Overview
Are you looking for popular baby names with German variations for your baby girl? You can find plenty of name lists for German girls so that you can pick a unique namefor your little one.
Note that German citizens canβt use surnames as given names for their babies. They canβt also use baby boy names for baby girls. (1)
But Germany doesnβt put restrictions on foreigners using German boy names for their little girls if they want to. So, if youβre not German, youβre still allowed to use a German baby name for your child.
What are the common names you can choose for your baby girl? Below are our top 100 German girl names and their meanings to help you pick.
What Are Good Female German Names?
In Germany, citizens are supposed to pick a name that shows the gender of their baby. Cross-gender names are not allowed. Thatβs why unisex German baby names are rare.
If youβre looking for the top names for girls, here are 100 German girl names for you to choose from:
Adelheid
- Origin: Old German and Dutch
- Meaning: Noble
- Variations/Synonyms: Adelaide, Adele, Ada, Adela, Heide, Heidi, and Adelina
- Description: Itβs the German variation for βAdelaide.β
Adolfa
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Noble wolf
- Variations/Synonyms: Adolpha or Adolphina
- Description: Itβs the female version of βAdolf.β
Adriane
- Origin: Greek, Latin, and German
- Meaning: Good and benevolent
- Variations/Synonyms: Adrianne
- Description: It also means βa dark woman from Hadriaβ (a place near the Adriatic Sea).
Agata
- Origin: German, Greek, Czech, and Polish
- Meaning: Good-hearted
- Variations/Synonyms: Agatha
- Description: It comes from the Greek word βagathos,β which means βgood.β
Aili
- Origin: German, Finnish, Sami (an indigenous language in some parts of Europe), and Estonian
- Meaning: Sweet
- Variations/Synonyms: Aille, Γile, and Aile
- Description: It can also mean βholyβ or βblessed.β
Albrun
- Origin: Old High German
- Meaning: A supernatural being
- Variations/Synonyms: Albruna
- Description: This name can also mean βsecret magic.β
Aliz
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Sweet
- Variations/Synonyms: Alice
- Description: It can also mean βnoble and exalted.β
Aloisa
- Origin: Irish and German
- Meaning: Famous warrior
- Variations/Synonyms: Eloise and Louisa
- Description: The name can also mean βmiracle.β
Alviria
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Fair or dearly loved
- Variations/Synonyms: Alvira
- Description: It can also mean βfriendly.β
Amalfrieda
- Origin: Old High German
- Meaning: Great friendship
- Variations/Synonyms: Amalfreda
- Description: This name can also mean βpeace.β
Amelia
- Origin: German and Teutonic (an Indo-European language)
- Meaning: Defender
- Variations/Synonyms: Amella and Amellia
- Description: It can also mean βindustrious.β
Andrea
- Origin: Greek and German
- Meaning: Brave
- Variations/Synonyms: Andreas and Andrei
- Description: This name is the German feminine variation of βAndrew.β
Angelika
- Origin: Greek, German, and Latin
- Meaning: Angelic
- Variations/Synonyms: Angelica
- Description: It comes from the Greek word βΓ‘ngelos,β which means βmessenger.β
Anja
- Origin: Russian and German
- Meaning: Grace
- Variations/Synonyms: Anna, Anne, Ann, and Anya
- Description: This name is the German variation of βAnna.β
Anneliese
- Origin: Dutch, German, and Nordic
- Meaning: Favor
- Variations/Synonyms: Annelies, Annaliese, and Annalies
- Description: This name can also mean βgraced with God’s bounty.β
Annika
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Gracious or merciful
- Variations/Synonyms: Anika, Annike, Anike, and Anneke
- Description: This name can also mean βlittle Grace.β
Antonie
- Origin: German and French
- Meaning: Priceless and praiseworthy
- Variations/Synonyms: Antonia
- Description: Itβs the female version of Anthony.
Barbara
- Origin: Greek, German, and Latin
- Meaning: Foreign woman
- Variations/Synonyms: Barbra and BΓ€rbel
- Description: The name can also mean βthe exotic one.β
Bathilda
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Warrior woman
- Variations/Synonyms: Batilda
- Description: It comes from the Germanic element βbadu,β which means βbattle.β
Beatrix
- Origin: Latin and German
- Meaning: Happy
- Variations/Synonyms: Beatrice
- Description: This name comes from the Latin word βbeatus,β which means βhappy.β
Belinda
- Origin: Old High German
- Meaning: The pretty one
- Variations/Synonyms: Berlinda
- Description: Itβs the modern version of the Old High German name βBetlinde.β
Bertina
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Intelligent and bright
- Variations/Synonyms: Bertie and Bertine
- Description: This name can also mean βfamous.β
Bertrun
- Origin: Old German and Old French
- Meaning: Shining secret
- Variations/Synonyms: Bertrune
- Description: It can also mean βbright and famous raven.β
- In German mythology, ravens are a symbol of wisdom. The highest of the gods, Odin, was always accompanied by two ravens named Hugin and Munin.
Bettina
- Origin: German
- Meaning: God is my promise
- Variations/Synonyms: Beth, Betsy, Bessy, Bethany, and Betty
- Description: It can also mean βblessed.β
Bluma
- Origin: German, Hebrew, and Yiddish (a West Germanic language)
- Meaning: Blooming flower
- Variations/Synonyms: Blume
- Description: It can also mean βblossom.β
Cara
- Origin: German, Latin, Irish, Spanish, and Gaelic
- Meaning: An endearment for a beloved one
- Variations/Synonyms: Kara, βCherylβ, βCherieβ, and βKari
- Description: It can also mean βdear friend.β
Chay
- Origin: German and Gaelic
- Meaning: A fairytale
- Variations/Synonyms: Charel or Karel
- Description: It can be a cute name for your baby girl, but itβs considered as a masculine name in the Gaelic language.
Chloris
- Origin: German and Greek
- Meaning: Green or greenish-yellow
- Variations/Synonyms: Kloris and Khloris
- Description: Itβs the name of the spring goddess, according to Greek mythology.
Chole
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Blooming
- Variations/Synonyms: Chloe, ChloΓ«, and ChloΓ©
- Description: The name can also mean βvictorious people.β
Clarissa
- Origin: Latin and German
- Meaning: Bright and clear
- Variations/Synonyms: Claire and Clarisse
- Description: This name comes from the Latin word βclΔrus,β which means clear.β
Dorothea
- Origin: German and Greek
- Meaning: Gift of God
- Variations/Synonyms: Dorothy and Dorothee
- Description: This name is the German variation of βDorothy.β
Ediline
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Gracious
- Variations/Synonyms: Eddiline, Edilline, Eddilline, and Edilin
- Description: It can also mean βfavor.β
Elisabeth
- Origin: Hebrew and German
- Meaning: Promise of God
- Variations/Synonyms: Elizabeth and Lisbeth
- Description: This German name comes from the Hebrew name βElisheva.β
Elke
- Origin: East Frisian (an old Germanic dialect) and Low German
- Meaning: Noble
- Variations/Synonyms: Elkie, Elka, and Alke
- Description: This name can also mean βkind.β
Emilia
- Origin: German and Latin
- Meaning: Eager and hardworking
- Variations/Synonyms: Emmeline
- Description: This name comes from the Latin word βaemulus,β which means βeager.β
What Is The Most Common German Female Name? Emma
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Whole or universal
- Variations/Synonyms: Emme
- Description: This name comes from the Germanic element βermen,β which means βuniversal.β
Erika
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Eternal ruler
- Variations/Synonyms: Erica, Frederica, and Ericka
- Description: It can also mean βever powerful monarch.β
Evi
- Origin: German, Hebrew, and Latin
- Meaning: Life
- Variations/Synonyms: Evie, Eve, Eva, Evah, Ebah, and Eba
- Description: It can also mean βsource of lifeβ or βmother of life.β
Evonne
- Origin: German and French
- Meaning: Archer
- Variations/Synonyms: Yvonne
- Description: It can also mean βyew tree.β
Felicie
- Origin: French and German
- Meaning: Happy
- Variations/Synonyms: Felicity
- Description: This name can also mean βgood fortune.β
What Is The German Name For Peace? Fenja
- Origin: German, Old Norse, and Russian
- Meaning: Peace, tranquility, and friendship
- Variations/Synonyms: Fenjah
- Description: Itβs related to the Old High German name βFrithuric.β
Florentia
- Origin: German, Roman, and Latin
- Meaning: Prosperous or flourishing
- Variations/Synonyms: Florence
- Description: This name comes from the Roman name βFlorus.β
Frieda
- Origin: Norse and German
- Meaning: Peaceful ruler
- Variations/Synonyms: Frida, Freya, Freda, Frinta, and Freida
- Description: This name comes from the German element βfried,β which means βpeace.β
Fritzi
- Origin: Old German
- Meaning: Peaceful ruler
- Variations/Synonyms: Fritzie and Frietzi
- Description: This name can also mean βpeace-keeper.β
Geraldine
- Origin: Old French and German
- Meaning: Ruler with a spear
- Variations/Synonyms: Geraldin, Jeraldine, and Jeraldin
- Description: This name is the female form for βGerald.β
Gertraud
- Origin: Old German
- Meaning: Strong spear
- Variations/Synonyms: Gertraut, Gertraude, Gertrud, and Gertrude
- Description: The Old Germanic name meaning for this name comes from the words βgΔr,β which means βspear,β and βprûþi,β which means βstrength.β
Gisele
- Origin: German and French
- Meaning: Bright pledge
- Variations/Synonyms: Giselle, Gisela, and Gisselle
- Description: This name comes from the Germanic word βgisil,β which means βbright pledge.β
Gratia
- Origin: German and Latin
- Meaning: Grace or blessing
- Variations/Synonyms: Grace, Gracia, and Gratiah
- Description: This name can also mean βgift of God.β
Gretta
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Pearl
- Variations/Synonyms: Grretta and Greta
- Description: This can also be a nickname for βMargaretβ or βMargarethe.β
Heidi
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Noble
- Variations/Synonyms: Adelheid, Heide, Heidrun, and Heidelinde
- Description: This name can also mean βkind.β
Helga
- Origin: Old German and Old Norse
- Meaning: Prosperous or successful
- Variations/Synonyms: Hege, Helle, Helge, and Helka
- Description: It can also mean βholyβ or blessed.β
Hilma
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Resolute protector
- Variations/Synonyms: Wilhelmina or Hilmah
- Description: The name can also mean βprotective helmet.β
Ida
- Origin: German and Scandinavian
- Meaning: The industrious one
- Variations/Synonyms: Idda and Idah
- Description: It comes from the Germanic word βid,β which means βlabor or work.β
Ilina
- Origin: German, Hebrew, and Hindi
- Meaning: My Lord is Yahweh
- Variations/Synonyms: Illina and Illini
- Description: This name can also mean βa highly intelligent woman.β
- Itβs often confused with βElena,β which means βlight of guidance.β
Ilse
- Origin: Hebrew and German
- Meaning: Pledged to God
- Variations/Synonyms: Else, Elsa, and Ilsa
- Description: This name comes from the Hebrew name βElisheba,β which means βGodβs promise.β
Ingeborg
- Origin: German and Old Norse
- Meaning: Stronghold and protection
- Variations/Synonyms: Ingebourg
- Description: The name can also mean βthe help of Ing,β with Ing being the ancient god of fertility and peace.
Ingrid
- Origin: German, Scandinavian, and Old Norse
- Meaning: Beautiful
- Variations/Synonyms: IngirΓΓ°r, Ingrida, and Ingirid
- Description: This name is also derived from Ing.
Irmgard
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Complete or universal
- Variations/Synonyms: Irmmgard and Irmghard
- Description: Itβs the name of the goddess of war in German mythology.
Isolde
- Origin: German and Welsh
- Meaning: Ice ruler or fair lady
- Variations/Synonyms: Isolda
- Description: The name comes from the combination of Old High German words βΔ«s,β which means βice,β and βhiltja,β which means βbattle.β
- Isolde was the Irish princess in βTristan and Isolde,β the famous opera by Richard Wagner.
Ivana
- Origin: German, Slavic, and Russian
- Meaning: Gift from the heavens
- Variations/Synonyms: Ivanah, Ivvana, Ivvanna, Ivvanah, Ivvannah, and Ivannah
- Description: This name can also mean βGod is gracious.β
Johanna
- Origin: Hebrew and German
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Variations/Synonyms: Johanne, Johannah, Joanna, and Joanne
- Description: This name is the female form of βJohann.β
Juliane
- Origin: German, Latin, French, and Italian
- Meaning: Youthful
- Variations/Synonyms: Julia, Juliana, Giulia, and Julianne
- Description: This name can also mean βdedicated to Jove or Jupiter.β
Jutta
- Origin: German and Hebrew
- Meaning: Descendant
- Variations/Synonyms: Jude, Judith, and Judy
- Description: This name is the German variation of βJudith.β
Karin
- Origin: German, Greek, and Swedish
- Meaning: Pure
- Variations/Synonyms: Karen
- Description: This name can also mean βdearest little one.β
Katharina
- Origin: Greek, German, and Swedish
- Meaning: Pure
- Variations/Synonyms: KΓ€the, Katja, Katarina, KΓ€thlyn, Katherine, and Catherine
- Description: This name comes from the Greek word βkatharΓ³s,β which means βpure.β
Klara
- Origin: German and Latin
- Meaning: Clear, famous, and bright
- Variations/Synonyms: Klaire, Clara, Claire, and Clare
- Description: This name comes from the Latin word βclarus,β which means βclear.β
Krista
- Origin: German and Czechoslovakian
- Meaning: A follower of Christ
- Variations/Synonyms: Khrista, Crista, and Christa
- Description: Itβs a name related to Christine.
Layla
- Origin: Swiss, German, Arabic, and Hebrew
- Meaning: Dark or night
- Variations/Synonyms: Leila, Laila, Laylah, Leilah, and Lailah
- Description: It can be a good name for a baby born at night or one with dark features (hair, skin, eyes, etc.).
Leni
- Origin: German, Greek, and Latin
- Meaning: Light
- Variations/Synonyms: Lena
- Description: It can also mean βsunshineβ or βray of sunlight.β
Liezel
- Origin: German
- Meaning: God is beautiful
- Variations/Synonyms: Liezl, Lizzie, and Lizel
- Description: It can also mean βpromise of God.β
Lina
- Origin: Arabic and German
- Meaning: Tender
- Variations/Synonyms: Linna
- Description: This name can also mean βunited.β
Lisette
- Origin: German, Hebrew, and Latin
- Meaning: Devoted to God
- Variations/Synonyms: Lizette, Lizza, Liza, and Lisa
- Description: This name can also mean βGodβs promise.β
Lorelei
- Origin: German
- Meaning: An enchantress
- Variations/Synonyms: Lorelie
- Description: This name can also mean βmermaidβ or βsiren.β
Lotte
- Origin: German and French
- Meaning: Strong
- Variations/Synonyms: Lottie and Lottchen
- Description: This name can also mean βGod is my oath.β
Louisa
- Origin: German and French
- Meaning: Famous warrior
- Variations/Synonyms: Luisa, Eloise, Luise, and Louise
- Description: This name is the female form of βLouis.β
Luana
- Origin: German and Hawaiian
- Meaning: Enjoyment
- Variations/Synonyms: Luanna, Luann, and Luane
- Description: This name can also mean βgraceful battle maiden.β
Margarethe
- Origin: German and Greek
- Meaning: Pearl
- Variations/Synonyms: Margaret, Margo, and Margarete
- Description: This name comes from the Greek word βmargarΔ«ΜtΔs,β which means βpearl.β
Marlene
- Origin: German and Latin
- Meaning: Star of the sea and the woman from Magdala (an ancient city on the shores of Galilee, located on land thatβs now a part of Israel)
- Variations/Synonyms: Marline, Marleen, and Marleene
- Description: This name was made as a combination of βMariaβ and Magdalene.β
Mathilde
- Origin: Old English and German
- Meaning: Strong in battle
- Variations/Synonyms: Matilda, Mechtild, and Tilly
- Description: This name is the German form of βMatilda.β
Maude
- Origin: Hebrew, Old German, and French
- Meaning: Powerful warrior
- Variations/Synonyms: Maud
- Description: It may also be related to βMatilda.β
Mia
- Origin: German
- Meaning: The queen
- Variations/Synonyms: Maya
- Description: This name can also mean βguardian of justiceβ or βocean goddess.β
Millicent
- Origin: German and Old French
- Meaning: Strong at work
- Variations/Synonyms: Milicent, Milicente, Millicente, Millicenta, Milicenta, and Melisande
- Description: The name comes from the Old High German name βMelisende.β
Monika
- Origin: German and Latin
- Meaning: Advisor or counselor
- Variations/Synonyms: Monica
- Description: This name comes from the Latin word βmonere,β which means βto advise.β
Nadia
- Origin: German, Old Polish, Ukrainian, and Greek
- Meaning: Hope
- Variations/Synonyms: Naida, Naddia, Naddiah, Nadiah, and Naidah
- Description: This name can also mean βone who will not give up.β
Olga
- Origin: German, Old Norse, Russian, Bulgarian, and Scandinavian
- Meaning: Blessed and holy
- Variations/Synonyms: Oleg and Helga
- Description: This name can also mean βsuccessful.β
Rapunzel
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Lamb’s lettuce
- Variations/Synonyms: Rapunsel
- Description: This name is popular among young parents who wish to name their baby girl after a Disney princessor a fairytale character.
Rebekah
- Origin: German and Hebrew
- Meaning: To tie or bind
- Variations/Synonyms: Rebecca, Rebeccah, Rebeka, and Rebekka
- Description: This name can also mean βcaptivating.β
Renate
- Origin: German, Latin, and Italian
- Meaning: To be born again
- Variations/Synonyms: Renata and Renee
- Description: This name comes from the Latin word βrenatus,β which means βreborn.β
Rheta
- Origin: Greek and German
- Meaning: Expressive or eloquent speaker
- Variations/Synonyms: Reta
- Description: This name can also mean βpearl.β
Robyn
- Origin: Old German and Old English
- Meaning: Famous
- Variations/Synonyms: Robin
- Description: This name can also mean βbright and shining.β
Sabine
- Origin: Latin and German
- Meaning: Woman of Sabine (an ancient Italian tribe)
- Variations/Synonyms: Sabina
- Description: This German name comes from the Latin name βSabini.β
Sascha
- Origin: French and German
- Meaning: Defender
- Variations/Synonyms: Sasha
- Description: This name is considered as a female German variation to βAlexander.β
Sophia
- Origin: German, Latin, Roman, and Greek
- Meaning: Wisdom
- Variations/Synonyms: Sofia, Sofie, Sophie, Sofiya, Sofya, and Sofija
- Description: This name comes from the Greek word βsofia,β which means βwisdom.β
Stefanie
- Origin: German and Greek
- Meaning: Victorious
- Variations/Synonyms: Stephanie
- Description: This name can also mean βcrown.β
Truda
- Origin: Polish and German
- Meaning: Brave fighting woman
- Variations/Synonyms: Trudy
- Description: This name can also mean βspear strength.β
Ursula
- Origin: Scandinavian, German, and Latin
- Meaning: Little she-bear
- Variations/Synonyms: Urzula
- Description: This name comes from the Latin word βursa,β which means βbear.β
Willa
- Origin: German and Hebrew
- Meaning: Resolute protection
- Variations/Synonyms: Wilella, Wiella, Wila, Wilah, and Willah
- Description: This name is one of the female versions of βWilhelm.β
Winola
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Charming and peaceful friend
- Variations/Synonyms: Winnola, Winnolla, and Winolla
- Description: This can be a sweet name for your baby girl.
Zelda
- Origin: Yiddish (a German dialect) and German
- Meaning: A strong woman
- Variations/Synonyms: Selig, Zelde, and Griselda
- Description: This name can also mean βblessedβ or βhappy.β
Zemirah
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Blessed and happy in life
- Variations/Synonyms: Zemira, Zemmira, and Zemmirah
- Description: This name can also mean βjoyous melody.β
REFERENCES
(1) https://www.germany.info/us-en/service/04-FamilyMatters/name/902854
