Overview
Are you searching for popular German names for your baby boy? You’ve come to the right place, mama.
We share below our top 100 choices for German baby boy names and their meanings to help you pick one for your little man.
In Germany, there are rules that the citizens have to follow in naming their babies. One of these is to use gender-specific names, with no cross-gender names allowed. Surnames and names of animals or objects can’t also be used as given names.
The good news is that Germany doesn’t restrict foreigners from using German baby names, so you can still choose one for your little one.
What Is A Good German Name For A Boy?
Choosing your baby’s name can be one of the most exciting things to do for new parents.
We’re here to help you find the best one from these German boys’ names by sharing their name meanings, too.
Abbe
- Origin: German and Arabic
- Meaning: My father is joyful
- Variations/Synonyms: Abe
- Description: It’s a shortened male version of “Abigail.”
Abbott
- Origin: German, Anglo-Saxon (ancient Germanic tribe), and Old French
- Meaning: Father, priest, and father of the abbey
- Variations/Synonyms: Abott and Abbot
- Description: It comes from the Old French word “abet,” which means “priest.”
Abelard
- Origin: Old German
- Meaning: Noble strength
- Variations/Synonyms: Abbellard, Abellard, and Abbelard
- Description: This name can also mean “noble strength.”
Achmad
- Origin: German and Arabic
- Meaning: Praiseworthy
- Variations/Synonyms: Ahmed and Achmed
- Description: It’s the German version of the Arabic name “Ahmed.”
Adelino
- Origin: Portuguese and Old German
- Meaning: Kind and noble
- Variations/Synonyms: Adellino
- Description: This name is often chosen for a baby boy of noble descent.
Adelmo
- Origin: Italian and Old German
- Meaning: Noble protector
- Variations/Synonyms: Adelhard and Adelmar
- Description: This can be a strong name for your baby boy.
Ademaro
- Origin: Old German
- Meaning: Glorious in battle
- Variations/Synonyms: Ademaru
- Description: This can be a brave name for your baby.
Adler
- Origin: American and German
- Meaning: Eagle
- Variations/Synonyms: Addler
- Description: This name is a modern German name with an American twist. It refers to an animal (usually not allowed in German naming rules).
Adolf
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Noble wolf
- Variations/Synonyms: Adolphe, Adolph, and Adolphus
- Description: This name comes from the Old High German names “Hadulf” and “Athalwolf.”
Adrean
- Origin: Latin and German
- Meaning: The dark one
- Variations/Synonyms: Adrian
- Description: This name is the German variation of “Adrian.”
Albrecht
- Origin: Old High German
- Meaning: Bright, noble, and famous
- Variations/Synonyms: Adalbrecht and Albert
- Description: This name comes from the combination of “adal,” which means “noble,” and “berht,” which means “bright or famous.”
Ambros
- Origin: German and Latin
- Meaning: Immortal
- Variations/Synonyms: Ambrose and Ambrosius
- Description: This name is the German variation of “Ambrosius” (Latin).
Amery
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Divine
- Variations/Synonyms: Ameri, Ammeri, and Ammery
- Description: This name can also mean “the loving one.”
What Is A Rare Name For A Boy? Amo
- Origin: German and Latin
- Meaning: Power of the eagle
- Variations/Synonyms: Ammo, Amu, and Ammu
- Description: This name can also mean “guardian” or “master.”
- It comes from the Latin word “ama,” which means “nurse.”
Andel
- Origin: Czech, German, and Greek
- Meaning: God’s messenger
- Variations/Synonyms: Angel
- Description: This name comes from the Greek word “angelos,” which means “angel.”
Ansel
- Origin: German
- Meaning: With divine protection
- Variations/Synonyms: Ansell
- Description: This name can also mean “follower of a nobleman.”
Archie
- Origin: German, British, and English
- Meaning: Truly brave
- Variations/Synonyms: Archibald
- Description: This German baby name can also mean “archer.”
Arnold
- Origin: German and English
- Meaning: Strength of the eagle
- Variations/Synonyms: Arne, Arnie, Ari, and Arnwald
- Description: This name can also mean “power and brightness.”
Axel
- Origin: Hebrew, German, and Old Norse
- Meaning: Father is peace
- Variations/Synonyms: Axle, Axl, and Axxel
- Description: This name comes from the Old Norse name “Ásketill.”
Azzo
- Origin: Italian, Old German, and Latin
- Meaning: Noble at birth
- Variations/Synonyms: Azo, Azzu, and Azzoh
- Description: This German name comes from the Latin name “Accius,” which means “from Acca.”
Baer
- Origin: German and English
- Meaning: Bear-like
- Variations/Synonyms: Bear
- Description: This name can also mean “strong as a bear.”
Baldrik
- Origin: German and Old French
- Meaning: Bold or brave
- Variations/Synonyms: Baldric
- Description: This name comes from the Old French word “baudre,” which means “bold.”
- It’s also the alternate way of spelling the name “Baldric.”
Baldwin
- Origin: Old German
- Meaning: Brave
- Variations/Synonyms: Baldween
- Description: It comes from the Old German name “Baldavin,” which means “brave.”
Baltazar
- Origin: German, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Czech, Slovak, and Hungarian
- Meaning: Protected by Baal (an ancient god worshipped by ancient Middle Eastern communities)
- Variations/Synonyms: Balthasar, Balthassar, or Balthazar
- Description: This name comes from the words “Baal” (the god) and “tas-assar,” which means “God protects the king” or “God protects life.”
Barnim
- Origin: German, Pomeranian Slavic, and Anglo-Saxon
- Meaning: To protect
- Variations/Synonyms: Barnimir and Barnisław
- Description: It comes from the word “barni,” which means “to protect.”
Berchtwald
- Origin: German
- Meaning: A charming and intelligent person
- Variations/Synonyms: Berchtold
- Description: This German name can also mean “bright ruler.”
Berhtram
- Origin: Old High German
- Meaning: Famous or bright raven
- Variations/Synonyms: Bertram
- Description: It comes from the Old High German name “Berahthraben,” which means “bright raven.”
Bernard
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Brave and strong as a bear
- Variations/Synonyms: Bernhard, Bhernard, and Barnard
- Description: It can be a brave name for your baby.
Boris
- Origin: German, Bulgarian, Russian, Slavic, and Turkish
- Meaning: Wolf or short
- Variations/Synonyms: Bogoris, Borris, and Boriz
- Description: The name can also mean “battle glory.”
Bruno
- Origin: Old High German
- Meaning: Brown
- Variations/Synonyms: Brüno and Brun
- Description: This name is popular among parents who want to name their babies after American pop singer Bruno Mars.
Burkhart
- Origin: German and Dutch
- Meaning: Strong as a castle
- Variations/Synonyms: Burkhard
- Description: It comes from the German words “burg,” which means “fort,” and “hard,” which means “strong.”
Burnhard
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Strong as a bear
- Variations/Synonyms: Bernhard and Burnhardt
- Description: This can be a good name for a brave little boy.
Carlin
- Origin: Irish and German
- Meaning: A man
- Variations/Synonyms: Carllin and Carl
- Description: This name can also mean “little champion.”
Clemens
- Origin: German and French
- Meaning: Good-natured and gentle
- Variations/Synonyms: Clement and Clemente
- Description: This name can also mean “merciful.”
Danner
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Dancer by the fig tree
- Variations/Synonyms: Denner and Daner
- Description: This name can also mean “dweller of the fig tree.”
Detlef
- Origin: German
- Meaning: The people’s heritage
- Variations/Synonyms: Dettlef
- Description: This is among the traditional German names but is still used in modern times. One example is the famous NBA player Detlef Schrempf.
Dietrich
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Ruler of the people
- Variations/Synonyms: Dieter and Tederich
- Description: This name can also mean “keeper of the keys.”
Dirk
- Origin: Dutch, German, and English
- Meaning: Famous ruler
- Variations/Synonyms: Dirks, Dierk, Dierk, and Dierks
- Description: This name can also mean “gifted ruler.”
Ebert
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Strong as a boar
- Variations/Synonyms: Ebbert
- Description: This used to be solely used as a surname but has gained popularity as a first name. That’s another exception to the strict German naming rules prohibiting the use of surnames as given names.
Eckhard
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Strong edge
- Variations/Synonyms: Ekhard
- Description: This name comes from the German words “ek,” which means “edge,” and “hard,” which means “strong.”
Ernst
- Origin: Dutch, German, and Scandinavian
- Meaning: Serious battle or business
- Variations/Synonyms: Ernest
- Description: This name comes from the Ancient Germanic word “ernustuz,” which means “earnest.”
Filip
- Origin: German, Latin, Greek, and British
- Meaning: Lover of horses
- Variations/Synonyms: Philip
- Description: This name is the German variation of the more commonly used spelling “Philip.”
Friedrich
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Peaceful ruler
- Variations/Synonyms: Frederick, Fred, Fritz, Rick, and Rich
- Description: This name comes from Germanic elements “frid,” which means “peace,” and “ric,” which means “power.”
Fulhert
- Origin: Old German
- Meaning: Very bright
- Variations/Synonyms: Fulbert and Filibert
- Description: This name comes from the Old German word “filibert,” which means “very bright.”
What Is A Badass Name For A Boy? Gerdhard
- Origin: Old German and Old English
- Meaning: Strong as a spear
- Variations/Synonyms: Gerard and Gerd
- Description: This name can also translate to “ruler of the spear.”
Godfrey
- Origin: Old French and German
- Meaning: God’s peace
- Variations/Synonyms: Godefroy
- Description: This German name comes from the Old French name “Godefroy.”
Günther
- Origin: Old Norse and German
- Meaning: Warrior
- Variations/Synonyms: Gunter, Gunther, Günter, Gunnar, and Gunner
- Description: This name comes from the combination of “gund,” which means “battle,” and “hari,” which means “army.”
Hans
- Origin: German, Scandinavian, Hebrew, and Danish
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Variations/Synonyms: Hannes, Hansel, and Jan
- Description: This is a Christian name.
Heinrich
- Origin: Old German
- Meaning: Home ruler
- Variations/Synonyms: Heinz, Heino, and Henry
- Description: This is the German variation of “Henry.”
Jakob
- Origin: German, Nordic, and Hebrew
- Meaning: Supplanter (the one who replaces someone)
- Variations/Synonyms: Jacob
- Description: This is the German version of “Jacob.”
Johann
- Origin: German and Hebrew
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Variations/Synonyms: Johannes, Johan, Yohan, Yohann, and Yoan
- Description: This name can also mean “God pardoned.”
Jürgen
- Origin: German, Dutch, and English
- Meaning: Farmer
- Variations/Synonyms: Jurg and Jurgen
- Description: This is the German form of “George.”
Kaiser
- Origin: German and Latin
- Meaning: Emperor
- Variations/Synonyms: Kaisser, Kaizzer, and Kaizer
- Description: This name is the German version of the name “Caesar” (Latin).
Karl
- Origin: Swedish, German, and English
- Meaning: A warrior or free man
- Variations/Synonyms: Charles, Karel, Carl, Carlo, Charlie, and Carlos
- Description: This name is the Germanic form of “Charles.”
Kaspar
- Origin: German, Hebrew, and Persian
- Meaning: One who brings treasures
- Variations/Synonyms: Caspar, Casper, Kasper, Gaspar, and Jesper
- Description: This is the traditional name of “Gaspar,” known as one of the Three Wise Men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus.
Kiefer
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Pine tree
- Variations/Synonyms: Keefir and Keefer
- Description: This name can also mean “barrel-maker.”
Klaus
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Victory of the people
- Variations/Synonyms: Nikolaus and Nicholas
- Description: This can also be a nickname for “Nikolaus.”
Konrad
- Origin: Scandinavian, German, and Polish
- Meaning: Wise or brave counsel
- Variations/Synonyms: Kondrat, Conrad, and Konrád
- Description: This name comes from the combination of “kuoni,” which means “experienced,” and “rad,” which means “counsel.”
Kristoff
- Origin: German, English, Greek, and Latin
- Meaning: Follower or bearer of Christ
- Variations/Synonyms: Christoph, Christopher, Christof, Kristof, Chris, and Kris
- Description: This name is the German variant of the English name “Christopher.”
Kurt
- Origin: German and English
- Meaning: Counselor
- Variations/Synonyms: Curtis, Curt, Kurtis, and Kurtiss
- Description: This name can also mean “wolf.”
Leon
- Origin: Greek, German, Irish, and Spanish
- Meaning: Lion
- Variations/Synonyms: Lyon
- Description: This name can also mean “legion.”
Leopold
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Brave people
- Variations/Synonyms: Leopald, Léopold, and Leo
- Description: This name comes from the Germanic name “Luitbald.”
Lothar
- Origin: Scandinavian and German
- Meaning: Famous warrior
- Variations/Synonyms: Luther, Lotar, and Lothaire
- Description: This name comes from the combination of “hlud,” which means “famous,” and “hari,” which means “army.”
Ludwig
- Origin: Old High German
- Meaning: Famous fighter
- Variations/Synonyms: Hludwig and Chlodwig
- Description: Some parents want to name their kids after Ludwig van Beethoven, a world-famous German composer.
Lukas
- Origin: Latin, Greek, and German
- Meaning: Bright one
- Variations/Synonyms: Lucas and Luke
- Description: This name comes from the Latin name “Lucanus.”
Manfred
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Man of peace
- Variations/Synonyms: Manfried, Mannfred, Mannfried, and Manny
- Description: This name comes from the combination of “man,” which has the same meaning as the English word “man,” and “fridu,” which means “peace.”
Matthias
- Origin: German, Greek, and English
- Meaning: Gift of God
- Variations/Synonyms: Matthew, Mathew, Mathias, and Matt
- Description: This name is the German form of “Matthew” (English).
Meinhardt
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Braveheart
- Variations/Synonyms: Meinhard
- Description: This name comes from the combination of the words “mein,” which means “brave,” and “hardt,” which means “heart.”
Merten
- Origin: Low German, Latin, French, Roman, Dutch, and Flemish
- Meaning: Servant of Mars (the Roman god of war)
- Variations/Synonyms: Martin, Mertin, Merttin, Martiin, and Marthin
- Description: This name is the German version of the French name “Martin.”
Morgen
- Origin: Middle High German, Old English, and Welsh
- Meaning: Morning
- Variations/Synonyms: Mergen and Morghen
- Description: This name can also mean “white sea dweller.”
What Is The Hottest Boy Name? Nikolaus
- Origin: German, Greek, and Latin
- Meaning: Victor of the people
- Variations/Synonyms: Nike, Nicholas, Nicolas, Nikolas, and Nikholas
- Description: This name is the German variation of the French name “Nicolas.”
Nisse
- Origin: German, Scandinavian, Old Norse, and Old Greek
- Meaning: Friendly elf
- Variations/Synonyms: Nizze, Nisa, Nize, and Nissa
- Description: This name comes from the Old Norse word “niðsi,” which means “dear little relative.”
Obrecht
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Famed for his heritage
- Variations/Synonyms: Obreck
- Description: The name is derived from the Germanic words “od,” which means “inheritance,” and “berht,” which means “bright or famous.”
Oskar
- Origin: German, Gaelic, English, and Scandinavian
- Meaning: Dear friend
- Variations/Synonyms: Oscar
- Description: This name comes from the combination of Gaelic words “os,” which means “dear,” and “cara,” which means “friend.”
Otto
- Origin: Old High German
- Meaning: Wealth or riches
- Variations/Synonyms: Odo, Oto, Ottis, and Otis
- Description: This name can also mean “prosperity.”
Peppin
- Origin: German and French
- Meaning: The persevering one
- Variations/Synonyms: Pepin, Pippin, and Pipin
- Description: This name is the German variation of the French name “Pepin.”
Reiner
- Origin: Scandinavian and German
- Meaning: Army and counsel
- Variations/Synonyms: Reyner, Rainer, and Ragnar
- Description: This name can also mean “edge or embankment.”
Riker
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Rich
- Variations/Synonyms: Ricker, Rick, and Ricer
- Description: This name comes from the Germanic word “rike,” which means “rich.”
- It’s a given name that used to be more popular as a German surname.
Ruprecht
- Origin: German and English
- Meaning: Bright flame
- Variations/Synonyms: Robert
- Description: This name is the German variant of the English name “Robert.”
Schaffer
- Origin: German
- Meaning: To manage
- Variations/Synonyms: Schaefer, Schäfer, Schafer and Shepard
- Description: This name originates from the word “schäfer,” which means “shepherd.”
Seigfried
- Origin: Old High German
- Meaning: Peace of victory
- Variations/Synonyms: Siegfred
- Description: This name comes from the combination of Old High Germanic words “sigi,” which means “victory,” and “fridu,” which means “peace.”
Sigmund
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Protection through victory
- Variations/Synonyms: Siggi, Siegmund, and Ziggy
- Description: Some parents wish to name their babies after Sigmund Freud (a famous Austrian psychologist).
- This name comes from the proto-Germanic words “segaz,” which means “victory,” and “mundō,” which means “protection.”
Stadtler
- Origin: Middle High German
- Meaning: A barn
- Variations/Synonyms: Stadler and Stadeler
- Description: This name comes from the Middle High German word “stadel,” which means “a barn.”
Stefan
- Origin: German and Greek
- Meaning: Crown
- Variations/Synonyms: Stefen, Stephen, and Stefano (Italian)
- Description: This name comes from the Greek word “stéphanos,” which means “crown.”
Stein
- Origin: German, Hebrew, and Old Norse
- Meaning: Stone
- Variations/Synonyms: Steinn
- Description: This name comes from the Old Norse given name “Steinn,” which means “stone.”
Theobald
- Origin: Old French and German
- Meaning: Courageous people
- Variations/Synonyms: Tibalt and Tebald
- Description: This name is from the Old French name “Teobaud.”
Tihalt
- Origin: German
- Meaning: People’s prince
- Variations/Synonyms: Tihhalt
- Description: This can be a strong name for your baby boy.
Traeger
- Origin: German, Jewish, and Anglo-Saxon
- Meaning: Someone who carries (or sells) something
- Variations/Synonyms: Trayger
- Description: This name can mean “gift of God” in the Anglo-Saxon language.
Udo
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Power of the wolf
- Variations/Synonyms: Ado, Udi, and Ido
- Description: This name can also mean “peace.”
Ulrich
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Mighty ruler
- Variations/Synonyms: Aldrich, Ulrick, and Ulreich
- Description: This name can also mean “heritage.”
Uwe
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Universal ruler
- Variations/Synonyms: Oowe
- Description: This name can also mean “inheritance.”
Valentin
- Origin: German, Latin, Scandinavian, and Spanish
- Meaning: Healthy and strong
- Variations/Synonyms: Valentine
- Description: This name is a nod to St. Valentine.
Vergil
- Origin: Latin and Germany
- Meaning: Flourish or prosper
- Variations/Synonyms: Virgil
- Description: This German name comes from the Latin name “Vergilius,” which means “flourish.”
Völker
- Origin: German
- Meaning: People’s warrior
- Variations/Synonyms: Folker and Volker
- Description: This name comes from “folk,” which means “people,” and “her,” which means “army.”
Waldemarr
- Origin: German and Scandinavian
- Meaning: Famous ruler
- Variations/Synonyms: Valdemar
- Description: This name is the alternate way to spell the name “Valdemar.”
Walden
- Origin: Old English and German
- Meaning: Powerful
- Variations/Synonyms: Valden and Waldon
- Description: This name can also mean “wooded valley.”
Walter
- Origin: Old High German
- Meaning: Commander of the army
- Variations/Synonyms: Valter
- Description: This name comes from Proto-Germanic words “wald,” which means “power,” and “hari,” which means “warrior.”
Werner
- Origin: German
- Meaning: The defender or the defending warrior
- Variations/Synonyms: Warner, Wernher, and Verner
- Description: This name comes from the combination of the Old Germanic word “heri,” which means “army,” and “waron,” which means “to defend.”
Wolfgang
- Origin: Old High German
- Meaning: Path of the wolf
- Variations/Synonyms: Wolf, Wolfi, Wulf, and Wulfgang
- Description: Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was among the most famous people with this name.
Yvo
- Origin: Old German
- Meaning: Yew tree
- Variations/Synonyms: Ivo
- Description: This name comes from the word “iv,” which means “yew.”
