How to Give Your Baby a German Name

If you have a German background, keep your family history alive with a German name for your baby. Below are some suggestions, with proper spellings and meanings.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Baby Names
• Books Of German Names
• Genealogy Books
• Internet Access
• Computers
• Genealogy Software

1. Select a name that means intelligence. For a girl, Birdie, short for Alberta or Bertha, means brilliant ruler. For a boy, Bardolf means bright wolf.

2. Opt for a positive, happy name. For girls, Hedy means delightful and sweet. Gretchen, Greta and Gretel (all forms of Margaret) mean pearl. For boys, Medwin means faithful friend and Ottokar means happy warrior.

3. Decide on a name synonymous with courage. For girls, try Dustine for valiant fighter, Delana for noble protector and Hedda for battler. For boys, Baldric means brave ruler, Bernard means brave as a bear and Len means brave as a lion.

4. Try a virtuous name. For girls, Annchen (a form of Anna) means gracious, and Katrina means pure.

5. Choose a name that symbolizes love - Mina for a girl.

6. Opt for a name that symbolizes power. For girls, Frederica, or Fritzi, means peaceful ruler; Brunhilda means armored warrior; and Raina means mighty. For boys, Dieter means army of the people, Otto means rich, Kasper means imperial and Ewald means always powerful.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep in mind that these names come from various parts of the country and can be derived from different cultures. The spellings and meaning may vary slightly from region to region - check with your family or other resources if this is important in naming your child.