On the hunt for a gorgeous German baby name that honors their heritage?
Or perhaps youāre drawn to the allure of vintage baby names.
No matter your motivations, these Old German names could be the way to go.
Theyāre cool, quirky, and anything but run-of-the-mill.
And the best part?
Itās tradition in Germany to give your child several first names.
So if youāre stuck and canāt choose just one, feel free to use many!
In this article: š
- What is the most German first name?
- What is a classic German first name?
- What is the rarest German name?
- More Old German names for girls
- More Old German names for boys
What is the most German first name?
While we canāt say for sure what the most German first name ever is, we can give you ideas for those that have been around for a long time.
The Germanic peoples of Northern Europe traveled down from Scandinavia in the first millennium BC.
The language they spoke closely resembles Germanic languages today, although their tribes were made up of Vandals, Franks, Saxons, Swedes, and others.
Old German names were often combinations of specific roots like ermen in the case of Emma, or adal in Ada.
Thatās why youāll see so many of the same themes running throughout the names.
Often those of nobility, peace, bravery, and strength.
Weāve broken them down separately into Germans names for boys and girls below, but we encourage you to go with the title that speaks the loudest to you.
What is a very German name for a girl?
If you want an authentic German name, embrace the old-fashioned.
Or at least the most enduring.
Here are the most German names for girls that have held the top spot for decades:
- Amelia: This name meaning āworkā comes from Amalia.
- Claudia: Meaning āenclosureā or ālameāāan intriguing meaning for a name made famous by supermodel star Claudia Schiffer. šø
- Ella: Most associate this sweet name with its Hebrew meaning of āgoddessā. Others consider Ella a variation of the German word alia meaning āotherā. Either way, itās a long-favored German girlās name.
- Emma: Originally a diminutive form of Germanic names that began with the ermen root, meaning āwholeā or āuniversalā, Emma has come to hold its own.
- Emmeline: Also a derivative of Amal/Amalia meaning āworkā, this classic name has all sorts of charm.
- Gisila: This name we now know as Giselle is as gorgeous as the famous model herself. It means āpledgeā.
- Greta: An Old German baby name infused with Hollywood glamor thanks to Greta Garbo. It means āpearlā. š½
- Heidi: Another German model to make the top spot. Heidi is the shortened version of Adelheid, meaning ānoble and sereneā.
- Ida: This short and sweet name means āindustrious oneā or āyouthfulā.
- Ilse: Meaning āoath of Godā. You might recognize this as Elsa. āļø
What is a very German boyās name?
The most common German names are often taken from Biblical inspiration or tend to be rooted in Latin, Greek, and Germanic languages.
These are the top traditional German names for boys that have rarely swayed over the years:
- Bruno: Here, we have to talk about Bruno and its old German meaning of āarmorā, āprotectionā, and ābrownā.
- Dieter: Meaning āarmy of the peopleā. A long-reigning popular German, Dieter has been borne by German politicians, actors, athletes, and celebrities over the past century.
- Fritz: Meaning āpeaceful rulerā. āš¼
- Johann: Meaning āGod is graciousā.
- Karl: This well-known German name meaning āfree manā evolved into the royal-sounding Charles. š¤“
- Hans: As much a popular Scandinavian boyās name as a German one, Hans means āGod is graciousā.
- Klaus: Meaning āvictory of the peopleā.
- Otto or Otis: This luxurious name means āwealthyā. šøšøšø
- Reinhard: A variation on Reynard, meaning ācounselā and ābraveā or āhardyā. šš½āāļø
- Wilhelm: An enduring Old German name related to William. It means āwill helmetā.
What is a classic German first name?
So weāve tackled the most German first names with a shout-out to the most popular picks that have captured parentsā hearts for over a century.
But what about the more traditional German names?
Nothing says classic than those old German names gearing up to make a comebackāafter all, what is a classic but a beautifully aged piece that never goes out of styleā¦
Classic German names for girls
These traditional German girl names are sure to cause a stir in the near future. Watch this space!
- Astrid: This authentic German name means āsuper strengthā. š¦øš»āāļø
- Berhta: This might look like a spelling mistake, but it is actually the older form of what we now know as Bertha, meaning ābright and famousā.
- Caroline: With its many forms like Karolina, Carrie, Lina, and Kerrolyn, this versatile name means āstrongā. šš¼āāļø
- Frieda: A lovely German girlās name meaning āpeacefulā, rooted in the Old High German Fridu.
- Gertrudis: Now known as Gertrude, this classic name means āstrengthā.
- Inga: Feminine form of Inge, meaning āheroās daughterā. A subtle self-five. š
- Linda: This modern-sounding name is actually a medieval short form of Germanic names with the root lind, meaning āflexibleā, āsoftā, or āmildā.
- Lorelei: Meaning āalluringā, this German name is unsurprisingly the name of Marilyn Monroeās character in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. š±āāļø
- Millicent: This old-fashioned name meaning āgentle strengthā comes with the adorable diminutive of Millie.
- Willa: This feminine version of the classic name William means āresolute protectionā.
Classic German names for boys
You may recognize some of these Old German namesāthe hallmarks of a true classic name.
Who knows, you may even see one in a whole new light:
- Archibald: This long name is so easily shortened to the ever-popular stand-alone Archie, and means ātruly braveā. š§āāļø
- Dietrich: Meaning āever-powerful rulerā.
- Ernst: Meaning āvigorousā.
- Frederick: This powerful-sounding name means āpeaceful rulerā and pares down so nicely into Fred.
- Heimrich: This Old Germanic name means āestate rulerā and has evolved into Henri and Henry over the years. All three are super strong and commanding. š
- GĆ¼nter: Meaning ābattlerā and āwarriorā.
- Norbert: Once popular, this cute name has become a bit of a rare gem. It means ābright Northā.
- Robert: Another one weāve all heard before, this name means ābright flameā. š„
- Ulrich: Meaning āprosperityā and āpowerā.
- Vulfgang: A true classic, this Old German name molded into Wolfgang over the years. Sure, it may have fallen out of favor in the past few decades, but with a meaning like āone who follows the path of the wolfā, itās definitely en route for a comeback. šŗ
What is the rarest German name?
Again, the more ancient ones probably top the list when it comes to the most rare.
In many of the names below, youāll see weāve included the original version of the name as well as the more modern form (which is often easier to pronounce!):
- Adalberht: Meaning ānobleā or ābrightā. This fearsome name softened over the years into the cute Albert. āļø
- Adalfuns: This name becomes Alfonso in more modern times. āļø
- Adelheidis: This tricky to say if-you-donāt-speak-Old-German name has evolved into the gorgeous Ada, which means ānobleā. āļø
- Alia: This name meaning ācompletelyā or āfairy maidenā has both Hebrew and old Germanic connections. Its more modern version is Ella. āļø
- Chlodovech: This ancient form of Ludwig means āfamous warriorā. āļø
- Eberhard: This strong name meaning ābrave as a wild boarā is more commonly seen in its modern form Everett. āļø
- Edeltraud: Pronounced e-del-trowt, it means āof noble attitudeā. āļø
- Godafrid: An Old High German name that once belonged to a 9th-century Danish Viking leader. This older form of Godfrey means āgodā and āpeaceā. āļø
- Haribert: This old Germanic name has shifted into Herbert over the years and means āarmyā, āwarriorā, and ābrightā. āļø
- Heimo: This interesting boyās name draws on the root of heim, meaning āhomeā. āļø
- Odilia: With roots meaning both āfatherlandā and āwealthā, this stunning name is a great choice if youāre looking to rock a vintage vibe. āļø
- Saxa: This fabulous girlās name is the older form of the more familiar Saskia and refers to a Saxon woman. āļø
More Old German names for girls
When it comes to old German girl names, these are our favorites.
They are strong, fierce, and striking. What a gift to give to your girl child!
- Alba: A lovely little name meaning āelfā. š§š¼āāļø
- Alheit: An Old High German short form of Adelheid. It means ānoble kindā. š«
- Anke: Meaning āGod has favored meā. A variation of Anna, popular in Germany and the Netherlands.
- Anneliese: Another variation, this time joined with the Dutch name Leise. Together they form the meaning āgraced with Godās bountyā.
- Ava: A name that has become popular in recent times, Ava is a short form of Germanic names beginning with avi, like Avila. It means ābirdlikeā or āvoiceā. š¶
- Charlotte: Meaning āfree oneā. Its pet name Lotte is also an Old German favorite.
- Elke: Meaning ānobleā. An Old German name made iconic by the 1960s actress Elke Sommers. š
- Genovefa: This ancient name evolved into Genevieve, meaning āof the race of womenā.
- Gesche: An Old High German name meaning āspearā or āpowerā.
- Gisela: Meaning āpledgeā.
- Hanna: The less common version of the Hebrew girlās name Hannah. This one is actually a short form of Johanna and means āGod is graciousā.
- Hedy: From the Old High German name Hedwig, it means ābattleā or ācombatā.
- Hilda: This strong female name has a mighty meaningāābattleā.
- Hildegard: Another badass German name from the Old German word hild. This one also means ābattleā and has been in use since the 8th century.
- Ima: This lovely variant of Emma is ever so sweet.
- Ingeborg: A rare German name rooted in Old Norse. It means āthe help of Ingā and has been in (limited) use since the mid-19th century. Its most iconic bearer? The feminist Austrian poet, Ingeborg Bachmann. āš¼
- KƤte: Meaning āpureāāa German variation of Katherine.
- Leyna: Meaning ālittle angelā. šŖ¶
- Matilda: This popular name means ābattle mightyā.
- Margaretha: Meaning āpearlā, Margaretha is rooted in the Greek margarĆtÄs.
- Maud: Meaning āstrength in battleā. āļø
- Monika: Meaning āadvisorā or āuniqueā.
- Nadine: A lovely name meaning ābrave as a bearā. š»
- Pepin: Meaning āperseveranceā.
- Roderica: Feminine form of Roderick meaning āfamous oneā.
- Rosmunda: This is the Germanic form of the lovely Rosamund, meaning āprotectionā.
- Roza: From its Germanic roots, Roza means āfameā.
- Saskia: A name that shares Dutch heritage. It means āsaxonā.
- Sigfrida: Meaning āpeaceful victoryā. š§š¾āāļø
- Sonja: Primarily of Scandinavian origin, this variation of Sophia has been a favored choice in Germany for decades. It means āwisdomā. š¦
- Waltraud: A combination of the Old German elements wald (meaning āruleā) and drud (meaning āstrengthā).
- Win: Meaning āfriend,ā this simple little name packs a gentle punch. š
- Zelda: Meaning āgray warriorā.
- Zinnia: More a surname than an Old German name, but we think Zinnia has a hip flavor to it. Meaning āflowerā, it stems from the 18th-century German botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn. š·š»š¹
More Old German names for boys
These Old German boy names have been around for thousands of years, and many are still in use today. Check out our top picks!
- Agi: A little name with a big meaningāāedge of a swordā. š”
- Alaric: Meaning āruler of allā. āNuff said!
- Aldo: This lovely name means āoldā and possibly ānobleā.
- Alfwin: This magical-sounding name means āelf friendā. A close relative of the adorable Alvin. š§āāļøš§š½
- Anzo: An interesting name meaning āgiantā.
- Baldwin: This German name meaning āboldā and āfriendā makes a strong first name.
- Bernhard: The German variation of Bernard, this strong name means ābearā and ābraveā.
- Bertram: This name means ābright ravenā and would be perfect for a dark-haired baby.
- Conrad: Means ābrave counselā and is still a common name in modern Germany.
- Eadmund: This royal name found itself changing to Edmund, and means āwealthā and āprotectionā.
- Emmett: Weāve already heard all about the girl name Emma, but did you know it has a masculine version too? It means āuniversalā or ātruthā.
- Erwin: Meaning āarmyā and āfriendā.
- Ferdinand: Meaning ājourneyā and ādaringā. šµāāļø
- Gaston: From the Old German Gasto, this name means āforeign warriorā.
- Gerhard: Loose the āh,ā and we have the modern form of Gerard, meaning āspearā and ābrave and strongā.
- Gerold: This is the German form of Gerald, meaning āspearā and āruleā.
- Gilbert: This lovely name means bright pledgeā.
- Hermann: Meaning āarmy manā.
- Kuno: This majestic name refers to āclanā or āfamilyā. šØāš©āš§āš¦
- Lanzo: The Old German form of Lance, meaning ālandā.
- Leonard: Meaning ābrave lionā, this is a lovely name for a little fighter. š„
- Leudbald: The Old German for Leopold means āpeople āā and āboldā.
- Louis: Not just regal-sounding, this name also means ārenowned warriorā.
- Luther: Meaning āwarriorā.
- Manno: Meaning āmanā, this short form of various Germanic names stands well as a name in its own right.
- Milo: Meaning āsoldierā and āmercifulā, Mylo is an alternative spelling.
- Norman: This historic name meaning āNorthmanā refers to Vikings. š¶
- Raymond: Meaning āwise protectorā, this German name is one many of us are familiar with.
- Regin: A form of Rein meaning āadvice counselā.
- Richard: This name with Germanic roots meaning ārulerā, āmightyā, ābraveā, and āhardyā has stood the test of time.
- Rocco: This stunning ancient Germanic name means ārestā and is a popular boyās name at the moment.
- Rupert: This German form of Robert means ābright fameā.
- Sigimar: A powerful name meaning āfameā and āvictoryā.
- Waldhar: This name became the Walter we now know and means āruler of the armyā.
- Waldo: This one means āpowerfulā and ārulerā. š§š¼āāļø
- Wilbur: This cute name for a baby boy means āresoluteā and ābrilliantā.
- Willifrid: The old form of Wilfred, which means āpeaceā. š
And remember, if you canāt choose, picking more than one name for your child makes it all the more German!
Good luck!