German Baby Names

991 German names with researched meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.

German names are built to last — solid, handsome and full of old-world craftsmanship. German baby names gave English many of its sturdiest classics, and the modern crop has a satisfying crispness that fits right in with today’s taste for strong consonants and no-nonsense sound.

Popular German Girl Names

Lorelei and Lorelai are romantic and a little mysterious, while Annalise and Adelynn feel elegant and current. For vintage warmth there is Lottie, Emmy and Frankie.

Strong German Boy Names

Tanner, Kellan and Brantley lead the modern pack, with Kaiser, Decker and Kolter for real edge. Traditional and handsome: Jakob, Anton, Luther and Hans.

Names Made From Trades

A great many German names began as occupations — a tanner, a decker, a baker. That working-hands origin is exactly why they sound so grounded and why they pair so well with almost any surname.

Every name below links to its own page with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, famous bearers, and a clear audio pronunciation — so you can hear it before you choose.

German Girl Names

Aline#4280 in the U.S.French/Portuguese short form of Adeline/Adelina — from Germanic adal, 'noble'▶Alycia#4283 in the U.S.Y-spelling of Alicia — a form of Alice, from Germanic adal, 'noble'▶Breindy#4291 in the U.S.Pet form of Breindel — a Yiddish name linked to Germanic 'brown' or 'sword/flame'; routes layer▶Charolette#4293 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Charlotte — French feminine of Charles, Germanic 'free man' — 'little free ▶Ellah#4298 in the U.S.-ah spelling of Ella (Germanic 'all/other', or short for Eleanor) and Hebrew Elah ('terebinth t▶Gisela#4302 in the U.S.From Germanic gisil, 'pledge, hostage' (a guarantee of a treaty) — feminine▶Joslynn#4315 in the U.S.Double-n spelling of Joslyn/Jocelyn — from the Germanic Gauzelin, 'a member of the Gaut tribe'▶Royce#4347 in the U.S.From an English surname — possibly 'son of Royse' (Rohese, 'fame/rose') — also evokes Rolls-Roy▶Ameila#4372 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Amelia — from Germanic amal, 'work, industrious' (overlapping Latin Aemilia▶Emersen#4393 in the U.S.-en spelling of Emerson — 'son of Emery', from Germanic Emmerich, 'brave/whole ruler' or 'indus▶Gretta#4397 in the U.S.Double-t spelling of Greta — a German/Scandinavian short form of Margaret, from Greek margarite▶Jacelyn#4400 in the U.S.Modern spelling blending Jocelyn ('of the Gaut tribe') with a Jace-/-lyn sound; routes layered▶Helmi#4405 in the U.S.Helmi is a Finnish name that means pearl, and it also serves as a short form of Wilhelmina, the▶Jiselle#4406 in the U.S.J-spelling of Giselle — from Germanic gisil, 'pledge, hostage' (a noble treaty-guarantee)▶Adelynne#4459 in the U.S.-ynne spelling of Adelyn/Adeline — from Germanic adal, 'noble'▶Amery#4466 in the U.S.Spelling of Emery/Amory — from Germanic Emmerich, 'brave/whole ruler' or 'industrious'; here fo▶Emri#4484 in the U.S.Modern coinage echoing Emery/Emory ('industrious ruler') with a short -ri ending; no single fix▶Etty#4486 in the U.S.Pet form of Henrietta ('home-ruler') or Esther ('star'); also a Yiddish name; routes layered▶Josslyn#4505 in the U.S.Double-s spelling of Joslyn/Jocelyn — from the Germanic Gauzelin, 'a member of the Gaut tribe'▶Leisha#4514 in the U.S.Short form of Alisha/Aleesha — variously 'noble' (Alice) or Arabic 'protected by God'; routes l▶Lyndy#4516 in the U.S.Y-spelling of Lindy — from Linden ('linden tree') or Lynn ('lake'); routes layered▶

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German Boy Names

Rayner#4282 in the U.S.From Germanic Raginhari — ragin, 'counsel, advice', plus hari, 'army' — 'counsel-warrior, wise ▶Ritchie#4285 in the U.S.-ie spelling of Richie — a pet form of Richard, from Germanic ric, 'ruler', plus hard, 'brave, ▶Wilber#4299 in the U.S.-er spelling of Wilbur — from Germanic wil, 'will, desire', plus beraht, 'bright' (or beorht/bu▶Wilhelm#4300 in the U.S.German form of William — Germanic wil, 'will', plus helm, 'helmet, protection' — 'resolute prot▶Harvin#4340 in the U.S.From a surname echoing Harvey ('battle-worthy') and Marvin/Mervin ('sea/army friend'); routes l▶Raine#4388 in the U.S.From Germanic ragin, 'counsel, advice' (as in Rainer), and/or the word 'rain'; here for boys; r▶Roque#4392 in the U.S.Spanish form of Rocco/Roch — from Germanic hrok, 'rest', or linked to 'rock'; St Roch, patron a▶Rorik#4393 in the U.S.From Old Norse Hroerekr (Rurik/Roderick) — hrod, 'fame', plus rikr, 'ruler' — 'famous ruler'▶Wilkes#4404 in the U.S.From an English surname — 'son of Wilkin', a diminutive of William, 'resolute protector'▶Willy#4405 in the U.S.-y spelling of Willie — a pet form of William, from Germanic wil, 'will', plus helm, 'protectio▶Alfonzo#4417 in the U.S.Z-spelling of Alfonso — from Germanic adal, 'noble', plus funs, 'ready, eager' (or hild, 'battl▶Alfons#4421 in the U.S.Alfons is the German and Scandinavian form of Alphonse and the Spanish Alfonso, all from a Germ▶Amory#4422 in the U.S.From Germanic Emmerich — amal, 'work, industrious', plus ric, 'ruler' — 'brave/industrious rule▶Barret#4433 in the U.S.Single-t spelling of Barrett — possibly Germanic 'bear-strength/might' or Middle English 'quarr▶Becker#4434 in the U.S.From a German surname — Becker, 'a baker' (or 'dweller by a brook', from Bach); routes layered▶Dreux#4447 in the U.S.From the French town Dreux and the name Drogo — possibly Germanic 'to carry/bear' or 'ghost'; r▶Gunther#4457 in the U.S.From Germanic Gunthar — gund, 'war, battle', plus hari, 'army' — 'battle-warrior, bold in war'▶Hendryx#4458 in the U.S.Y-spelling of Hendrix — a Dutch/Flemish surname, 'son of Hendrik (Henry)', from Germanic 'home-▶Hutchinson#4460 in the U.S.From an English surname — 'son of Hutchin', a diminutive of Hugh, from Germanic hug, 'heart, mi▶Jaeger#4465 in the U.S.From a German surname — Jäger, 'a hunter, huntsman'▶Jaret#4469 in the U.S.Spelling of Jarrett/Garrett — from Germanic Gerard, 'spear-brave', or Gerald, 'spear-ruler'; ro▶

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Frequently Asked

What are popular German girl names?

Popular German girl names include Lorelei, Annalise, Adelynn, Lottie and Emmy.

What are strong German boy names?

Strong German boy names include Tanner, Kaiser, Kellan, Jakob and Anton.

Are German names popular in the U.S.?

Many are — German roots run deep in American naming, and Tanner, Brantley and Lorelei all appear in current U.S. charts.

How many German baby names are on More4Kids?

More4Kids lists 991 German baby names, each with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, and an audio pronunciation.