Unique German Names
by Team NameslistPosted on: April 8th, 2023Picking a baby's name can be a big task for parents. Some like common names. Others favor unique ones. For those in the second group, know this: Germany has many cool choices.
German baby titles are famous for their meaningful roots. Some are drawn from old Norse or German mythology. Others relate to nature, jobs or colors. We've put together a collection of unusual and unique German baby names.
Sure, some names may seem odd or different. But each one has a story and meaning. From "Alaric," meaning "ruler of all," to "Leopold," meaning "brave people," we have names to suit everyone.
So, if you need ideas or enjoy learning about German names, continue reading. You may stumble upon the ideal name for your youngster!
- Rupert
- Origin: English and German
- Meaning: Fame bright and Famous
- Namesakes: Movie Actor, Rupert Grint, Entrepreneur, Rupert Murdoch
- Rainier
- Origin: Norse and German
- Meaning: Judgment warrior, Wise army and Ruler
- Namesakes: Rainier Castillo (TV Actor) , Rainier III, Prince of Monaco
- Berger
- Origin: German, Swedish, French and Dutch
- Meaning: Lives on a hill, Shepherd and Tanner of leather
- Sabine
- Origin: Latin, French and German
- Meaning: Sabine woman
- Namesakes: Sabine Lisicki (Tennis Player) , Sabine Moussier (Soap Opera Actress)
- Kiefer
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Pine and Barrel maker
- Namesakes: TV Actor, Kiefer Sutherland, Kiefer Ravena (Basketball Player)
- Wolf
- Origin: Animal name and German
- Meaning: Traveling Wolf
- Namesakes: TV Show Host, Wolf Blitzer, Wolf Hoffmann (Guitarist)
- Fabienne
- Origin: German, Italian, Latin and French
- Meaning: Bean grower
- Namesakes: Movie Actress, Fabienne Carat, Fabienne Serrat (French alpine skier)
- Berenger
- Origin: French and German
- Meaning: Warrior fighting with a spear and Bear
- Namesakes: Popularity of Berenger as a baby name (French priest)
- Haydn
- Origin: English, German and British
- Meaning: Heathen, Hedged valley and Hay field
- Namesakes: Stage Actress, Haydn Gwynne, British swimmer, Haydn Rigby
- Herman
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Soldier, Warrior and Variation of Herman
- Namesakes: Herman Cain (Politician) , Herman Melville (Novelist)
- Reinald
- Origin: English, German and Latin
- Meaning: Ruler's advisor and Powerful one
- Hermann
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Variation of Herman, Soldier and Warrior
- Namesakes: Skier, Hermann Maier, Poet, Hermann Hesse
- Boden
- Origin: Scandinavian and English
- Meaning: Hill shaped like a bow, Shelter and One who brings news
- Theobald
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Brave people
- Namesakes: French noble, Theobald V, Count of Blois, French noble, Theobald II, Count of Bar
- Ricarda
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Brave one, Powerful ruler and Feminine version of Richard
- Namesakes: Ricarda Huch (German writer) , German kayaker, Ricarda Funk
- Kaiser
- Origin: German and Latin
- Meaning: Emperor, A fine head of hair and Hairy
- Namesakes: Emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Kaiser Chuang (Taiwanese actor)
- Bader
- Origin: Arabic and German
- Meaning: Bath-house attendant, Full moon and One who bathes
- Namesakes: Soccer Player, Bader Al-Mutawa, Comedian, Bader Saleh
- Bertrand
- Origin: French and German
- Meaning: Bright and Magnificent crow
- Namesakes: Philosopher, Bertrand Russell, Director, Bertrand Tavernier
- Hansel
- Origin: Scandinavian, German and Dutch
- Meaning: The Lord is gracious and Swan
- Namesakes: Hansel Robles (Baseball Player) , Hansel Mieth
- Ernst
- Origin: German and English
- Meaning: Vigorous and Serious or battle to the death
- Namesakes: Director, Ernst Lubitsch, German flying ace, Ernst Udet
- Irma
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Entire, Whole and Universal
- Namesakes: Irma Serrano (Folk Singer) , Irma Grese (German, Criminal)
- Liesel
- Origin: French, English, Hebrew and German
- Meaning: Dedicated and gracious and God's promise
- Heike
- Origin: German and Dutch
- Meaning: Home ruler
- Namesakes: Heike Drechsler (German long jumper) , German actor, Heike Makatsch
- Luther
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Soldier of the people, Free and Warrior
- Namesakes: Luther Campbell (Music Producer) , Luther Perkins (Guitarist)
- Keller
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Cellar
- Carl
- Origin: Scandinavian, German, English and French
- Meaning: Carl's island, Free man and A variation of Charles
- Namesakes: Carl Weathers (Movie Actor) , Carl Sagan (Astronomer)
- Dwight
- Origin: Dutch and German
- Meaning: White, Blond and Fair
- Namesakes: Dwight Yoakam (Country Singer) , Dwight Howard (Basketball Player)
- Ivo
- Origin: Norse, German, Scottish, Welsh, French and English
- Meaning: Yew wood and Archer
- Namesakes: Ivo Pogorelić (Croatian pianist) , Politician, Ivo Sanader
- Leonard
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Descendant, Lover and Lion-hearted
- Namesakes: Folk Singer, Leonard Cohen, Leonard Bernstein (Composer)
- Harman
- Origin: Irish, French and German
- Meaning: Noble, Soldier and Harmony
- Namesakes: Harman Tarrant, Indian actor, Harman Baweja
- Willi
- Origin: German and English
- Meaning: Will helmet
- Ulrich
- Origin: English and German
- Meaning: Rich and noble heritage and Wolf ruler
- Namesakes: Ulrich Tukur (Movie Actor) , German actor, Ulrich Matthes
- Bernadette
- Origin: French and German
- Meaning: Intelligent, Strong and Feminine version of Bernard
- Namesakes: Stage Actress, Bernadette Peters, TV Show Host, Bernadette Sembrano
- Reinhard
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Brave counsel, Courageous and Wise
- Namesakes: Reinhard Heydrich (Criminal) , Reinhard Marx (Catholic cardinal)
- Tatjana
- Origin: Estonian, German, Latin, Russian and Finnish
- Meaning: Fairy princess, From Latin family name and Of Tatiana
- Namesakes: Tatjana Patitz (Model) , Tennis Player, Tatjana Maria
- André
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Andre means: Manly and
- Namesakes: André Breton (Writer)
- Selig
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Happy in life and Blessed
- Allard
- Origin: British, German and French
- Meaning: Brave and Noble
- Namesakes: Politician, Allard K. Lowenstein
- Johannes
- Origin: German, Hebrew, Estonian, Scandinavian and Dutch
- Meaning: God's grace
- Namesakes: Johannes Brahms (Composer) , Johannes B. Kerner (TV Show Host)
- Rodman
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Renowned man, Famous one and Hero
- Namesakes: American writer, Rodman Philbrick
- Marlene
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Woman from Magdala, Marshy meadow and Child of light
- Namesakes: TV Actress, Marlene Favela, TV Show Host, Marlene Lufen
- Amery
- Origin: German, British and English
- Meaning: Brave ruler, Home strength and Loving
- Namesakes: Amery Smith (American drummer)
- Brandt
- Origin: German and Norse
- Meaning: Dweller on burnt land and Sword or fiery torch
- Namesakes: Popularity of Brandt as a baby name (professional golfer)
- Wilbur
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Wild boar, Brilliant and Bright resolve
- Namesakes: Non-Fiction Author, Wilbur Smith, Wilbur Wright (Inventor)
- Rudy
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Famous wolf, From the red gate and Friendly
- Namesakes: Politician, Rudy Giuliani, Rudy Gobert (Basketball Player)
- Carsten
- Origin: Latin, English and Greek
- Meaning: Follower of Christ and Anointed
- Namesakes: Carsten Jancker (German footballer) , Carsten Norgaard (Danish, Actor)
- Alphonse
- Origin: Italian, German, French and Spanish
- Meaning: Noble and ready
- Namesakes: Poet, Alphonse de Lamartine, Alphonse Mucha (Painter)
- Christiane
- Origin: French, German and Latin
- Meaning: Feminine of Christian and Anointed
- Namesakes: Christiane Amanpour (Journalist) , TV Actress, Christiane Torloni
- Heinrich
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Home ruler
- Namesakes: Criminal, Heinrich Himmler, Physicist, Heinrich Hertz
- Johann
- Origin: German
- Meaning: God is gracious and Form of Joan
- Namesakes: Composer, Johann Sebastian Bach, Johann Strauss II (Composer)