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Amish Names

  1. Johann

    • Origin:

      German variation of Johan or John, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"

    • Description:

      The traditional German spelling of this name, used by Goethe, Bach and many other luminaries. Familiar in the US, but retains an Olde World feel, for better and worse.
  2. Mose

    • Origin:

      German variation of Moses, Egyptian

    • Meaning:

      "delivered from the water"

    • Description:

      Mose is the German variation of Moses, a widely familiar name thanks to the character in the Old Testament. Mose is also used a nickname for Moses.
  3. Rudolf

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Rudolph, German

    • Meaning:

      "famous wolf"

    • Description:

      You've got the red-nosed reindeer to transcend, but there are other distinguished personages named Rudolph, Rudolf, and Rudy.
  4. Lavina

    • Origin:

      English variation of Lavinia, Latin

    • Description:

      This vintage name is still used today among the Amish.
  5. Benuel

    • Origin:

      American variation of Benjamin, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "son of the right hand"

    • Description:

      Benuel is an Amish name that has only ever appeared on the Pennsylvania charts.
  6. Katharina

    • Origin:

      German variation of Katherine, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "pure"

    • Description:

      Katharina is an attractive form of Katherine and a great way to update a classic. But English speakers may want to choose the Katerina or Katarina spelling to avoid pronunciation confusion.
  7. Cindy

    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Cynthia, Greek, or Lucinda, Spanish and Portuguese

    • Meaning:

      "moon goddess, woman from Kynthos; "

    • Description:

      Cindy as a name in its own right made it into the Top 20 in 1957 and remained a Top 200 girls' name until the end of the 20th century. Although it's fallen precipitously since then and left the Top 1000 completely in 2015, Cindy remains a name commonly heard in the US. Today, though, it would more likely be attached to moms or grandmas than to babies.
  8. Fannie

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Fanny, diminutive of Frances

    • Meaning:

      "from France; free man"

    • Description:

      It's hard to believe, via a 21st-century sensibility, that Fannie was ever a Top 50 name. But Fannie was even more popular than Fanny in its late 19th-century heyday, and stuck around much longer, staying on the Top 1000 until the 1960s while Fanny fell off in 1940. Today, however, Fannie sounds antiquated at best, and rude at worst.
  9. Lovina

    • Description:

      Lovina is a feminine name with several possible origins. It may be derived from Latin 'lovina' relating to love, or could be a variant of Lavinia, an ancient Roman name associated with Latin settlers. Some suggest it may be a combination of 'love' with the feminine suffix '-ina.' The name has historical usage among the Amish communities in the United States, particularly notable in the Lovina settlement in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. There is also a beach called Lovina in Bali, Indonesia. The name has a gentle, melodious quality with its soft consonants and flowing rhythm. Though never extremely common, Lovina offers vintage charm while remaining recognizable. It provides an uncommon alternative to more familiar names like Lavinia or Loveday.

  10. Laverna

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Description:

      Laverna was the Roman goddess of thievery, cheating, and the underworld. The original meaning of her name in unknown, however, there are several theories. One such theory states that Laverna is related to the Latin word for theif, laterniō, while another connects the name to levare, meaning "to lift," as in shoplifting. In the case of the latter, Laverna would mean "goddess of gain".
  11. Dena

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "delicate or judged"

    • Description:

      The modern name Dena can be considered to come from either of two Old Testament names. Adina, which means delicate, was the name of a male soldier in the Bible. Dinah, meaning judged, Dinah was the daughter of Jacob and Leah. Dena is a common name in Amish communities.
  12. Menno

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Meine, Dutch

    • Meaning:

      "strength"

    • Description:

      The Mennonites took their name from Menno Simons, a Dutch leader of the Anabaptists. His name, which is a nickname of Meine, is still used today in the American Mennonite community.
  13. Mandy

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Amanda

    • Description:

      Nickname left over from the last generation.
  14. Atlee

    • Origin:

      English surname

    • Meaning:

      "clearing in the wood or meadow"

    • Description:

      As a first name, Atlee is a common choice in the Amish community.
  15. Barbie

    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Barbara, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "foreign woman"

    • Description:

      Despite the voluptuous doll's various career choices, from astronaut to doctor, her name still remains a euphemism for "bimbo".
  16. Ammon

    • Origin:

      Variation of Amman, German occupational name, Greek, Ancient Egyptian

    • Meaning:

      "administrator; the hidden one"

    • Description:

      Ammon is connected to two religions in the US and is used exclusively between the two of them. Prior to the 1960s, Ammon was considered a solely Amish name. In the Amish community, Ammon is bestowed in honor of Jacob Amman, whom the Amish sect is named after.
  17. Ura

    • Description:

      Ura is a masculine name with multiple cultural origins. In Japanese, it can mean 'shore' or 'coast,' evoking natural imagery. In Albanian, the name means 'bridge,' symbolizing connection. Ura also appears in various Slavic languages with different meanings. The name's brevity gives it a stark simplicity that works across language boundaries. Extremely rare in English-speaking countries, Ura enjoys modest usage in parts of Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and Japan. The name's short form makes it easy to pronounce in most languages, though in English it might face confusion with the phrase 'you are.' Ura carries an understated, minimalist quality with international versatility, appealing to parents seeking a simple yet distinctive name with cross-cultural significance.

  18. Elam

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "distant"

    • Description:

      Elam is the name of no fewer than eight Old Testament figures. The most notable was a grandson of Noah whose followers were dubbed the Elamites. Elam is commonly used in Amish communities today.
  19. Melita

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "honey"

    • Description:

      A coffee filter.
  20. Christ

    • Origin:

      English from Greek

    • Meaning:

      "anointed, messiah"

    • Description:

      Meaning "anointed one" in Greek, this was a title applied to Jesus by early Greek-speaking followers. It has been used as the English form of both Christos and Chrestos, which means "good".