German Names for Boys

A German surname and word, Traber translates to "trotter" in English, referring not to pig's trotters — that would be Schweinefüße if you really want to know — but to a type of horse, bred for harness racing. It is mostly used as a surname, but actor Traber Burns bears it as a given name. The German pronunciation would be more like TRAH-bu, while English speakers might say it as TRAY-ber, like a twist on Taylor and recently popular Abner.

Traber

Othenio is most likely an old-timey elaboration on Otto, with a much grander, more fantastical feel than its original form. It is mainly known for Othenio Abel, an influential Austrian paleontologist and evolutionary biologist. 

Othenio

Ancient nickname that sounds cuter than its modern alternatives -- but be aware that in the days of the horse and buggy, it was most often used for the horse. 

Dobbin

Charles Schulz adopted Schroeder as a first name for his piano-playing character in the "Peanuts" comic strip, but it hasn't really caught on. More likely to be heard as a last name, it comes from the German Schröder, denoting a tailor or a porter of wine or beer.
 
Schroeder is one-of-a-kind as a first name in the US — and Germany, for that matter — having never been used for more than five baby boys in a single year. It is possibly, however, that a few parents have chosen it, especially to honor a family surname.

Schroeder

One of the coolest of names, thanks to legendary jazz pianist Thelonious Sphere Monk, who inherited it from his father. It has been used very sparingly since the 1960s--just a sprinkling of baby boys receive the name each year.

Monk's middle name Sphere is pretty unique too--a cousin of Cosmos and Cosmo.

Some other jazz names to consider: Bix, Ellington, Ella, Etta, Mingus, Dexter and Calloway. :

Thelonius

Macenry is a rare modern blended name that combines two traditional names, Mac or Mack and Henry. It carries the strength and simplicity of Mack with the timeless charm of Henry. Macenry feels fresh and unique while still rooted in familiar sounds.

Bonus: Mac can be considered an honor name for any ancestor whose surname begins with Mac or Mc, gender immaterial.

Macenry

Used predominantly in Germany and Switzerland, Joscha is a form of the Hungarian name Józsa, a diminutive of József and therefore linked to the classic Joseph. It may appeal to those who also like Sacha or Mischa.
 
Notable bearers include footballer Joscha Wosz, politician and author Joscha Schmierer, and cognitive scientist Joscha Bach.

Joscha

German boy names include many classic male names: Charles and William, Henry and Richard, Louis and Robert. Along with Charles and Henry, the top German names for boys in the US today include Axel, Emerson, Emmett, Everett, Harrison, Justus, Leo, Milo, Ryker, and Walter.

 include both those popular throughout Europe and North America, such as Ben, Finn, and Noah, as well as the high-ranking names Emile and Moritz. The German popularity list also includes some short forms particular to Germany, such as Till, a German short form of Dietrich or Theodoric, and Fiete, a diminutive for Friedrich or Frederick.

 here started life as surnames, and with surname-names fashionable for baby boys, you may find a German name on your family tree that can be adapted as a first.



Some selections on this list that work perfectly as 

: Adler, Barrett, Kiefer, Romer, and Wagner. Unique German boy names to watch include Amory, Ansel, Benno, Boden, Hugo, Leopold, Luther, Otis, Otto, Roland, Walden, Wilbur, and Wolf.

 on Nameberry on this page, organized by their popularity with our visitors.

German Boy Names with meaning, origin, and popularity (Page 24)