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German Girl Names

521 german girl names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.

Looking for boy names instead? German Boy Names →

There is a particular kind of parent who wants a name with weight behind it — something that sounds like it has survived a few centuries and a few border changes, and came out lovelier for it. That is the quiet promise of German girl names: they carry old-world architecture in their consonants and still land softly on a modern birth certificate. Start with the storybook set, the ones that feel lifted from a river legend or a hand-bound fairy tale. Lorelei takes its name from the famous rock above the Rhine and the siren said to sing from it, and its sister spelling Lorelai has its own devoted following. Annalise pairs two classic elements into something graceful, while Adelynn draws on the old root adel, meaning noble.

Then there is the other half of this list entirely — short, bright, a little bit tomboy, the names you shout across a playground rather than write in calligraphy. Emmy and Lottie are nickname-names promoted to the main event, sweet without being fussy, and they age up beautifully. Frankie brings a jazz-club swagger that parents keep falling for, and Della has that warm vintage hum shared by the names your great-grandmother answered to. If you want something spare and elegant, Mina is two syllables of pure calm, and Alyssa remains a familiar, well-loved favourite that almost nobody mispronounces.

Every name below opens to its full page — a sourced meaning, its U.S. popularity, and a clear audio pronunciation so you can hear it before you fall for it.

German Girl Names — Page 3

Marylouise#12975 in the U.S.A compound of Mary (from Miriam) and Louise (feminine of Louis, 'renowned warrior; famous in baAnaleise#13000 in the U.S.Analeise is a respelling of Annelise or Anneliese, a German compound joining Anna, from the HebAdelen#13032 in the U.S.A form of Adeline/Adele, from the Germanic adal ('noble'). A soft, vintage-flavored classic; noAlacia#13140 in the U.S.Alacia is a spelling variant of Alicia, which grew from Alice, itself a form of the Germanic AdAlizzon#13156 in the U.S.Alizzon is a modern spelling of Allison or Alison, which began as a medieval French pet form ofAdalynd#13472 in the U.S.Adalynd is a modern spelling of Adalyn or Adaline, ultimately from the Germanic element adal, 'Adilena#13486 in the U.S.A Spanish form of Adelina/Adilene, from the Germanic adal ('noble'). A warm, flowing classic inAleda#13510 in the U.S.Aleda reads as a form of Alida or Aleta, short forms of Adelaide or Adelheid, from the GermanicAnnalisia#13581 in the U.S.A modern elaboration of Annalise (German Anneliese), itself Anna ('grace') joined to Liese, a sAdylynn#13631 in the U.S.A respelling of Adalyn/Adelynn, from the Germanic adal ('noble'). A modern -lynn form of a clasBrigitta#13736 in the U.S.The German and Hungarian form of Bridget, from Irish Brighid, generally read as 'exalted one' oArchie#13756 in the U.S.A short form of Archibald (Germanic ercan, 'genuine; precious,' + bald, 'bold; brave') — long aChristiane#13798 in the U.S.Christiane is the French and German form of Christine/Christina, from the Greek/Latin christianDellarae#13869 in the U.S.Dellarae is a modern combination name joining Della — a short form of Adela or Adelaide, from aErnestina#13950 in the U.S.The feminine of Ernest, from the Germanic eornost, 'seriousness; resolve; earnestness' — a statHiedi#14030 in the U.S.Hiedi is a spelling of Heidi with the i and e swapped — a transposition that took on a life of Hagan#14031 in the U.S.From the Irish surname O hAodhagain, a diminutive of Aodh ('fire'), often glossed 'little Aodh'Dietra#14041 in the U.S.Dietra is a variant of Deitra, most plausibly a feminine reshaping influenced by Dietrich, the Heydy#14068 in the U.S.A Latin American respelling of Heidi, itself a Swiss-German pet form of Adelheid (Adelaide) — fFredrica#14179 in the U.S.Fredrica is a trimmed spelling of Fredericka, the feminine of Frederick, which joins the GermanAllyne#14234 in the U.S.Allyne is best read as an ornamental spelling of Aline, itself a contracted form of Adeline (frJuli#14237 in the U.S.A trimmed spelling of Julie (and so of Julia), from the Roman family name Julius — whose sense Sharlee#14282 in the U.S.Sharlee is a phonetic girl's spelling of Charlie or Charley, pet forms of Charles and CharlotteKlementine#14377 in the U.S.Klementine is the German and Central European spelling of Clementine, the feminine of Clement —Allyce#14441 in the U.S.Allyce is a stylized respelling of Alice, from the Old French Aalis, a contraction of the GermaLorilai#14488 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Lorelei, the name of a steep rock on the Rhine and of the siren said to Lorilei#14489 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Lorelei — the steep rock on the Rhine and the siren of German legend, giMarlenne#14530 in the U.S.Marlenne is a doubled-consonant respelling of Marlene, a name coined in Germany by fusing MariaMarlina#14531 in the U.S.An elaboration of Marlene (a German blend of Maria and Magdalene, 'of Magdala') with a LatinateMaisel#14538 in the U.S.Maisel is a German and Ashkenazi Jewish surname — borne, for example, by the Prague philanthropAhnalise#14548 in the U.S.A form of Annalise, a German blend of Anna ('grace; favor') and Lise (from Elisabeth, 'God is mMayka#14549 in the U.S.Mayka is a spelling of Maika, a European short form linked to Maria or Michaela, or a modern coMicha#14638 in the U.S.A German and Hebrew form of Micah, from Hebrew Mikha, a short form of Michael — 'who is like GoMitzie#14638 in the U.S.Mitzie is a spelling of Mitzi, the German diminutive of Maria — itself a form of Mary. BavarianOtillia#14720 in the U.S.A form of Ottilie/Odilia, from the Germanic element od/ot ('wealth; fortune; prosperity'). St OPfeiffer#14733 in the U.S.A German surname, Pfeiffer ('piper; fife-player'), borne by the actress Michelle Pfeiffer. UsedNatascha#14736 in the U.S.Natascha is the German and Russian spelling of Natasha, a pet form of Natalia, from Latin natalRenate#14747 in the U.S.Renate is the German and Dutch form of Renata, the feminine of Latin Renatus, 'reborn' — a nameLisanne#14780 in the U.S.Lisanne is a genuine compound name, joining Lisa (a short form of Elizabeth, Hebrew for 'my GodRahel#14831 in the U.S.A form of Rachel, from the Hebrew Rahel, 'ewe' — a gentle pastoral image. Rachel is one of the Rozalynn#14835 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Rosalyn/Rosalind - from Germanic 'gentle horse' (hros + lind) and read bMarga#14872 in the U.S.Marga is a clipped form of Margaret or Margarita, both descending from Greek 'margarites', meanKarlena#14989 in the U.S.Karlena joins Karla to Lena. Karla is the feminine of the German Karl, 'free man,' while Lena iUlla#15026 in the U.S.A short form of Ursula ('little bear') or Ulrike ('prosperity and power'), used as a name in itWilhelmine#15062 in the U.S.Wilhelmine is a German feminine form of Wilhelm (William), from Germanic wil ('will, desire') aSusann#15212 in the U.S.A form of Susanne/Susan, from the Hebrew Shoshannah, 'lily' (and later 'rose'). A crisp, vintagMarline#15273 in the U.S.Marline is a spelling variant of Marlene, the contracted German pairing of Maria and Magdalene Hemma#15306 in the U.S.A medieval Germanic name, closely related to Emma and generally traced to the element ermen or Silka#15306 in the U.S.A form of the German Silke, itself a Low German pet form of Cecilia ('blind; sixth'); the soundTanja#15319 in the U.S.Tanja is the German and Slavic spelling of Tanya, a Russian short form of Tatiana, from the RomAdelaina#15328 in the U.S.A form of Adelina/Adelaide, from the Germanic adal ('noble') — 'noble kind; of noble sort.' A fAlese#15409 in the U.S.Alese is a streamlined variant in the Alice and Elise family. Alice traces through Old French AAnalena#15410 in the U.S.A compound of Ana ('grace') and Lena (a short form of Helena/Magdalena), read together as 'gracAnnaleese#15438 in the U.S.Annaleese is a phonetic spelling of Annalise, a German compound of Anna and Lise. Anna comes frAnnelis#15444 in the U.S.A short form of Anneliese, a German compound of Anna ('grace; favor') and Liese/Elise (from EliAmerika#15451 in the U.S.A respelling of America. The continent name comes from the Latin form of the explorer Amerigo VAudriella#15548 in the U.S.Audriella is a modern elaboration of Audrey, the English name from Old English Aethelthryth, noBernadine#15620 in the U.S.A French feminine form of Bernard, from the Germanic bern ('bear') and hard ('brave; strong') -Bettina#15621 in the U.S.An Italian and German diminutive of Elisabetta or Elisabeth, from Hebrew Elisheva, 'my God is aJerrilyn#15674 in the U.S.Jerrilyn is a mid-century blend of Jeri (from Geraldine, the feminine of Gerald, Germanic for 'Catharina#15693 in the U.S.A genuine Dutch, German and Scandinavian form of Katherine, from the Greek Aikaterine. Long assCharlea#15707 in the U.S.A -lea spelling of Charlie/Charley, a pet form of Charlotte/Charles, from a Germanic root for 'Analese#15714 in the U.S.Analese is a simplified spelling of Annalise, the German blend of Anna and Lise. Anna comes froSusi#15714 in the U.S.Susi is a short, affectionate form of Susan or Susanna, spelled in the German and Continental sAnalyce#15716 in the U.S.Analyce is a phonetic spelling of Annalise or Analise, a compound of Anna, from the Hebrew HannElse#15797 in the U.S.Else is a Danish, Norwegian and German short form of Elisabeth, given for centuries as a name iElice#15843 in the U.S.A spelling that reads as Elise (a French short form of Elizabeth, 'God is my oath') or a form oAnneliz#15909 in the U.S.A form of Anneliese, joining Anna ('grace') and Liese (a short form of Elisabeth, 'pledged to GElsbeth#15925 in the U.S.Elsbeth is a genuine contracted form of Elizabeth, used in German-speaking regions and in ScotlEmiree#15947 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Emery/Emerie, from an Old Germanic root, 'brave; powerful; industrious rEloiza#15948 in the U.S.A form of Eloisa/Heloise, from the Germanic, often read as 'healthy; wide' or tied to 'famous wEmmersen#15953 in the U.S.A respelling of Emerson, an English surname, 'son of Emery' (Emery from the Germanic for 'braveHaidy#15957 in the U.S.Haidy is a phonetic respelling of Heidi, the German pet form of Adelheid, from adal 'noble' andHelga#15995 in the U.S.Helga is a genuine Old Norse name, the feminine of Helgi, from heilagr, meaning 'holy', 'blesseFreeda#16032 in the U.S.A form of Frieda or Freda, from the Germanic frid, 'peace.' A vintage name of calm and goodwillGabriele#16038 in the U.S.The German and Italian feminine of Gabriel, from the Hebrew Gavriel, 'God is my strength' (geveLinde#16086 in the U.S.Linde is the German word for the linden (lime) tree, long a symbol of love and community in GerHeide#16132 in the U.S.Heide is a German name, a variant of Heidi — itself a pet form of Adelheid (Adelaide), from GerInge#16173 in the U.S.Inge is a German and Scandinavian name derived from Ing (or Yngvi), an old Norse fertility god,Ivet#16193 in the U.S.Ivet is a spelling of Yvette, the French feminine pet form of Yves, from a Germanic root meaninSissi#16248 in the U.S.Sissi is a pet form, best known as the nickname of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, whose life insJerri#16284 in the U.S.A friendly short form of Geraldine (feminine of Gerald, 'ruler with the spear'), or of names liKatrin#16352 in the U.S.Katrin is a German and Scandinavian short form of Katharina — the continental form of KatherineJerrie#16376 in the U.S.Jerrie is a feminine pet form of Geraldine or Gerald, from the Germanic ger ('spear') and wald Kathrin#16438 in the U.S.Kathrin is a variant of Katherine, a Greek name traditionally linked to 'katharos', 'pure' (thoAnnalice#16483 in the U.S.A form of Annalise, a German compound of Anna ('grace; favor') and Lise/Elise (from Elizabeth, Laurali#16628 in the U.S.A spelling in the Laurel/Lorelei family; by the Laurel route it means 'laurel; the bay tree' (aLoreley#16645 in the U.S.A spelling of Lorelei, the rock and legendary siren of the Rhine whose song lured sailors; the Lorelie#16646 in the U.S.Lorelie is a variant spelling of Lorelei, the name of a steep rock on the river Rhine and of thMarlise#16657 in the U.S.Marlise is a German blend name, typically joining Maria with Luise or Elise, in the same familyLilien#16689 in the U.S.The German word Lilien ('lilies'), used as a given name in the flower-name tradition, and a couMarlayna#16734 in the U.S.Marlayna is a modern respelling of Marlena, itself a form of Marlene — a German blend of Maria Minette#16736 in the U.S.Minette is a French diminutive, used as an affectionate short form of names like Wilhelmina, thKarsten#16738 in the U.S.A Scandinavian and German form of Christian, ultimately from Greek Christos, 'anointed; followeLuise#16740 in the U.S.Luise is the German spelling of Louise, the feminine of Louis or Ludwig. The name goes back to Hanne#16767 in the U.S.A Scandinavian and German form of Hannah/Johanna, from the Hebrew, 'grace; favor; God is gracioMarylu#16773 in the U.S.Marylu is a written-together spelling of Mary Lou, itself usually short for Mary Louise. It paiMarlyne#16843 in the U.S.Marlyne is a variant spelling of Marlene (a German contraction of Maria and Magdalene) or MarilMarlis#16977 in the U.S.Marlis is a German contraction, in the same family as Marlies and Marlise, that fuses Maria (frOttie#17016 in the U.S.Ottie is an early-1900s pet name, most often a short form of Ottilie or Octavia, or a feminine Marlane#17162 in the U.S.Marlane is a variant of Marlene, a German contraction of Maria Magdalena — Mary Magdalene. MariJere#17276 in the U.S.As a girl's name Jere is a clipped form, most often of Geraldine, and a spelling-cousin of JeriErmina#17358 in the U.S.Ermina is a form of Hermina or Herminia, feminine names built on the Germanic ermin, meaning whHayde#17439 in the U.S.Hayde is generally a trimmed form of Haydee, a name Lord Byron gave a beloved heroine in Don JuTheda#17444 in the U.S.A short form of Theodora, from Greek theos ('God') and doron ('gift') — 'gift of God.' Famous tMitsy#17525 in the U.S.Mitsy is a respelling of Mitzi, a Bavarian and Austrian pet form of Maria (from Hebrew Miriam).Trudi#17536 in the U.S.Trudi is a pet form of Gertrude, from the Germanic ger ('spear') and thrud ('strength'), so theSharlize#17757 in the U.S.Sharlize is a phonetic respelling of Charlize, an Afrikaans and English feminine form of CharleLotta#17795 in the U.S.Lotta is a Swedish and German pet form of Charlotta or Charlotte, the feminine of Charles, fromKathe#17816 in the U.S.Kathe is a diminutive of Katherine, the Greek-rooted name traditionally read as 'pure' (from kaKarlye#17915 in the U.S.Karlye is a late-twentieth-century respelling of Carly, itself a pet form of Carla and a feminiTatjana#18185 in the U.S.Tatjana is the German, Scandinavian and South-Slavic spelling of Tatiana, in which the j marks Kathrina#18195 in the U.S.Kathrina is a respelling of Katrina, the German and Scandinavian contracted form of Katherine. Sharlie#18460 in the U.S.Sharlie reads as a sh-spelled form of Charlie, used as a feminine pet form of Charles; Charles Margaretha#18547 in the U.S.Margaretha is the Latinized German, Dutch and Scandinavian form of Margaret, from Greek margariSherline#18841 in the U.S.Sherline is an American girl's name, a variant of Sherlene and a cousin of Charline. Charline iAelysA medieval French form of Alice (Adelais/Aalis), ultimately from the Germanic 'adal', 'noble'. GretchellAn elaborated form of Gretchen, itself a German pet form of Margaret (from Greek margarites, 'pHildiA pet form of Hilda/Hildegard, from the Old Germanic hild, 'battle; war' - a name of Valkyrie sKleineKleine is the German word for 'small,' and in everyday speech die Kleine means 'the little one'OttlieA short form of Ottilie, from the Germanic ot ('wealth; fortune') plus a battle element — read

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Frequently Asked

What are popular German girl names?

Among the most-loved German girl names in U.S. use right now are Lorelei, Annalise, Alyssa and Adelynn. Each one has a full page here with its recorded popularity history.

Are German girl names hard to pronounce in English?

Most are not. Names like Emmy, Della and Mina read exactly as they look, and for the longer ones we include an audio clip so you can hear the intended pronunciation rather than guess at it.

What is a vintage German girl name that still feels fresh?

Try Lottie or Frankie. Both are short forms that have stepped out on their own, so they sound antique and current at the same time.