2632 German Baby Names With Meanings
Rich in history, steeped in tradition, timeless in beauty.
Illustration: MomJunction Design Team
Parents have become very experimental these days and are now more open to baby names from other regions and countries than they were a decade ago. If you also want an exotic and distinctive baby name for your child, why don’t you give some thought to German baby names? Even though the German language is known for being hard on the ears and twisting on the tongue, German names are truly beautiful. Personal names in Germany consist of one or more given names and a surname. A given name, or Vorname, as it is called in German, should be gender-specific. Selecting a name necessitates approval from the civil registry office. Formerly, it was common to name children based on their grandparents, yet this practice is diminishing in popularity. Conversely, Germans are progressively favoring English and other-origin names for their babies. And just like the naming conventions in most of Europe, even the Germans follow the order: given name followed by surname. Women often adopt their husbands’ names after marriage. They can even retain their maiden name by using a hyphen. In German naming customs, a distinct tradition assigns names: the eldest son inherits the paternal grandfather's name, the second son adopts the maternal grandfather's name, and the third son assumes his father's name. This practice extends to females. Another tradition is that a subsequent child is named after a deceased sibling. Sharing names among half-siblings is not uncommon. Baptismal sponsors, who are often close relatives or trusted friends, also influence children's names. Adding 'in' or 'en' to surnames signifies a female's identity in the German language (1). The German surnames are either derived from geography or occupations. Last names or surnames of products or objects are not acceptable. When parents are unwed during the child's birth, the mother's surname typically becomes the child's birth name. A child born to German parents outside the country may lack a German surname, even if the name is entered on a foreign birth certificate (2). Below is our compilation of German names with meanings. And these aren’t modern German names, but names with roots in German and Germanic languages.
| Name | Gender | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Aada |  Girl | Noble; A noble one; Adornment; The firstborn | |
| Aadelheide | Girl | Noble | |
| Aadne | Boy | Eagle; In Norway, it is the variant spelling of Adne | |
| Aalis | Girl | A form of Alice; Noble | |
| Aaron | Boy | Enlightened; High mountain | |
| Aart | Boy | Stone; Bear; Thor; The eagle; A variant form of Arthur | |
| Abbe | Boy | My father is joyful; A Variant of Abby | |
| Abbey | Boy | Father; My father is light | |
| Abbot | Boy | Father | |
| Abbott | Boy | Father; Priest; Father of abbey | |
| Abelard | Boy | Resolute and stubborn | |
| Abelino | Boy | Unsure; Pet form of Avila | |
| Abell | Boy | Exhalation of Breath; A Variant of Abel | |
| Abidin | Boy | Father of Knowledge; My Father Knows | |
| Abie | Boy | Father of Many; Diminutive of Abraham | |
| Abijah | Boy | God is my father; Yahweh is my father | |
| Abramo | Boy | high father; father of a multitude | |
| Absalom | Boy | Father is peace | |
| Absalon | Boy | God the Father is peace | |
| Aby | Boy | Father of multitude or masses | |
| Achaz | Boy | God is Holding; One that Takes or Possesses | |
| Achim | Boy | Yahewh will establish; A name variant of Joachim | |
| Acwulf | Boy | A wolf from the oak meadows | |
| Ad | Boy | Majestic wolf; Earth; Son of Adam | |
| Ada | Girl | Noble; First-born girl | |
| Adabelle | Girl | Adornment; Noble; Oldest daughter | |
| Adahlia | Girl | A noble person; A flower | |
| Adaire | Boy | Wealthy spear or oak grove | |
| Adal | Boy | Noble; Justice | |
| Adalaide | Girl | Noble kind; Noble sort | |
| Adalbeorht | Boy | The bright shining noble person | |
| Adalbert | Boy | Nobly famous; Noble; Honorable; Famous | |
| Adalbrecht | Boy | The bright or possibly shining noble person | |
| Adalbrechta | Boy | A bright noble person | |
| Adalee | Girl | God is my refuge; Noble one | |
| Adaleigh | Girl | One who is honorable and full of morals | |
| Adalena | Girl | Noble; God is just | |
| Adalfieri | Boy | An oath of a noble person | |
| Adalgar | Boy | A noble or wealthy spearman | |
| Adalgisa | Girl | Noble hostage | |
| Adalhard | Boy | A brave and tough noble person | |
| Adalheid | Boy | Golden | |
| Adalheida | Girl | A sweet and noble lady | |
| Adali | Girl | A noble girl; Full of moral values | |
| Adalia | Girl | Noble one | |
| Adalicia | Girl | One who is of noble nature; Nobility | |
| Adalie | Girl | A kind-hearted person | |
| Adalina | Girl | Noble; Honorable; Of a noble kind; Ornament; A form of the name Adela | |
| Adaliz | Boy | A sort of kind or noble person | |
| Adallina | Girl | A person who is noble | |
| Adalric | Boy | A wealthy or rich noble person | |
| Adalrik | Boy | A noble or kind ruler | |
| Adalwen | Boy | The noble companion or friend | |
| Adalwin | Boy | The victory of a noble person | |
| Adalwine | Boy | A friend who is kind and noble | |
| Adalwolf | Boy | A noble wolf | |
| Adalwolfa | Boy | A wolf who is noble | |
| Adaly | Girl | Honorable; Ornamental shine | |
| Adalyn | Girl | Noble; Honorable; Of a noble kind; Ornament | |
| Adalynn | Girl | Noble; Honorable; Of a noble kind | |
| Adar | Boy | Ruler; Prince; Fire | |
| Addaley | Boy | An honorable noble person | |
| Addalla | Girl | A kind, noble, and honorable person | |
| Addelyne | Girl | The noble or sort of nobility | |
| Addie |  Unisex | Nobility; Variant of Adela | |
| Addilyn | Girl | The pleasant noble lady | |
| Addler | Unisex | An eagle; A person with the quality of an eagle | |
| Ade | Boy | Crown; Royal; Peak; Man | |
| Adela | Girl | Noble; Gentle | |
| Adelade | Girl | Noble kind; Of the noble sort | |
| Adelaid | Girl | Noble; Honorable; Of a noble kind; Ornament; Form of the name Adela | |
| Adelaide | Girl | Noble; Kind | |
| Adelaine | Girl | Noble person; God is just | |
| Adelajda | Girl | An honorable and noble person | |
| Adelar | Boy | A fearless noble warrior | |
| Adelard | Boy | Noble strength; A variant of Abelard | |
| Adelbert | Boy | A shining noble person | |
| Adelbrecht | Boy | A bright and shining noble man | |
| Adeldreda | Girl | A kind of noble and honorable | |
| Adele | Girl | Noble type | |
| Adeleine | Girl | Noble; Honorable; Of a noble kind; Ornament; Form of name Adela | |
| Adelena | Girl | Noble; Honorable; Of a noble kind; Ornament; Form of name Adela | |
| Adelgund | Boy | An honorable warrior | |
| Adelgunda | Girl | Noble; Honorable; Fight; Noble warrior; Form of German name Adelgunde | |
| Adelgunde | Boy | A noble and kind warrior | |
| Adelhard | Boy | A firm and determined person | |
| Adelheid | Girl | Noble; Honorable; Of a noble kind; Ornament; Form of name Adela | |
| Adelheide | Girl | Noble; Honorable; Of a noble kind; Brightness; Ornament; Form of the name Adela | |
| Adelhild | Boy | A noble battle or fight | |
| Adelia | Girl | Noble; Honorable; Of a noble kind; Ornament | |
| Adelice | Girl | One who is of a noble sort | |
| Adelicia | Girl | An honorable one; A noble one | |
| Adelid | Girl | One who is from the nobility | |
| Adelie | Girl | Noble; Honorable; Of a noble kind; Brightness; Ornament; Form of the name Adela | |
| Adelien | Girl | A pleasant person of the nobility | |
| Adelin | Girl | An honorable and noble kind | |
| Adelina | Girl | Noble; Nobility | |
| Adelind | Girl | Noble Serpent | |
| Adelinda | Girl | The sweetness of nobility | |
| Adeline | Girl | Noble; nobility | |
German baby names carry a deep heritage and enduring charm that captivates parents. These names frequently echo potent cultural and historical importance, conveying notions of resilience, wisdom, and strength. Welcoming a variety of global inspirations, Germany's inclusive and expansive society has prompted a movement toward international names. Every entry on our list holds an individual legacy and significance for your cherished baby. Opting for a German name for your baby is a wonderful method to pay homage to ancestral customs or delve into Germany's absorbing cultural variety.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are some popular German baby names?
Some gender-neutral German baby names that can be used for both boys and girls include Max (Greatest), Alex (Defender of humanity), and Jan (God is gracious).
2. What are some cultural or historical references in German baby names?
Some cultural or historical references in German baby names include the name Wilhelm, which is associated with Wilhelm II, the last German Emperor and King of Prussia (3 ). Another culturally significant name is Friedrich, the name of the famous German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Heidi is also a sweet name that served as the inspiration for the popular children’s novel Heidi by Johanna Spyri (4).
3. What are some popular German baby names that are derived from nature?
Popular German baby names inspired by nature include Florian, meaning flower from the Latin word flora; Lennox, derived from the Gaelic term for a place of the elm trees; and Walden, which signifies a wooded valley.
4. Who are some famous people with German names?
Famous people with German names who have made significant contributions in various fields include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (one of the greatest composers of Western music), Heidi Klum (supermodel and TV personality), and Albert Einstein (renowned physicist with a Nobel Prize in Physics).
References:
- Naming Conventions of our Ancestors;
https://www.scchgs.org/documents/meetinghandouts/German_Naming.pdf - Naming Rights and Name Declarations;
https://dublin.diplo.de/ie-en/-/2403190#content_1 - Wilhelm II the last German Emperor and King of Prussia;
https://www.momjunction.com/baby-names/german/the%20last%20German%20Emperor%20and%20King%20of%20Prussia; - Heidi;
https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~spok/heidi/heidi.html
Look Up For Many More Names
Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.
