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120 names

Germanic Baby Names (Boys & Girls)

Germanic baby names built from old two-part compounds, with their meanings, modern forms and pronunciation.

Updated

Germanic names come from the languages of the early Germanic peoples and are usually made of two elements, such as Wilhelm from wil (“will, desire”) and helm (“helmet, protection”). Many reached English through the Normans, who brought names like William, Robert and Matilda to England after the Norman Conquest.

Common elements include hard (“brave, hardy”), ric (“ruler”), bert (“bright”) and frid (“peace”). Modern German, Dutch and Scandinavian forms often differ in spelling: Heinrich, Hendrik and Henrik are all forms of Henry.

Our picks

Name Gender Meaning
Felix Boy lucky, successful
Greta Girl pearl
Otto Boy wealth, fortune
Heidi Girl noble kind
Klaus Boy victory of the people
Astrid Girl god + beautiful
Hugo Boy mind, intellect
Liesel Girl God is my oath
Emil Boy rival
Ingrid Girl Ing is beautiful
Wolfgang Boy wolf path
Brunhilde Girl armour + battle

More Germanic names (108)

A

B

C

D

E

  • Ebba probably from a Germanic element meaning boar; uncertain
  • Eberhard brave as a wild boar
  • Ella all, completely
  • Elmer noble, famous
  • Eloise uncertain; possibly famous in battle
  • Elvira exact meaning uncertain; possibly all and true
  • Emery from Germanic Emmerich; the second element ric means power
  • Emma whole, universal
  • Emmett whole, universal (via Emma)
  • Enzo short form of names ending in -enzo
  • Erna serious, battle to the end
  • Ernest serious, resolute
  • Ervin form of Erwin, from Germanic elements commonly given as army and friend
  • Evelina elaboration of Aveline; meaning uncertain

F

G

H

I

  • Ida industrious one
  • Imelda whole battle
  • Ina short form of names ending in -ina
  • Irma universal
  • Ivo yew tree

J

  • Jadwiga battle, fight
  • Jarrett brave with the spear
  • Jeffrey form of Geoffrey; the second element is Germanic frid, meaning peace
  • Jocelyn from the Germanic tribal name Gauts

K

  • Kai sea; also of uncertain origin
  • Karla woman, feminine of Karl
  • Katrin pure
  • Krista feminine form of Christian; anointed

L

M

  • Magda short form of Magdalena
  • Mathilde mighty in battle
  • Matilda battle-mighty
  • Maud battle-mighty
  • Mia diminutive of Maria; mine in Italian
  • Miles possibly gracious; linked with Latin miles, soldier

N

O

  • Otis wealthy, fortunate

R

S

T

  • Terry ruler of the people

U

V

  • Vilma determined protector

W

X

  • Xiomara possibly from Guiomar, 'famous in battle'

Y

Z

  • Zelda grey battle (short for Griselda)

Frequently asked questions

What characterizes Germanic names?
Germanic names often emphasize strength, nature, and warrior qualities, reflecting the culture's connection to both natural and martial traditions.
Are Germanic names the same as German names?
Germanic refers to the broader ancient tribal culture, while German is more specific to modern Germany, though there's significant overlap.
What are some Germanic boy names?
Examples include Felix, Otto, Hugo, Klaus, and Emil.
Do Germanic names work internationally?
Many Germanic names like Felix, Otto, and Hugo have gained international appeal for their strong, distinctive sound.

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