User-created list
German Names
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Fredrick
Spelling variation of Frederick, German
"peaceful ruler"
Fredrick is one of the streamlined versions of Frederick, a solid classic boys' name on the brink of rediscovery. Fredrick was given to about 100 baby boys in the US last year, versus about 600 for…
Freida
German
"peace"
This spelling of Frida or Frieda ranked as high as #141 back in the late 19th century. Its most famous bearers, with different spellings, are Indian actress Frieda Pinto, who starred in Slumdog…
Rigoberto
Rigoberto is a masculine name of Germanic origin, combining the elements 'rik' meaning 'power', 'ruler', or 'wealthy' and 'beraht' meaning 'bright' or 'famous'. It literally translates to 'bright…
Roderick
German
"famous ruler"
The aristocratic--if not haughty--Roderick was nevertheless consistently in the Top 1000, reaching as high as Number 221 in 1967, when it was not uncommon to run into a Rod or a Roddy. It's at a low…
Gretchen
German, diminutive of Margarethe
"pearl"
Like Greta, Gretchen is a German Margaret diminutive that has become an American quasi-classic, though not much used today, having dropped off the list in 2009. She was at her high point in the…
Hannes
German, Dutch, Scandinavian variation of Johannes
"God is gracious"
Johannes never caught on in the US, but popular European short form Hannes may be more accessible.
Sofie
German, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch, Czech variation of Sophie or Sophia, Greek
"wisdom"
A streamlined spelling of Sophie, popular in several European nations, including Norway, Czechia, Denmark, and The Netherlands. While English speakers may say this as SO-fee, it may also be said as…
Ida
German
"industrious one"
Many vowel names stylish a century ago are coming back, and Ida seems like a possible, logical successor to Ada and Ava. A century ago, Ida was considered "sweet as apple cider," and was Number 10 on…
Stephan
Variant of Stephen
If you wanted to try to get people to pronounce your son's first name the way Stephen Curry does, this might be a way to do it.
Jannick
Dutch and German form of John
"God is gracious"
Another spelling of JANNIK, a John form that has a terminally Olde Worlde sound to the American ear.
Terrell
English surname name; "to pull"
"to pull"
Terrell feels like a modern invention based on Terrence, but Tyrrell has plenty of history as a surname name. It probably comes from an Anglo-Norman nickname for a stubborn person, from the Old…
Jarvis
English variation of Gervase, meaning unknown
Jarvis, one of the original two-syllable nouveau boys' choices, is a saint's name with a certain retro charm and a nice quirky feel. Though Jarvis peaked in the late 1880s, he is beginning to sound…
Till
German diminutive of Dietrich or Theodoric
"people"
The modern name Till is in the German Top 100. Used in contemporary terms on its own, it's traditionally a short form of names beginning with Diet such as Deitrich, which is itself a form of…
Viktoria
Viktoria is the Eastern European and Germanic spelling of Victoria, a name derived from Latin meaning 'victory.' This variation maintains the powerful meaning while giving it a distinctive…
Josef
German, Scandinavian, Czech variation of Joseph, Hebrew
"Jehovah increases"
The German, Scandinavian and Czech variant of Joseph, borne by several notable European artists and athletes, as well as the brutal Soviet dictator Josef (or Iosif) Stalin.
Katrina
German variation of Katherine
"pure"
The hurricane blew this one out of the realm of possibility.
Klara
German, Russian, Polish, Scandinavian variation of Clara
"light"
German, Slavic and Scandinavian form of Clara, which is a Top 100 girl name in multiple European countries, including Austria, Croatia, Iceland and Poland. While Clara is fashionable in the US, the…
Lennart
Lennart is a masculine Scandinavian name derived from the Germanic elements 'leon' (lion) and 'hard' (brave, strong), meaning "strong as a lion" or "lion-hearted." Popular primarily in Sweden,…
Leonie
Latin
"lion"
Leonie is a chic French and German form of a name that exists in a range of variations from Leona to Leonia to Leon to Leo to Lionel, all newly fashionable after a couple of generations in style…
Linus
Greek
"flax"
Can Linus lose its metaphorical security blanket and move from the Peanuts page onto the birth certificate? We think it has enough charm and other positive elements going for it for the answer to be…