The study of names is called onomatology. It covers a specific subset of etymology, or the study of words, that deals with what we call each other. It’s a fascinating field of study in all countries, but in Germany especially, the traditions of naming yourself or your child go back to the founding of the country.
German names are heavily tied to family lines and inheritance. They’re put through strict quality control, and can range from somewhat traditional names like Friedrich to universal names like Hannah. Many popular German names come from the Jewish and Christian Bibles.
Here are Germany’s most influential names, and what they mean.
Read more: 324 German Boy Names / 265 German Girl Names
German Naming Traditions
Like most Western languages, Germans typically have two “personal” names that appear in front of their “family” name. These personal names are what we’d typically call the “first” and “middle” names, and are how people are referred to on a regular basis.
The family name is passed down patrilineally, or through the male line from father to son. Women generally take their husband’s last name when they marry, although this is not always the case. The family name is presented at the end of the name when written down (i.e., if a man were named John Adam Smith, “Smith” would be assumed to be the family name).
German first and middle names are usually gendered male or female. Naming a child after one or more of their grandparents and other family members is traditional, though it’s becoming less common in the modern era. According to Family Tree Magazine, tradition has children named in a specific order.
- The first son would be named for the paternal grandfather (the father’s father).
- The second son would be named for the maternal grandfather (mother’s father).
- The third son would be named for the father.
- Any subsequent sons would be named for uncles or cousins.
The same pattern would follow for the daughters with the women in the family.
Historical German Names
Sometimes the best place to start when deciding on a name is the language that you speak. In the case of German, this frequently leads to very traditional, if not particularly popular, naming choices.
Friedrich or Fritz
This name comes from the word “Frieden,” which means “peace.” As a whole, it means “peaceful ruler.” It’s been a popular name for the royal line in Germany and Austria for centuries, as well as a common name among philosophers (Schiller and Nietzsche, in particular).
Ludwig
This name comes from the Old High German for “famous warrior.” It was extremely popular in the 1890s, to the point that 43 babies per million born were christened with the name.
Wolfgang
A somewhat outdated name, “Wolfgang” means about what you think it does – it’s Old High German for “path of the wolf,” possibly indicating a sense of leadership and responsibility.
Dieter
A shortened version of Dietrich, this name comes from the German for “people,” sometimes translated as “army of the people” or “people ruler.” It’s not a particularly popular name anymore, although it was fairly common in the 1930s and 1940s.
Otto
This name comes from Old High German, and means “wealth” or “prosperity.” It was the name of the first chancellor of modern Germany, who took office in 1871, and of Anne Frank’s father.
Ilse or Elsa
This name means “consecrated to God,” and was extremely popular in the 1800s. It’s derivative of the name “Elizabeth.”
Ingrid or Inge
This name originally indicated a devotion to the Nordic deity Ing, also called Yngvi or Freyr, the god of fertility and peace. It was very popular in the late 1800s but has since declined in popularity. Interestingly, this name is also tied to Norse runic tradition, a method of foreseeing the future, in which the rune “Ingwaz” (again named for the god) symbolizes peace, harmony, and undying love.
Petra
The female version of the name Peter, this comes from the Greek for “stone” or “rock,” and refers to Saint Peter, an apostle of Christ.
Biblical Names in Germany
As Germany, like much of the Western world, has heavy Christian influences, it’s unsurprising that many of the most popular names in the country are pulled from the Good Book and Christian tradition. There are also a good many names that come from Hebrew and find their origins in the Jewish Bible.
Here are some of the most popular Biblical names in Germany.
Georg
A Germanization of the name “George,” this is a reference to Saint George, the patron of England, who was a martyr that died defending persecuted Christians in the 300s AD Roman Empire. It comes from the Greek “georgios,” meaning “rustic,” or “georgos,” meaning “farmer.”
Jakob
This name, also spelled Jacob, comes from the Biblical father of the founders of the 13 tribes of Israel. It comes from Hebrew and means “supplanter.”
Anna or Anja
This was the name of the mother of the Virgin Mary. It has its roots in the Hebrew “Hannah,” which means “graced by God.”
Maria
This name is a derivative of Mary, as in the Virgin Mary, and is a popular name the world over. It comes from the Latin for “of the sea” or “bitter.” It can also count its origins among Hebrew names, where it is derived from Miriam, which meant “beloved.”
Interestingly, in Germany, this is considered to be a gender-neutral middle name and can be used for both boys and girls.
Christina or Christian
Perhaps the simplest Biblical name to trace, these names mean “follower of Christ.” They remain very popular in countries across the world.
Common German Names
Nowadays, German names have become more culturally diverse. The names parents are picking for their kids are common in many Western countries, and derive from many other languages.
Here are some of the most common German names.
Common German Last Names
Having talked a lot about first names, it’s time to pay attention to some of the most common family names in Germany. Most are derived from occupational work, as this was how families were distinguished historically.
Muller
This surname, spelled with or without an umlaut over the “u,” literally means “miller.” It’s the fifth most common last name in Austria. Variants of the name include “Miller” and “Möller,” which are popular in different regions of Germany.
Schmidt
This is pulled from the German word “schmied,” which means “blacksmith” or “metalworker.” It’s the German equivalent of “Smith.”
Schmitz
This name is actually derivative of “Schmidt.” It’s the patronymic version, which means it translates as “son of Schmidt.” It’s the 24th most common surname in Germany.
Schneider
This name means “tailor” or “someone who cuts,” as it’s pulled from the verb “schneiden,” “to cut.” In some iterations, it might refer to a woodcutter. Alternative equivalents include “Snider” and “Shnayder.”
Fischer
It means exactly what it sounds like – “fisherman.” This is the fourth most common German surname.
Weber or Webber
From the verb “weben” meaning “to weave,” this referred to a “weaver,” as of clothing or netting. This name is common across central and eastern Europe.
Meyer, Mayer, or Meier
These and other spellings come from the Old English, “maire,” meaning an officer in charge of legal matters or a wealthy landowner (the same word from which we derive “mayor,” the office name). The Jewish origins of the name translate it as “enlightener.”
Wagner
Derived from an older name, “Waganari,” it means “wagon maker” or “wagon driver.” It’s related to, though not a direct translation of, the common English surname, “Carter.”
Common German Baby Girl Names
These are common names for a baby girl in Germany.
Mia
From a Scandinavian word meaning “of the sea” or “bitter,” this name has been on the rise in popularity recently in many countries. It’s a diminutive of “Maria,” meaning that it also carries a Biblical connotation.
Emma
This name comes from the Germanic “ermen,” which means “universal” or “whole.” It’s sometimes attributed to the Latin root of the same meaning, and was a popular name in the 1970s in Europe, especially in Great Britain.
Dorothea or Dorothy
These names, common variations on each other, come from the Greek “doron” or “gift” and “theos” or “god,” giving it the meaning “gift of God” (the same meaning applies to the name Theodora, which is a reversal of the roots). It can also be attributed as an adaptation of the Gaelic “Ó Dorchiadhe,” meaning “descendant of the dark one” (“dorcha” meaning “dark”).
Common German Baby Boy Names
Likewise, here are common names for a baby boy in Germany.
Ben or Benjamin
Yet another name of Biblical origin, this comes from the Hebrew “Binyamin,” which means “son of my right hand.” It refers to the figure in Genesis, the youngest son of Jacob who founded one of the twelve tribes of Israel. It remains a wildly popular name around the world.
Jonas
Once again, this comes from Hebrew (“Yona”), and means “dove.” It can also be attributed to certain medieval personal names from Slovak (“Jonáš”) and Hungarian (“Jónás”). The Biblical namesake is best remembered for his encounter with an enormous fish, which swallowed him and delivered him safely to Nineveh after he had been cast overboard by his fellow sailors to appease God during a storm.
Leon
The origins of this name are split two main ways. The first is in the Latin “legio,” denoting a section of the Roman army, which can be taken to mean “soldier.” The second, and more common, meaning interpretation is that of the Greek, meaning “lion.”
The Most Popular German Baby Names
According to the Society for the German Language (or the GfdS), there were some interesting results for the most common German first names of all time. This took into account records of German name declarations and birth certificates, as well as opinion polls for particular names’ popularity. Because of conventional German law, the list was easily split between girls’ and boys’ names.
The Top Five German Girl’s Names
The most popular girl’s names in Germany of all time are:
- Marie
- Sophie or Sofie
- Maria and Stephanie
- Lisa
- Katharina
These names are popular around the world (although some seem to be on the decline), but have seen a rise specifically in Germany. Having already covered some of these above, here are the meanings of the rest of these popular names.
Sophie or Sofie
This name is commonly said to derive from French, but originally, it was pulled from Greek, and means “wisdom.” It’s been used as far back as the fourth century and continues to be an extremely popular name in the Western world.
Stephanie
The feminized version of the name “Steven,” this comes from the Greek “stephanos,” meaning “crown.” It has been a popular name for royalty in France especially, although it has been declining in countries outside of Germany for quite some time.
Lisa
This is a common shortening or diminutive of “Elizabeth,” and occasionally of “Melissa.” It’s a name of English origin, although it comes from the Hebrew roots of “Elizabeth,” which means “God is my oath” or “God’s promise,” depending on the translation.
It may also be interpreted as an adaptation of the name “Luisa,” which is the feminization of “Louis” and comes from the Latin for “famed warrior.”
Katharina
This is just one of the many spellings for this popular name of Greek origin. Its root word is “Aikaterine,” which, according to some sources, derives from the goddess of magic, Hekate. It is popularly interpreted as “pure,” although it could also mean “each of two,” “torture,” or “far away.”
Some other common variations include Katarina, Catarina Katherine, Catherine, Kathryn, Cathryn, and Katrina.
The Top Five German Boy’s Names
The most popular German boy’s names of all time are:
- Christian and Maximillian
- Alexander
- Daniel and Philipp
- Leon
- Lukas or Lucas
Once again, these are names that are popular globally but have taken particular root in German society. Excepting the names that have already been covered in this article, here’s what they mean, and where they came from.
Maximillian
Sharing its roots with the word “maximum,” this name comes from the Latin “Maximus,” or “greatest.” It was the name of two leaders of the Holy Roman Empire and several Christian martyrs. It is popularly shortened to “Max.”
Alexander
Another name of noble popularity, this comes from the combination of the Greek words “alexein” meaning “to repel” and “andros” or “aner” meaning “man.” Put together, this meant “repeller of men,” and was indicative of a warrior or public defender.
The most popular namesake for this is Alexander the Great, conqueror of Macedonia and legendary strategist. It has been a popular name in royal lines around the world since the middle ages.
Daniel
From Hebrew, this means “God is my judge,” and is the name of a major Biblical prophet best known for survival against a den of lions into which he was thrown. It is a base name for many German surnames including Danielsen and Danell.
Philipp
Alternatively, and more commonly, spelled “Philip,” this comes from the Greek words “philos,” for “lover” or “dear” and “hippos” for “horses,” making its composite meaning “lover of horses” or “one who holds horses dear.”
This is another royal family favorite and again stretches back to the fourth century, with the father of Alexander the Great, Philip of Macedonia.
Famous German Names
Sometimes you get to know a name because of the person it’s associated with. Sometimes, the rise to fame of a person can mean the growth in popularity of the name. Other times, the name becomes a part of the national image.
Here are the meanings behind some of the most famous Germans’ names.
Johann Sebastian Bach
Born in 1770, Bach is one of the most famous composers of classical music in the world. His family name is derivative of the word for “brook” – der Bach. This means that his ancestors would have lived near a small stream and identified themselves by their geographic location.
His first name is the German version of the name “John,” and comes from the Hebrew for “God is gracious.” It’s a very popular name in both its English and German iterations.
Karl Benz
This German inventor who lived in the late 1800s and early 1900s might sound familiar – his name is half of one of the biggest luxury car brands in the world, which he helped found. His surname, Benz, was originally a shortening or nickname for Bernhard (meaning “strong bear”) or possibly Berthold (meaning “splendid ruler”).
His first name is a Germanic version of “Charles,” and in Old High German meant “freeman” or “husband.” It was a popular name among rulers of the Holy Roman Empire.
Thomas Gottschalk
Born in 1950, Thomas Gottschalk is a German radio and television host best known for the show “Wetten, dass…?” (literally, “Bet that…?”). His surname translates to “God’s servant,” although modern interpretations of the word “schalk” are closer to “scoundrel.” It was originally used as a first name.
Günter Grass
Günter Grass was a novelist, playwright, illustrator, graphic artist, and sculptor who received a Nobel Prize for his work in 1999. His surname actually has nothing to do with the plant, but instead comes from Middle High German “graz,” which means “angry.”
Grass’ first name comes from Old Norse, and means “warrior.” It was derived from “Gundahar,” a Burgundian king from the fifth century who is known from the epic poem Nibelungenlied.
Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger was the United States Secretary of State from 1973 to 1977. Born in Germany, his name was originally Heinz Alfred Kissinger. The family name “Kissinger” derives from the town of Bad Kissingen in Franconian Bavaria and was adopted by his family in the early 1800s. It’s still common for people from this town to be referred to as “Kissinger” – no relation.
Heidi Klum
This supermodel’s surname is somewhat ironic. It’s derived from old German “klumm,” meaning “short” or “limited,” or possibly “klamm,” a slang term meaning “strapped for cash.”
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Another famous German composer, who lived in the late 1700s, the name he was baptized under was significantly longer than the already wordy one everyone knows – Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart.
His (commonly used) first name is explained above to denote leadership, but, oddly enough, his surname comes from an Alemannic word, “motzen,” which means “to roll in the mud.” This was a derisive term used for someone who was seen as dirty or untidy.
Banned German Names
Submitting a name to be registered by the Standesamt costs a small fee. If a name is rejected, the parents can appeal or submit a new name, paying the fee again.
The Standesamt might reject a name if it is deemed to be:
- Associated with evil – You can’t name your child Lucifer.
- Religiously insensitive – You can’t name your child Jesus.
- Derogatory toward the child – “Ugly” is not an appropriate name.
- Commonly used as a surname – One recent example of this was a couple who had the name “Schmitz” rejected for their child’s first name.
- Associated with a brand – No little ones named Coca-Cola.
- Not indicative of the child’s gender – You cannot name your daughter Jonathan.
- For some reason, the exception to this is the name “Maria,” which can be used as a boy’s middle name.
This has caused some issues. In 2006, a Standesamt official rejected the name “Kiran” for a baby boy as, in the official’s estimation, it would cause problems with distinguishing the baby’s gender. The parents, however, claimed that it was a common Hindi boy’s name, and that to deny it was against their rights of respect to their heritage. This led to an overturning of the verdict, letting them use the name.
There have also been movements to abolish the gender requirements for names. This has resulted in the adoption of a law that allows transgender individuals to change their given name to match their identity, although it does require a waiting time of at least three years.
Registering Your Child’s Name in Germany
Baby names must be approved by the civil registration office, called the Standesamt, which handles all paperwork associated with the registration of a child’s birth or adoption. A birth can be registered by a family member, midwife, or doctor, but is most commonly registered by the child’s parent.
To register a child’s birth, the parent will need to make an appointment with their local office. This must be done within a week of the child’s birth. They’ll need to bring identification for both the parents, as well as a marriage license or proof of paternity if the parents aren’t married.
From there, they will sign the necessary paperwork and pay any fees (including a notary and printing fee for the birth certificate). The birth certificate will be mailed shortly after.
Part of this process is declaring a name for the baby. In the case of last names, if the parents are married, the child automatically gets the married surname. If they aren’t, the child automatically gets the mother’s surname.
When a name is submitted, an official will be assigned to consult a list of approved names, both domestic and foreign. If it is considered non-offensive and gender-appropriate, and, if applicable, it can be defended as a name derived from foreign culture heritage, the name is approved and added to the birth certificate.
Changing a Name In Germany
If, at some point, a person wishes to change their or their child’s name, they can do this through the Standesamt as well. Name changes are done, according to German law, to “eliminate inconveniences” in the use of a name. Common reasons to change a name include:
- A clerical error or misspelling on the birth certificate
- An adoption
- A marriage
- A person has come to identify as transgender (more on that later)
- A person has come to be ridiculed for their name
- A person’s family or personal name has become so common that it is liable to cause confusion
- A person’s family or personal name has become closely associated with a serious criminal act
A person must be at least fourteen years old to legally change their name. Even then, a minor must have their parents or other legal guardians’ approval, and they must be involved in the process.
Why German Names are Important
Naming traditions in Germany are more deeply rooted than most people realize. The country is dedicated to protecting its people, even from themselves. Having a naming regulation agency means that children and adults are allowed to enjoy the rich history of their names without being ridiculed, belittled, or shamed for them.
These names tell Germany’s story, from its original linguistic roots and ruling families to its adoption of a more global mindset in the past century. They cover people of great renown, who have contributed massively to the advancement of the modern world, and whom anyone would be happy to carry the legacy of.
A person’s name is absolutely integral to their identity, so knowing what it means and where it came from can mean having a richer understanding of one’s self and one’s connection to their country and history.