2850 German Baby Names With Meanings

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
Eraman		Girl	Someone honorable
Eramana		Girl	A highly revered and honorable person
Erardo		Boy	Brave and honorable
Erchanbold		Boy	Sacred; Bold
Erchanhardt		Boy	Sacred and pious
Erchebald		Boy	Something which is sacred and pious in essence and form
Erchembaut		Boy	Sacrosanct
Erda		Girl	Earth
Erhard		Boy	honor and respect
Erhardt		Boy	Brave; Hardy; honor and respect
Erhart		Boy	honor and respect
Erica		Girl	Forever strong; Noble leader
Ericka		Girl	A feminized form of the name Erick meaning ruler of people
Erika		Girl	Eternal ruler
Erisman		Boy	An honorable man
Erkerd		Boy	Sacred; Pious; Sacrosanct
Erl		Boy	A warrior; Nobleman
Erla		Girl	A warrior or noble lady
Erland		Boy	A leader
Erlin		Unisex	Noble; Honorable
Erma		Girl	Complete; Whole
Erman		Boy	Whole; Immense; Universal; Army man
Ermegarde		Girl	Whole; Universal; Complete
Ermengarda		Girl	Enclosure; Protection of whole universe
Ermengarde		Girl	Whole; Universal; Enclosure; Protection
Ermengild		Unisex	Immense treasure
Ermentrude		Girl	Universal strength
Ermingard		Girl	Whole universe in its entirety
Ermintrude		Girl	Universal strength
Ermyntrude		Girl	Universal strength
Erna		Girl	Eagle
Ernesha		Girl	Someone who is serious and etermined
Ernest		Boy	Determined; Serious
Ernesta		Girl	Determined and serious
Ernestina		Girl	Somebody who is serious and determined
Ernestine		Girl	A German feminized word which describes someone who is vigorous, eager, serious and determined
Ernst		Boy	A word which means serious and determined
Ernulf		Boy	A Christian religious figure of historical period
Ernwyd		Boy	A fictional character, Hobbit
Erryn		Boy	Exalted; Strong
Erth		Unisex	Earth
Ertha		Girl	Earth
Ervyn		Boy	Someone who is a beautiful friend
Eryka		Girl	Someone who rules for eternity
Erykah		Girl	A ruler for eternity
Escher		Unisex	A German name for someone who lived near an ash tree or grove
Essen		Unisex	To eat; A city in Germany
Estes		Unisex	East
Estrild		Girl	Battle
Ethel		Girl	Noble
Ethelard		Boy	Noble
Ethelheard		Boy	Someone who is noble by blood but also extremely strong
Ethelinda		Girl	Noble serpent
Ethelinde		Girl	Intelligent; Noble serpent
Etta		Girl	Home ruler
Etwald		Boy	Star
Etzel		Boy	A fictional character in Attila and the Hun
Eugen		Boy	Well born; Noble by birth
Eugered		Boy	Nobility; High born
Eugeret		Boy	Nobility; High born
Eva		Girl	Life; The living one
Evalin		Unisex	Beautiful bird
Everett		Boy	Strong like a wild boar
Everhardt		Boy	Boar's bravery
Everleigh		Girl	From the meadow of boars
Everley		Girl	a German word for someone who is brave and sturdy like a boar
Everly		Girl	From the wild boar meadow
Everlynn		Girl	Strong or sturdy like a wild boar
Evers		Boy	Son of Evert
Evert		Boy	Someone who is as strong as a wild boar
Everten		Boy	A wild boar; Someone as strong as a bear
Everton		Boy	A Norwegian word meaning wild boar
Evi		Girl	One who breathes and lives
Evon		Girl	Born of the yew; Archer
Evony		Girl	One who lives near the yew trees
Evraud		Boy	He who has the strenght of a boar
Ewald		Boy	One who follows customs and rules
Ewe		Girl	A giver of all life
Fabienne		Girl	A lady of the bean farm
Fadri		Boy	One who rules in peace
Fahrni		Boy	A variant of Farni; A topographic name for someone living in an area with ferns
Faiga		Girl	One who is bird-like
Falke		Boy	German surname relating to falcon
Falken		Boy	Surname related to falconry
Falkner		Boy	One who trains falcons
Fanta		Unisex	A fruit-flavored carbonated soft drink
Farica		Girl	Calm leader
Fassnacht		Boy	Derived from the word Fastnacht, meaning Shrovetide carnival
Faxon		Boy	A man with a long hair
Fedde		Boy	Peace
Federica		Girl	A Queen who rules peacefuly
Felisberta		Girl	An intelligent and wise woman
Felix		Boy	Blessed with good fortune; Happiness
Fenja		Girl	Peace; Protection; Safety
Ferd		Boy	A short from Ferdinand, means 'one who lives near the alder trees'
Ferda		Girl	One who lives near the alder trees
Ferdo		Boy	He is on a ready journey
Fernand		Boy	A traveler blessed with bravery
Fernanda		Girl	Adventurous; Bold journey
Fessler		Boy	Occupational name for a cooper

Infographic: Phenomenal German Baby Names

German baby names are believed to exude a sense of inspiration and prestige, embodying a rich cultural heritage. They are often tied to renowned historical figures that echo the literature and traditions of German-speaking regions. Explore the infographic below for distinctive German baby names that capture this essence and finalize your best-loved one for your child.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team