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
Anneliese		Girl	Graced with God's Bounty
Annelise		Girl	God's bounty; God graced with favor; God is bountiful
Annemarie		Girl	Gracious; Beloved
Annerose		Girl	Variation of Hannah; a beautiful prayer
Anni		Girl	God was gracious; God has shown favor; Pure; Chaste; Grace; It is a variation of Anna
Annika		Girl	Beautiful; Grace; Favor
Annmarie		Girl	Bitter Grace
Anno		Boy	Eagle Ruler; A variant of name Arnold
Annora		Girl	The honourable one
Anse		Boy	Protected by God; Son of Agnes; A variant of name Ansel
Ansell		Boy	Protected by God; A variant of name Ansel
Anselm		Boy	Protected by God; God's helmet
Anselmi		Boy	Protected by God; A variant of name Ansel
Anselmo		Boy	Protected by God; A variant of name Ansel
Ansgar		Boy	God spear; Gentle friend; A variant name of Oscar
Anshelm		Boy	Protected by God; A variant of name Ansel
Antje		Girl	A graceful individual
Antonia		Girl	Beautiful; Priceless; Praiseworthy
Antonie		Girl	Beyond Price; Flourishing; Praise; Priceless; Invaluable; Praiseworthy; Inestimable; A variant form of name Antonia
Anzel		Unisex	Strong; Mighty; Noble
Apollonius		Boy	To destroy; A variant of the name Apollo
Arabel		Girl	Prayerful
Arabella		Girl	Given to prayer; To ask
Arabelle		Girl	Yielding to prayer
Archibold		Boy	Truly Brave; A variant of the name Archibald
Archie		Boy	Bold; Brave
Ard		Boy	Eagle; Green forest; A variant of the name Arden
Are		Boy	Stone, Bear; Eagle; A variant of name Arthur
Arent		Boy	Eagle ruler; Enlighted; Mountain of strength; A variant of name Aaron
Arilda		Girl	Hearth Maiden
Arla		Girl	Pledge; Oath
Arlana		Girl	Pledge; Oath; Eagle; Man; Freeman; Maiden; Virgin; A diminutive of Arlene
Arleana		Girl	Pledge; Oath; Eagle; Man; Freeman; Maiden; Virgin; A diminutive of Arlene
Arleena		Girl	Pledge; Oath; Eagle; Man; Freeman; Maiden; Virgin; A diminutive of Arlene
Arleene		Girl	Pledge; Oath; Eagle; Man; Freeman; Maiden; Virgin; A diminutive of Arlene
Arleigh		Boy	Bowman; Hunter
Arlen		Boy	Pledge; Oath
Arlena		Girl	Pledge; Oath
Arlenna		Girl	Pledge; Oath; Eagle; Man; Freeman; Maiden; Virgin; A diminutive of Arlene
Arlette		Girl	Noble warrior
Arlina		Girl	Pledge; Oath; Eagle; Man; Freeman; Maiden; Virgin; A diminutive of Arlene
Arlinda		Girl	Pledge; Oath; Eagle; Man; Freeman; Maiden; Virgin; A diminutive of Arlene
Arline		Girl	Pledge; Oath; Eagle; Man; Freeman; Maiden; Virgin; A diminutive of Arlene
Arlise		Girl	God’s oath
Arlyn		Girl	Pledge; Oath; Eagle; Man; Freeman; Maiden; Virgin; A diminutive of Arlene
Arlyne		Girl	Pledge; Oath; Eagle; Man; Freeman; Maiden; Virgin; A diminutive of Arlene
Armanda		Girl	Army man; Feminine form of Armand or Herman
Armands		Boy	Soldier; Latvian version of Armand
Armin		Boy	Soldier; Protector; Universal
Armina		Girl	Noble, Warrior maiden
Arminius		Boy	Warrior or strong soldier
Armino		Boy	Warrior; Teacher; Scholar
Armon		Boy	An army man; A castle; A majestic palace
Armond		Boy	Army man; Variant name of Armand
Armondo		Boy	Army man; Variant name of Armand
Arnald		Boy	Eagle ruler; A variant of name Arnold
Arnaud		Boy	Eagle power; one who is powerful and majestic
Arndt		Boy	Eagle ruler; A variant of name Arnold
Arnel		Boy	Eagle ruler; A variant of name Arnold
Arnelle		Girl	Eagle; Eagle ruler; A variant of Amold
Arno		Boy	Eagle
Arnola		Girl	Eagle; Power of an eagle; As strong as an eagle; Fair shouldered eagle
Arnoldus		Boy	Eagle ruler; A variant of name Arnold
Arnott		Boy	Little eagle; Eagle ruler; A variant of the name Arnold
Arrick		Boy	Powerful ruler; Ever ruling; Lone ruler; Island ruler; A variant of Aric
Arrigo		Boy	Army; Warrior; To rule; House owner; Variant of the name Amerigo
Arthurina		Girl	Stone; Bear; A derivative of the name Arthuretta; Female version of Arthur; From the Roman clan name
Arthurine		Girl	Stone; Bear; A derivative of the name Arthuretta; Female version of Arthur; From the Roman clan name
Artur		Boy	Bear
Arvy		Boy	Friend of the people
Arwin		Boy	White; Fair
Ascher		Boy	Happy; Blessed; Occupational name for an ashmaker
Asmus		Boy	A lovely person
Asser		Boy	Happy; Blessed; Cute; A variant of the name Asher
Astan		Boy	A settlement found in the east
Aswine		Boy	A person who is friends with the Gods
Athanasius		Boy	Resurrection; Immortal; Variant of the name Anastasius
Atre		Boy	Stone; Bear; Thor; The eagle ; A variant form of Arthur
Atreyu		Boy	Son of all; Great warrior
Auberi		Unisex	Rule of an Elf; powerful and kind hearted
Auberon		Girl	Noble bear; Elf ruler; Supernaturally powerful
Aubriana		Girl	Elf ruler; Supernaturally powerful; Blond ruler; Rules with Elf-wisdom
Aubrianne		Girl	Elf Ruler; Supernaturally powerful; Combination of name Aubrey and Anna; Blond Ruler; Rules with Elf-wisdom
Aubrielle		Girl	A modern German name
Aubry		Girl	Elf king
Aude		Girl	Elf Ruler; Supernaturally powerful; A variant of name Aubrey; Blond Ruler; Rules with Elf-wisdom
Audene		Girl	Noble strength; Nobility and strength; Nobility; A variant of name Audrey
Audre		Girl	Noble strength; Nobility and strength; Nobility; A variant of name Audrey
Audrea		Girl	Noble strength; Nobility and strength; Nobility; A variant of the name Audrey
Audreana		Girl	Noble strength; Nobility and strength; Nobility; A variant of name Audrey
Audreanna		Girl	Noble strength; Nobility and strength; Nobility; A variant of name Audrey
Audri		Girl	Noble strength; Nobility and strength; Nobility; A variant of name Audrey
Audria		Girl	Noble strength; Nobility and strength; Nobility; A variant of the name Audrey
Audriana		Girl	Noble strength; Strong; Rich; Nobility; A combination of the names Audrey and Anna
Audrianna		Girl	Noble strength; Nobility and strength; Nobility; A variant of the name Audrey
Audric		Boy	Old and powerful ruler; A variant name from Aldrich
Audrie		Girl	Noble strength; Nobility and strength; Nobility; A variant of name Audrey
Audrielle		Girl	Noble strength; Nobility and strength; Nobility; A variant of name Audrey
Audris		Girl	Noble strength; Nobility and Strength; Nobility; Lucky; A variant of name Audrey
Audry		Girl	Noble strength; Nobility and strength; Nobility; A variant of name Audrey

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