Introduction
German names are like little time machines. Some sound old and strong. Some sound soft and sweet. Others just make you smile because they feel funny in your mouth. People in Germany use first names and last names, and each one has its own story.
In this list, you will see boy names, girl names, baby names, and even silly ones. Some names come from jobs like smith or miller. Some come from nature, history, or even kings and queens. Picking a German name is a bit like picking candy at a shop. You want one that feels right, looks cool, and maybe makes your friends laugh, too.
German Names with Meanings
This part is all about names and what they mean. Some are short, some are long, but all of them carry a story. You will see names from old times, nature, and even names that sound like they could belong to heroes. Let’s take a peek at these German names and have some fun with their meanings.
- Alaric – Means ruler of all. A strong name once used by kings.
- Brunhild – A mighty warrior woman from old German tales.
- Otmar – Means wealth and fame. A mix of money and spotlight.
- Gertrud – Comes from words for spear and strength. A sharp and brave name.
- Wolfhart – Means strong wolf. Good for someone with a wild heart.
- Irmgard – Means whole and protection. A name that hugs you.
- Eberhard – Means strong as a boar. Tough and not easy to push.
- Liesel – A sweet short form of Elisabeth. Soft and kind.
- Manfred – Means man of peace. A calm name even if the person is noisy.
- Adelina – Means noble and gentle. A shiny little name.
- Heinmar – Means home and famous. Sounds like a cozy star.
- Wiltrud – Means will and strength. For someone who never gives up.
- Hartwig – Means strong in battle. A name ready for action.
- Sibylle – Old name linked to prophet women who could tell the future.
- Dankmar – Means famous for thanks. A polite name that remembers manners.
- Alwine – Means friend of all. A buddy kind of name.
- Edelhard – Means noble and strong. A fancy but tough name.
- Hildebrand – Means sword and fire. A fiery hero-type name.
- Clarimund – Means bright protector. Like a shining guard.
- Irmgart – Close to Irmgard, meaning complete protection.
- Siglinde – Means gentle victory. A soft but winning name.
- Kunibert – Means brave and bright. A cheerful knight-like name.
- Odilia – Means wealth. A name that sparkles with gold.
- Bernfried – Means bear and peace. A cuddly but calm name.
- Wendelina – Linked to wanderers. A name for someone who loves to roam.
- Arndt – Means eagle power. Strong wings in one name.
- Friedlinde – Means peace and tender. A name with a gentle smile.
- Volker – Means people’s guard. A friendly protector.
- Engelbert – Means bright angel. Like someone glowing with wings.
- Kriemhild – A lady from old tales. Brave and remembered in stories.
- Harmut – Means brave mind. A thinker and a fighter.
- Anselma – Means divine protection. A heavenly shield.
- Dietmar – Means famous among the people. A known and loved name.
- Roswitha – Means strong fame. Like a flower with power.
- Ruprecht – Old form of Robert. Known as a helper and bringer of gifts.
- Leuthold – Means people and ruler. A leader type of name.
- Walburga – Linked to an old saint. A holy and kind name.
- Ortwin – Means friend of the spear. Sharp but loyal.
- Kunigunde – Means brave in the family. A royal lady’s name.
- Theobald – Means bold and brave. A fearless soul.
- Isolde – A tragic but famous lady from love stories.
- Friedemar – Means peaceful fame. A calm star kind of name.
- Brunhard – Means brown and strong. Steady like the earth.
- Mechthild – Means mighty in battle. A name with power inside.
- Wigbert – Means bright in war. A shining fighter’s name.
Popular German Boy Names
Now we step into the land of boy names. Some are short and quick, some are long and bold, and a few sound like they came from fairy tales. These names are popular, easy to say, and fun to hear. Let’s roll through them like marbles on the floor.
- Klaus
- Rainer
- Matthias
- Bruno
- Jürgen
- Dieter
- Tobias
- Ulf
- Carsten
- Dirk
- Florian
- Holger
- Stefan
- Armin
- Götz
- Falko
- Hendrik
- Moritz
- Rolf
- Hagen
- Niklas
- Eckhart
- Fabian
- Konrad
- Torsten
- Bastian
- Gregor
- Volkhart
- Lennart
- Siegfried
Popular German Girl Names
Now it is time for the girl names. Some sound soft like a lullaby, some sound strong like a mountain, and some are just playful like kittens. Here comes a basket full of pretty and powerful names.
- Greta
- Monika
- Elke
- Annalena
- Katrin
- Silke
- Ute
- Veronika
- Jutta
- Anke
- Renate
- Marlies
- Lorelei
- Heike
- Dagmar
- Hilde
- Carina
- Angelika
- Ilse
- Petra
- Gudrun
- Bettina
- Cornelia
- Friederike
- Sabine
- Astrid
- Leonie
- Marita
- Susanne
- Kerstin
- Waltraud
- Rosina
- Hannelore
- Ivonne
- Gisela
- Klara
- Sonja
- Tabea
- Margot
- Nadine
- Lotte
- Brigitte
- Ingeborg
- Miriam
- Carola
- Wilma
- Ramona
- Hedwig
- Selma
- Yvonne
- Isabell
Traditional German Names
These names feel like old castles, deep forests, and fairy tales. They have been around for a long time and still sound strong today. Some are short and simple, some are long and noble, and all carry that old German charm.
- Albrecht
- Hildegarde
- Wolfram
- Ottilie
- Berthold
- Irmgarde
- Gunther
- Adelheid
- Eckhart
- Walburga
- Siegmund
- Margarethe
- Reinhard
- Gerlinde
- Baldur
- Kunigunde
- Hartmut
- Thekla
- Arnulf
- Dorothea
- Oswald
- Hedwig
- Dietlinde
- Wulfhart
- Mechtild
- Lambert
- Roswitha
- Winfried
- Balthasar
- Gudula
- Conradin
- Traugott
- Ermentrude
- Ludwig
- Brunhilda
- Severin
- Waltraut
- Gottfried
- Hermengard
- Leopold
Modern German Names
These names feel fresh, stylish, and light. They are the kind of names you hear in busy cities, schools, or even on social media. Some are short and catchy, others sound sleek and cool. Let’s check out this list of modern picks.
- Mila
- Jonas
- Lina
- Finn
- Amelie
- Jannik
- Nele
- Timo
- Selina
- Levin
- Malou
- Fabian
- Zoe
- Joris
- Kian
- Lias
- Emilia
- Luca
- Pia
- Jule
- Yannick
- Elina
- Noel
- Leni
- Marlon
- Kiara
- Damian
- Sina
- Fabio
- Mailin
- Tamino
- Carlotta
- Benno
- Yara
- Florin
Unique German Names
These names stand out like bright shoes in a crowd. They are rare, playful, and sometimes sound like they come from a storybook. If you want a name that feels special and not too common, this list is for you.
- Alaruna
- Berengar
- Cyrielle
- Dankwart
- Elswyth
- Falkomar
- Gerwin
- Harlindis
- Ingomar
- Jolenta
- Karibert
- Leofrid
- Marlisande
- Norwin
- Ortrun
- Philomine
- Quirin
- Radegund
- Selwine
- Trutzhelm
- Ursalinde
- Volkhilde
- Winibald
- Xandrine
- Ysmara
- Zenobius
- Arbogast
- Beltruna
- Corvinian
- Drusilda
- Ethelwolf
- Floribert
- Gismara
- Hadubrand
- Irmintrud
- Jorindel
- Kreszentia
- Lothara
- Marquard
- Norberta
- Ortlieb
- Pernilla
- Quenelda
- Reinmar
- Sylvane
- Theodelinda
- Ulbrich
- Valeska
- Wendelin
- Ysentrude
- Zobert
Cute German Names
These names are like little cookies, sweet and fun to say. They sound soft, happy, and sometimes a bit silly. Perfect for kids, pets, or anyone who likes a smile in their name.
- Leni
- Momo
- Fritzi
- Anni
- Pippa
- Tilli
- Nelly
- Lotte Marie
- Hansi
- Mimi
- Bubi
- Roschen
- Gretel
- Kiki
- Lilo
- Hansi Boy
- Emmi
- Baby Lotte
- Tilda
- Susi
- Maxi
- Lotti
- Jani
- Coco
- Rosi
- Pupsi
- Bärli
- Sissi
- Elli
- Dori
- Poldi
- Trudi
- Mäusi
- Feli
- Minna
- Hedi
- Karo
- Peppi
- Hasi
- Bibi
Funny German Names
These names can make you giggle, grin, or even snort a little. Some sound silly, some sound odd, and some just feel like they belong in a comedy show. They may not be the most serious, but they sure are fun.
- Wackelkopf
- Knödel Karl
- Bratwurst Ben
- Giggli
- Pommes Peter
- Quatschkopf
- Sauerkraut Sam
- Schmatzi
- Drolli
- Kicher Klaus
- Zappelphilipp
- Keks Karlchen
- Mampfi
- Quassel
- Hoppla Heinz
- Schokobär
- Döner Dieter
- Purzelchen
- Wurstl
- Schmatz Bruno
- Witzbold Willi
- Flummi Fritz
- Quirli
- Krümel Kurt
- Lolli Lutz
- Kichererbse
- Lachmax
- Schnurri
- Bimmel Basti
- Pausenbrot Paul
- Juxi
- Wacki Wulf
- Knabber Karl
- Törtchen Tim
- Knautsch Hansi
- Schmunzel
- Quirksi
- Ulki
- Pudding Peter
- Scherzbold
- Funki Fabi
- Kicher Konny
- Bubi Blubb
- Brummbaer
- Wackelpudding Wolfgang
Famous German Names from History & Culture
These names echo through books, music, art, and big events. Some belong to thinkers, some to rulers, and some to artists who left their mark. They are the names that remind us of history class, museums, and even grand old stories.
- Johann Wolfgang
- Martin Luther
- Clara Schumann
- Ludwig Erhard
- Friedrich Nietzsche
- Albertus Magnus
- Sophie Scholl
- Heinrich Heine
- Thomas Mann
- Richard Wagner
- Konrad Adenauer
- Hermann Hesse
- Käthe Kollwitz
- Max Planck
- Karl Marx
- Angela Merkel
- Johann Sebastian
- Otto Dix
- Erich Maria
- Walter Gropius
- Gerhart Hauptmann
- Marlene Dietrich
- Günter Grass
- Paul Klee
- Wilhelm Röntgen
- Ernst Bloch
- Joseph Beuys
- Hildegard von Bingen
- Hans Zimmer
- Immanuel Kant
- Carl Benz
- Gustav Mahler
- Hannah Arendt
- Caspar David Friedrich
- Albrecht Dürer
German Last Names & Surnames
Last names in Germany often came from jobs, places, or funny little details about people. They sound strong, clever, and sometimes even tasty if you think of food. Here’s a big bag of German surnames to peek at.
- Krüger
- Albrecht
- Faber
- Brandt
- Jäger
- Reinhardt
- Vogt
- Pfeiffer
- Baumann
- Herzog
- Seifert
- Kuhn
- Maurer
- Krämer
- Busch
- Dreher
- Sommerfeld
- Thiel
- Nestler
- Beckmann
- Urban
- Metzger
- Eppstein
- Kraft
- Geiger
- Hornung
- Adler
- Ziegler
- Köhler
- Schott
- Ottmann
- Burger
- Lindner
- Stark
- Vetter
- Abelmann
- Günther
- Drescher
- Benzinger
- Falkenstein
- Heller
- Blumhardt
- Nickel
- Forster
- Riedl
- Ackermann
- Zoller
- Dietrich
- Hartmann
- Osterloh
- Gerber
German Baby Names
Baby names are tiny and cute, just like little socks that never seem to stay on. These names are soft, sweet, and perfect for the newest family member. Here’s a cozy bundle of baby names to enjoy.
- Leni
- Emil
- Greta
- Oskar
- Lotte
- Theo
- Anni
- Karlchen
- Milla
- Jona
- Fritzi
- Paula
- Benny
- Susi
- Timo
- Hedi
- Leonie
- Moritz
- Elli
- Pippa
- Jonas
- Klara
- Max
- Nelly
- Bruno
- Caro
- Hansi
- Lina
- Fabian
- Mimi
- Malte
- Wilma
- Finn
- Rosi
- Kiki
- Paul
- Lilo
- Greta Marie
- Basti
- Jana
How to Choose the Perfect German Name
Picking a German name is a bit like picking ice cream. You want one that makes you happy, feels good, and maybe even surprises you. Some names are strong like chocolate, some are soft like vanilla, and some are funny like bubble gum flavor.
First, think about the style you like. Do you want a name that sounds old and royal, or do you want one that feels new and shiny? Both can be good.
Second, say the name out loud. If it makes you smile or feels easy to say, that’s a good sign. If your tongue gets stuck, maybe try another one.
Third, think about what the name means. Some German names talk about peace, strength, or even wolves. That can make the name extra special.
And last, have fun with it. A name should feel like a friend who stays with you. If it makes you giggle or feel proud, then you picked the right one.
Wrapping It Up With a Smile
German names are like little treasures. Some are strong, some are cute, and some are just plain silly. You can find names that sound like kings, names that sound like kittens, and even names that make you laugh.
The best part is you get to choose the one that feels right for you. A name can be short, long, funny, or serious. No matter what, it will carry a story. So go ahead, pick your favorite, and let the name shine like a bright button on your shirt.
