Choosing the right baby name can feel overwhelming, especially with so many beautiful options out there. If you’re drawn to strong heritage and timeless charm, this list of German names is full of inspiration. From popular picks to rare gems, we’ve gathered 140+ meaningful choices — each with rich origins and cultural depth. Whether you’re searching for German boy names that sound bold and classic or German girl names that feel elegant and modern, you’ll find plenty of ideas here to spark the perfect match.
Naming Traditions in Germany
Many parents in Germany choose names that carry family significance, cultural roots, or religious meaning. While some names are distinctly German, others reflect the country’s rich blend of influences — from French and Hebrew to Scandinavian and Latin. Today, it’s common to hear both modern and traditional German names throughout the country.
Most babies in Germany are given two personal names: a first name and a middle name. These are often paired with a surname passed down through the father’s side, similar to naming customs in the U.S. Many families honor loved ones by reusing a relative’s name, a traditional German name, or a name tied to a saint or biblical figure. Naming practices can vary widely, making every choice deeply personal.1,2
German Names for Boys and Girls
From bold and classic picks for boys to sweet and timeless options for girls, these German baby names are grouped by style and tradition to help you find the perfect name for your little one.
German Boy Names
Whether you’re after something bold or timeless, German names for boys offer meaningful options rooted in tradition and strength. From classic favorites to modern standouts, the choices ahead highlight heritage and character.
23 Popular German Boy Names
These popular German names for boys are some of the most loved in modern Germany. From international favorites like Noah and Emilio to traditional picks like Karl and Jakob, each name blends familiarity with cultural charm.
1. Anton — This is the German form of the Greek name Anthony, meaning “praiseworthy.”
2. Arthur — This name is of Latin and Celtic origin. It means “bear.”
3. Bruno — Old German for “brown.”
4. Elias — The meaning of this common name for boys is “the Lord is my God” in Hebrew.
5. Emilio — This name is Latin and Italian, meaning “rival.”
6. Felix — A Latin name for “happy” or “fortunate.”
7. Finn — This boy’s name is primarily Irish and means “fair.” It is often used in Germany for baby boys.
8. Hannes — Scandinavian name meaning “God is gracious.”
9. Henry — A common German name that means “home-ruler.”
10. Jakob — This is the German and Scandinavian spelling for Jacob. It means “supplanter” in Hebrew.
11. Karl — Old High German for “free man.”
12. Kilian — A German boy’s name meaning “little church.”
13. Konstantin — This name means “constant” in Russian.
14. Linus — This name is of Greek origin and means “flax.”
15. Lukas — Meaning “light,” this name has many origins, including Latin and Swedish.
16. Mats — Another popular boy’s name in Germany, Mats means “gift of God” in Norwegian and Hebrew.
17. Maxim — French and Latin for “the greatest.”
18. Noah — This is a common name worldwide, including Germany. It means “rest” in Hebrew.
19. Oskar — This name is both German and Old Norse. It means “God’s spear.”
20. Paul — A Latin name for “small” or “humble.”
21. Philipp — This boy’s name is Greek for “horse lover.”
22. Theodor — Greek for “gift of God.”
23. Valentin — This name has several origins, including French and German. It means “strong.”
12 Cool German Boy Names
With cool, confident energy, these German names for boys — like Wolfgang, Otto, and Gunther — offer bold meanings and modern flair while honoring tradition. Perfect for parents who love cool boy names with character, this list blends strength, style, and cultural roots.
1. Adler — This German name has a cool meaning: “eagle.”
2. Barnard — German for “brave as a bear.”
3. Brenner — Middle High German name meaning “to burn.”
4. Fritz — A cool boy name that means “peaceful ruler.”
5. Gunther — This is a strong boy’s name that means “battle warrior” in German.
6. Hugo — French and German for “mind” or “intellect.”
7. Leon — This name is of Greek origin and means “lion.”
8. Leopold — An old German name meaning “brave people.”
9. Martell — German and Latin name meaning “dedicated to Mars.”
10. Niklas — This name means “victory of the people” in Greek and Swedish.
11. Otto — This short and cool German boy’s name means “wealth.”
12. Wolfgang — An Old High German name meaning “traveling wolf.”
12 Traditional German Boy Names
For parents who value timeless appeal and cultural roots, German names for boys like Matthias, Friedrich, and Johannes carry a deep sense of tradition and strength.
1. Arnold — Old German for “eagle power.”
2. Christoph — The German version of the Greek name Christopher, which means “bearer of Christ.”
3. Florian — This Latin and German name means “flowering” or “flourishing.”
4. Friedrich — This traditional German name means “peaceful ruler.”
5. Gustav — This classic name means “staff of the gods” in German and Scandinavian.
6. Heinrich — A German name for boys that means “home-ruler.”
7. Johannes — This is the German and Scandinavian form of the Hebrew name John. It means “God is gracious.”
8. Kiefer — The meaning of this boy’s name is “barrel maker” in German.
9. Manfred — German for “man of peace.”
10. Matthias — Greek and Hebrew for “gift of God.”
11. Raphael — This traditional boy’s name is of Hebrew origin, meaning “God has healed.”
12. Sigmund — An Old German name meaning “victorious protection.”
German Girl Names
Elegant, strong, and full of history, German names for girls like Emma, Heidi, and Matilda celebrate the depth and beauty of German tradition. From popular baby names to rare traditional picks, each one has a story, and you just might find the perfect fit for your little girl below.
22 Popular German Girl Names
These popular German names for girls — from sweet classics like Anna and Clara to modern favorites like Leni — continue to charm parents while honoring cultural roots.
1. Anastasia — This name has Greek and Russian origins. It means “resurrection.”
2. Anna — This is one of the most popular names for girls in Germany. It means “grace” in Hebrew.
3. Clara — This name means “bright” in Latin.
4. Emilia — This name has many origins, including Spanish and Hungarian. It means “rival.”
5. Emma — The meaning of this common German girl’s name is “universal.”
6. Frieda — A German name meaning “peace.”
7. Hannah — Also Hebrew, this name is a variation of Anna. It also means “grace.”
8. Helena — A Greek name meaning “shining light.”
9. Ida — This German girl’s name means “industrious one.”
10. Johanna — The German version of the Hebrew name Joanna, and it means “God is gracious.”
11. Josephine — This name means “Jehovah increases” in Hebrew.
12. Layla — This common name is of Arabic origin, meaning “dark” or “night.”
13. Leni — This name has several origins and meanings, including Latin for “light.” It is also the short form of the German name Magdalene.
14. Lina — This name means “tender” in Arabic.
15. Lotte — A common German name that means “free.”
16. Marlene — This name means “woman of Magdala” and “star of the sea.”
17. Nele — Starting as a nickname for Cornelia, this name means “horn” in German.
18. Marie — A French name meaning “star of the sea.”
19. Pauline — This common girl’s name of French origin means “small.”
20. Romy — This name means “dew of the sea” in Latin.
21. Sophia — This name is popular throughout Europe. It is Greek for “wisdom.”
22. Tilda — Meaning “strength in battle” in German, this is another common girl’s name in Germany.
15 Cool German Girl Names
These stylish German names for girls — from bold picks like Franka and Odilia to sleek options like Noa and Etta — bring personality and charm to every syllable. Ideal for parents drawn to cool girl names with meaning, this list blends modern edge with cultural depth.
1. Annalise — A Latin and German name that means “graced with God’s bounty.”
2. Belle — This cool name is of French origin and means “beautiful.”
3. Carla — This German girl’s name means “free” in German and Italian.
4. Conra — This is the female version of Conrad and is German for “brave counsel.”
5. Etta — This cool girl’s name means “home ruler” in English.
6. Franka — A German name meaning “from France.”
7. Freya — This Scandinavian name means “noble.”
8. Gisela — This is another super cool girl’s name of German origin that means “pledge.”
9. Greta — Meaning “pearl,” this is both a cute and cool German name for a girl.
10. Juna — This cool name is a little bit more unique. It means “June” in Latin.
11. Lisbet — This is an uncommon variation of Elizabeth, but it has the same meaning: “God’s promise” in Hebrew.
12. Mayne — German for “brave.”
13. Noa — This Hebrew name means “movement.”
14. Odilia — A German and French name meaning “wealth.”
15. Rainah — This is the feminine form of Ray, and it means “wise guardian” in Old German.
23 Traditional German Girl Names
Time-honored and strong, German names for girls such as Gertrude, Lorelei, and Adele carry deep cultural meaning and lasting appeal.
1. Adele — This traditional German name for girls means “noble.”
2. Alice — This German name is a classic and means “noble” or “exalted.”
3. Bernadette — This French name means “brave bear” or “strong.”
4. Druella — Meaning “elf vision,” this is a traditional name for girls in Germany.
5. Elsa — A simple German classic that means “pledged to God.”
6. Emmeline — German for “hardworking” or “industrious.”
7. Gertrude — An Old High German name meaning “strong spear.”
8. Gesine — This is a variation of Gertrude, and it has the same meaning and origin.
9. Gretchen — This is a traditional and pretty name for girls that means “pearl” in German.
10. Heidi — An Old German name that means “noble kind.”
11. Helga — Scandinavian for “holy” or “blessed.”
12. Ingrid — This traditional name is of Scandinavian origin and means “fair.”
13. Isolde — This name is both German and Welsh. It means “ice ruler.”
14. Jocelyn — An Old German name for a member of the tribe called the Gauts.
15. Lorelei — This classic German girl’s name means “enchantress” or “temptress.”
16. Matilda — This German name means “battle mighty.”
17. Maude — This German name means “strong battle maiden.”
18. Nadine — A name of French origin that means “hope.”
19. Odetta — This name is French and German and means “wealthy.”
20. Rafaella — Meaning “God has healed,” this traditional name has many origins, including Hebrew and Spanish.
21. Rosamund — This Old German name means “horse protection.”
22. Sabine — The Sabine tribe is a group of ancient Italian people.
23. Ursula — A Latin name for “little bear.”
German Names That Work Beautifully in the Middle
If you want to include a meaningful nod to your heritage, these German names are a beautiful way to enhance your child’s full name. Whether paired with a bold first name or something more traditional, these choices bring strength, style, and cultural richness.
16 German Names for Boys That Pair Well in the Middle
Rich in meaning and sound, these German boy names make great middle name options, adding character without overshadowing the full name.
1. Anselm — This German name for boys means “God’s helmet.”
2. Baldwin — This name means “bold” or “brave friend.”
3. Blas — In German, this is used as a nickname for someone with a pale complexion.
4. Boris — This middle name is of Slavic origin. It can mean “wolf” or “battle.”
5. Clemens — A German and Latin name for “merciful.”
6. Gerd — The meaning of this name in Scandinavian is “garden.”
7. Halag — This is a German middle name that means “pious.”
8. Hubert — This is a classic boy’s name used as a middle name. It means “bright” in Old German.
9. Ivon — This French name means “yew” or “archer’s bow.”
10. Klaus — German for “victory of the people.”
11. Leo — A simple middle name for boys that means “lion” in Latin.
12. Meinhardt — This name means “bravery” and “strength” in German.
13. Otis — This name is of Old German origin and means “wealthy.”
14. Riker — Even though this is more commonly a last name, it also makes a great middle name. It is German for “brave power.”
15. Stadler — Middle High German for “barn.”
16. Tibalt — This is the German version of the English name Tybalt, which means “bold.”17 Ulrich — German for “rich and noble heritage.”
18 German Girl Names That Make Beautiful Middle Names
Each of these German girl names offers something elegant, powerful, or unique. Whether you’re honoring a family connection or simply love the sound, these names flow well in the middle spot and carry beautiful meanings.
1. Agathe — This middle name means “good” or “honorable” in Greek.
2. Delia — Greek meaning “from Delos.”
3. Eartha — This is a girl’s middle name that means “earth” in Old English.
4. Herta — This middle name for girls is German and Old English. It means “of the earth.”
5. Idetta — Meaning “hardworking,” this German middle name is often chosen for baby girls.
6. Jolank — A German name meaning “country.”
7. Karoline — This is the German Scandinavian form of the French name Caroline. It means “free woman.”
8. Lisette — This name is of French origin and means “pledged to God.”
9. Millicent — This name is of both French and German origin. It means “strong in work.”
10. Nadja — In German, this middle name means “hope.”
11. Odiane — This girl’s name can mean “elfin spear” or “wealthy” in French.
12. Perahta — This is a sweet middle name that means “glorious” in German.
13. Roslyn — Having several origins and meanings, Roslyn is Latin for “gentle horse” and Spanish for “beautiful.”
14. Trudy — Meaning “universal strength” in German, this is a strong choice for a girl’s middle name.
15. Ulka — This German name means “power of the wolf.”
16. Winifreda — A German middle name meaning “peaceful friend.”
17. Yvette — This name is French for “yew.”
18. Yvonne — This name is derived from Yvette and means “yew” in French.
Whether you have German roots or simply love names with rich cultural meaning, we hope this list of German names helped you feel one step closer to choosing the perfect name. From strong and timeless German boy names to graceful and meaningful German girl names, each one offers something special for your growing family.
Still deciding? You may also like our collections of old-fashioned baby names, biblical boy names, biblical girl names, rare girl names, elegant names, and classic baby names. Or visit the baby names hub for even more ideas.
