Brand.
- Bernhardt
Description:
Bernhardt is a strong Germanic masculine name with deep historical roots. Derived from the Germanic elements 'bern' meaning bear and 'hard' meaning brave or strong, the name literally translates to 'strong as a bear' or 'brave as a bear.' This powerful name has a long history in German-speaking regions and beyond. Notable bearers include the famous French actress Sarah Bernhardt, who despite being female, carried this traditionally masculine surname. The name has a distinguished, somewhat formal quality that conveys strength and dignity. While never extremely common in English-speaking countries, Bernhardt maintains steady usage in German-speaking regions and among families with Germanic heritage.
- Bertram
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"bright raven"Description:
Last in fashion in the 1930s, Bertram might once have been firmly in the best left in the past category, but with sweet nickname Bertie and the cool option of Bram, Bertram might just be one to reconsider. Fitting in with other clunky vintage options like Chester, Sidney, Abram, Ebenenzer, and Wilfred, Bertram is a literary option, appearing as the full first name of P.G. Wodehouse's inimitable Bertie Wooster and on a character in Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well.
- Brahms
Origin:
German surname from Abraham, HebrewMeaning:
"father of multitudes"Description:
A melodic choice for lullaby-lovers. Brahms might also make a trendy s-ending nickname for Abraham.
- Bluma
Origin:
YiddishMeaning:
"flower"Description:
This floral name, related to bloom and Blossom, is common in the Jewish community, but not often heard outside it. Other Yiddish nature names are Ita (star), Masha (rising water), and Mayim (water).