Germanic names in German. German girls names

There are male German names known to the whole world, the bearers of which determined the glory of Germany for centuries. Johann Sebastian, Ludwig, Wolfgang, Berthold - humanity without these people would not be what it is today.

Glory to all mankind

Bach, Beethoven, Goethe, Brecht - the list goes on for quite some time. Robert, Peter, Gunther, Erich - these names are known, loved, they are common and popular. The most important thing, in any case, in this article, is that these are truly German names for men. In a global, cosmic sense, it is obviously not very important what name a genius has. But just as the names Ivan Turgenev and Pyotr Tchaikovsky sound to the Russian ear, so do the names of Heinrich Heine and Robert Schumann to the German ear.

Smiles of time

It is absolutely impossible to ignore the name Karl. And not only because Marx wore it (although most of humanity is certainly familiar with it). Charlemagne, king of the Franks, is no less famous. Faberge and Lagerfeld, a world-famous jeweler and king of fashion, are also not unknown. What to say about Karl Urban. He played the role of one of the heroes of The Lord of the Rings! All other Karls pale - who knows the growth of Marx or Faberge? Urban has grown to 185 centimeters. Anyone football fan Karls-footballers are known - Rummenigge and Kort. And Papa Carlo is a symbol of an unsuccessful worker! In a word, the name is well-known, ancient, which has not lost its popularity even today.

old names

The same ancient German names include the names of the heroes of the national epic "The Song of the Nibelungs" - the blue-eyed and blond Siegfried, the symbol of a purebred Aryan, Sigmund, Alberich and others. Despite more than a respectable age, these names are in demand. Siegfried Schneider is a two-time Olympic champion, Siegfried Lenz is a popular film actor. Sigmund, thanks to Freud, is a legendary name. Augustine also belongs to the old ones, a name glorified through the ages by the Austrian folk song "Ah, my dear Augustine." Such male German names as Herman, Martin, Friedrich, Wilhelm, Gustav and Alfred are of considerable age, but are still popular today.

Availability and impact of information

Information flows are very large, the number of heroes that young people want to imitate is endless. The Internet has made the globe one home, there are a lot of favorite names in it, and you want to name a child after an idol. Therefore, the most popular sometimes become At all times not last role fashion played, it did not bypass the German Moderns clearly confirm the influence of the United States on the entire life of Western Europe. Ben (who topped the list of popularity) - when did this name become German? According to 2012 data, less than a third were included in the list of the most popular names for native German babies. It's nothing you can do - modern Child live in a society, and it dictates its terms. There are many examples in the literature when children lived with hated names, blaming their parents all their lives. An example is Publius Valerius, one of the heroes of the Forsyte Saga. His father named him so in honor of the horse that came first in the race. But this is definitely an extreme case.

Internationality of names

There are many French names on the list - Louis, Lucas, Leon. A lot of Scandinavian - Jan, Jacob, Johas, Nicholas, of course, American - Tom, Tim. But the name Noah is some kind of double. It is believed that this is a Hebrew female name, however, if it is translated as Noah, then surprise still does not go away. Noa is a popular Israeli singer. Probably, all the same, German boys are called that in honor of American actor, having Indian roots, the hero of the film "The Last Airbender" - Noah Ringer. Let's hope the French American names combined with don't sound as wild as Harry Kravchenko. So, the most popular German names for today are Ben, Leon, Lucas, Luca (the song brought fame and love to this name). This only says that, despite the popularity of Berlinaria, there are a lot of American productions on the screens of German cinemas, as well as all over the world.

Names that have retained significance for contemporaries

Maybe Hansel sounds archaic, and it's better for a boy to live with the name Johas - the Germans will judge. It is pleasant to note Philip (a lover of horses) and Alexander (a courageous defender), who have not lost their popularity since ancient times. In the 2012 list, in addition to the above, there are such male popular German names as Felix, David, Henri. Times change and names change with them.

Names that have become household names

Every nation has names that represent it as a nation. Russian Ivan, American Uncle Sam, German Fritz. They have a negative stamp on them. "Fritz" was called during the war all the invaders. If we consider Fritz as shortened from the full name Friedrich, then the picture changes dramatically. It testifies to the greatness of Germany - Nietzsche, Engels, Schiller, Barbarossa. These were great people. The royal names Wilhelm and Heinrich are generally out of competition in terms of monumentality and grandeur. On the territory of Europe there were dozens of royal persons who wore them with honor. Heinrich Heine, the poet, added to his world fame. Given the wars unleashed by Germany in the 20th century, every German name, the most beautiful and noble, can belong to a war criminal. the head of the Gestapo, did not add human sympathies to him.

Typical German names

Erich, Gustav, Alfred, Heinrich, Wilhelm, Adolf, Friedrich - these are the most common German names. And the most typical. We can safely add Hermann and Otto to them, the most famous of which was Bismarck, the “Iron Chancellor”, who united the scattered German principalities into one state. But, people of the older generation also knew the handsome West German actor Otto Wilhelm Fischer and Otto Yulievich Schmidt.

Some male German names have undergone a well-deserved obstruction. Adolf was very unlucky. Derived from the ancient Germanic name Adalwolf (translated as "noble wolf"), it characterized a very decent person. Elegance, restraint, sociability, possession of will and intellect were inherent in him. And it belonged for the time being, quite nice, talented people- Erichson (architect, master of Russian Art Nouveau), Andersen (the greatest chess player), Dassler (founder of Adidas). Adolfs were the king of Nassau and Dobryansky-Sachurov, a large public figure, philosopher and writer. Thanks to Hitler, this name, like the name of King Herod, will personify and inspire horror and disgust for centuries.

Beautiful names

In Germany, as in any other country, there are beautiful German male names. Rarely anyone is now called Maximilian, and even before it was not very common. But a very beautiful name. And the West German actor was very handsome and talented. The name is translated as "descendant of the greatest", its bearers have many positive features. Erudite were Maximilian I - the German king, and Maximilian Voloshin - Russian encyclopedist. But aren’t the names Alfred (he was worn by the famous Musset), Arnold (maybe there were famous Arnolds, but Schwarzenegger eclipsed everyone), Martin (“Martin Eden”) not beautiful. In some sources, Altaf, which translates as "the cutest, most charming", and simply "handsome", refers to German names. Such male German names listed in reference books as Lorenz, Raphael, Walter are most likely just names often given to boys in Germany. They are definitely foreign.

rare names

Herman deserves special words, which in Latin means close, uterine, true, even brother. The name is so international and popular that the Germans consider it German, and the Russians - Russian. Pastor Kant, as well as the well-known Jesuit Buzembaum, speak in favor of the first version. In favor of the second - the hero " Queen of Spades”, cosmonaut Titov, saints of Valaam, Constantinople, the hermit Solovetsky. All of them were Germans.

In Germany, as in any other country, there are rare German male names. There are a lot of them, from the noble Abelard to the bright Engelbert. These include Berndt, Villafried, Detlef, Etzel and many others.

Names - the image of Germany

In general, paying attention to male German names, you are amazed at the grandeur of the picture. No matter how many of them are listed, it is impossible to cover all the Germans who brought glory to their country and made their names immortal. Is it possible to ignore Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, if the screens of the world, one after another, come out pictures called "Amadeus". The names of philosophers, composers, writers - Liszt, Hegel, Kant and Schopenhauer - will always be the most famous for the Germans. And only they themselves can judge the significance and popularity of their names. I would like to believe that the time will never come when the names of geniuses will be known to mankind only as the nicknames of the turtle and the dog (Raphael and Beethoven), and no one will remember the bearers of these names.

Almost all German names, male and female, have a rather harsh sound. At the same time, the meanings of German male names are not always “strict”, and each of you can choose a kind and romantic German name for your child.

Male names are known all over the world, but they are not as common as, for example, French or Spanish. But, nevertheless, beautiful German names for girls and boys in Lately are becoming increasingly popular among many Europeans.

In Russia, German names (mostly masculine) were banned in the war and post-war years. It's about not about a government ban, it's just no wonder no one was willing to name their children after their enemies.

However, after some time, German names began to be used again by Soviet citizens, and now many Europeans and Russians choose sonorous German names for their children. In this article, we will tell you about German names for boys, their origins and meanings.

GERMAN MALE NAMES

Origin of Germanic male names

Modern German male names, the list of which we will provide below, can be divided into two groups. The first includes names that have a native, i.e. ancient Germanic origin, and the second - foreign, which include the names of the Catholic saints.

The history of German names for men begins even before our era, and ancient names still exist among the German people, for example, such as the original German Karl, Wolfgang, Ulrich and others.

Many names in Germany are of Latin, Hebrew, Ancient Greek origin. Also, the formation of German names was significantly influenced by French, Slavic, Scandinavian names.

German boy names: what they are usually called

German parents can give their children several names at once, which is not prohibited by law. Moreover, all names are officially registered. Any teenager can choose one of all the names or leave it as it is, and at the same time have this name: Ludwig Georg Helmut Schneider, where the latter is a surname.

Note! By the way, German names may well replace surnames, and this is also official. Recently, there has been a trend to register short names, for example, Heinz instead of Heinrich, Katya instead of Katharina, etc.

Popular German names (male)

Well, now let's see what are considered the most popular and beautiful German male names. Most famous names The German people are known to the whole world thanks to the people of history, science and art - Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Rudolf Diesel, etc.

These names are popular among Germans and not only. TO beautiful names The Germans themselves and many other Europeans refer to such as: Robert, Erich, Siegfried (the name of the hero of the Nibelungenlied), Augustine, Herman, Maximilian, Alfred, Arnold, Lorenz, Altaf and others.

German male names and their meanings

Naming a child by an unusual name is only half the battle. After all, the most important thing to consider important choice, this is not the origin at all, but the meaning of the name. Many people on our planet believe that the name determines the fate of a person, and, as studies show, this is really real.

How to choose a name so that it becomes a happy companion of its owner? Below we list some (most common) German boy names with meanings, but to learn more about the name, you should read about each name you like separately.

So, German names (male) popular and their meaning (list):

Abelard - "noble"
August - Dear
Adalbert - "kindness"
Adler, Arnold - "Eagle's possessions",
Adolf - "famous wolf",
Albert - "shine"
Angel, Anselm - "Defender of God",
Astor - "hawk"
Barthold - "prominent ruler",
Berndt - "brave and strong like a bear",
Berhard - "unsurpassed defense",
Bonifats - "fate"
Wendel - "wandering"
Werner - "guardian"
Wilbert - "powerful fortress"
Wilhelm - "helmet"
Vincennes - "warrior"
Voldemar - "famous ruler",
Walker - "National Army"
Wolfgang - "the way of the wolf"
Hans - "God's goodness"
Heinrich - "house manager",
Gerard - "spear"
Herbert - "army"
Gofrid - "peace on Earth",
Gunther - "fighting army"
Dederik - "King of the Earth"
Dietmar - "famous"
Isaac - "laughing"
Johan - "good-natured"
Karl - "freedom-loving"
Karsten - "God's Follower"
Kaspar - "the one to cherish"
Clemens - "merciful"
Konrad - "advice"
Lammert - "open spaces",
Leonhard - "strong as a lion"
Manfred - "peaceful force"
Marcus - "warrior"
Martin - "Man from Mars"
Meinhard - "brave"
Olberich - "the power of the elf",
Aldrick - "elderly ruler"
Otto - "rich man"
Raymond - "intercessor"
Reiner - "smart warrior"
Ralph - "wolf"
Rein, Reiner - "smart",
Richard - "strong, powerful"
Rotger - "famous weapon",
Sigmand - "intercessor",
Friedrich, Fritz - "humane ruler",
Heinz - "housekeeper"
Hank - "God's grace"
Harald - "commander-in-chief"
Hardwin - "true friend"
Harman - "brave"
Hayden - "pagan"
Edward - "guardian"
Eldrick - "Old Lord"
Erich - "ruler"
Ernst - "fighter against death"
Jurgen - "peasant".

This is far from full list German male names, but only well-known and frequently used names by Germans. A more complete list, which includes 500 names and more, including in German, can be found on the Internet.

It is worth noting: that in the lists of German names you can find many French names, such as Louis, Leon and others. Also among German you will find the Scandinavian Johas, Nicholas, Jacob, the Hebrew Noah, etc. That is, the internationality of names is present here, as in many other languages of the world.

But the main thing is not the origin of the name, but its meaning for the fate of a person. Therefore, when choosing a name for your boy, mainly pay attention to its meaning.

All modern German names are divided into two groups: those of ancient Germanic origin and those borrowed from the Catholic calendar and other languages. In modern German law, it is forbidden to give children fictitious names, geographical names (as, for example, in America). You can choose only those that correspond to the Catholic traditions of the people.

But it is allowed to use abbreviated forms as official ones. For example, such German female names, like Katarina, Annette, Suzanne, are more common in the form of Katya, Ann, Susie. Double names are also not uncommon: Annmari is Anna + Marie. Nowadays, the choice of names is strongly influenced by stage, cinema, and television.

In general, the number of names for children can be unlimited: usually it is 1-2 names, but sometimes up to ten are found. For example, you can easily meet such German male names as Hans, Viktor, Georg, in the form of the name of one person, this is not such a rarity. Although usually, upon reaching the age of majority, at the request of the bearer of the name, everything is entered in his passport, or he takes one name from those noted on the birth certificate.

Names were borrowed most often from the cultures of neighbors: the French, Spaniards, English and so on. There are also names borrowed from Russian in German: Sasha, Vera, Natasha.
Here are some meanings of the original German names: Heinrich - "housekeeper", Ludwig - "famous warrior", Wilhelm - "protection", Karl - "free", Adolf - "noble wolf", Arnold - "soaring eagle".

Groups of German names

Most modern German names can be divided into two groups. The first are names of ancient Germanic origin (Karl, Ulrich, Wolfgang, Gertrud), the second are foreign names borrowed from the Catholic calendar (Johann, Katharina, Anna, Margarete). German law forbids giving children names as names, surnames, or fictitious names (as is customary, for example, in the United States), but it allows you to give an unlimited number of names, which is consistent with Catholic traditions, which are followed by a third of the population of Germany.

Recently, brief or pet names: Kathi (instead of Katharina), Heinz (instead of Heinrich). Merging of double names is also practiced: Marlene = Maria + Magdalene, Annegret = Anna + Margarete, Annemarie = Anna + Marie.

Transcription of German names

Until the middle of the 20th century, it was customary in Russian to convey the German sound [h] as “g”: Hans - Hans, Helmut - Helmut, Burkhard - Burkhard. By modern rules practical transcription, these names are transmitted as Hans, Helmut, Burkhard. An exception (for obvious reasons) is made only for the transmission of the letter combination "her": Herbert - Herbert, Herwig - Gerwig. In other cases, it is recommended to convey the pronounced [h] as "x". (Although the old traditions are still alive: we speak and write Heinrich Heine, Wilhelm Hohenzollern, although in reality these names should sound: Heinrich Heine, Wilhelm Hohenzollern).

Female names ending in -e in Russian transcription are sometimes transmitted with the ending -a: Martine - Martina, Magdalene - Magdalena (especially since German also has the forms Martina and Magdalena). At the same time, for some names there is a stable form of transmission through -e: Anneliese - Anneliese, Hannelore - Hannelore.
Modern German names did not appear immediately, they appeared gradually by borrowing from other languages. Some of the names have ancient Germanic roots, although their sound has undergone significant changes since those times.

Since the 12th century, a name form has been formed in German, consisting of two parts: one or more personal names and a surname. At the same time, by a personal name, you can determine the gender of its owner. Children are sometimes given several personal names: one, two, or even more. This is perfectly legal, however, upon reaching the age of majority, he can choose one of the names or leave all. Sometimes given names are also used as surnames.

The process of naming a child

Immediately after birth, the child is given a name. However, it must meet certain requirements:

it should not have an unsightly sound or indecent meaning that infringes on the dignity of the child;

by the name of the child, one can without hesitation determine its gender. If this is not done, then a middle name is chosen, which will refer to either women or men. First name Maria
is an exception and applies to both women and men as a middle name;

the name can only be chosen from among those included in the international list of names. It is not allowed to choose proper names (names of firms, cities, settlements, surnames of other people, fictitious names);

you can’t call a child names that are forbidden by religion and are not proper names (Judas, Satan, Allah).

If the parents are not allowed to name the child by the chosen name, then the matter is submitted to the court.

Origin of German names

The oldest German names appeared as early as the 7th-4th centuries. BC. It was believed that they should consist of two parts, and are intended to influence the fate of their owner, to make him bold and strong. And today you can find such ancient names, for example, Eberhart, Bemhart, Wolfgang, which correspond to Russian counterparts: Svyatoslav, Vladimir, Gorisvet. In total, about 2000 ancient names were discovered, of which about two hundred are currently active. And their hidden meaning was lost in the Middle Ages.

The first borrowed names appeared in the second half of the 8th century, when names from the Old Testament began to penetrate with the Christian religion from Italy, and then from Latin. With the advent of the religion of Christianity, names of religious content also began to be created in German: Traugott, Gotthold, Furchtegott.

Fashion has a great influence on the choice of name, for example, on literary works, ancient Greek mythology or any other heroic epic. Sometimes children were given names in imitation of politicians and monarchs.

A lot of names were borrowed from French, Russian, Italian and English. It is even considered fashionable to write names in foreign manners: Elly, Gaby, Sylvia (instead of Elli, Gabi, Silvia).

Currently, the choice of a name is strongly influenced by cinema, pop music or television. It is considered very important to give the child an original and unusual name. And many names of the older generation are completely out of use.

Personal names belong to the most ancient onyms. Surnames appeared much later.
The German personal names that we meet today accumulated gradually, were borrowed from various sources. Some of them go back to the ancient Germanic onyms, many in different time were borrowed from other nations. A particularly strong craving for foreign names is observed today.

In modern German-speaking culture, a person has two types of name: personal (Rufname) and surname (Familienname). There is no patronymic (Vatersname) in the German environment. In everyday life, the word der Name denotes a surname: “Mein name ist Muller”; "Wie war doch gleich der Name?" (“Your last name?”) is a common question of a person who has forgotten the name of the interlocutor: (Der Name steht an der Wohnungstur). In official documents where required full name, there is a column "Vorname und Name", that is, a personal name and surname.

The oldest of the names of Germanic origin originated in the 7th-4th centuries BC. As in other European languages, they are composed of two parts and were called upon to magically "influence" the fate of a person, give him strength, courage, victory, the protection of the gods, etc. This is reflected in the etymology of the still existing ancient names such as Eberhart ("stark wie ein Eber"), Bemhart ("stark wie der Bar"), Wolfgang (close to Russian Svyatoslav, Gorisveta, Vladimir). From the oldest layer of personal names - about 2000 of them have been discovered - today there are hardly a hundred active ones. Already in early middle ages the “magical meaning” of personal names was completely lost.

In the second half of the VIII century. names associated with Christianity begin to penetrate the German language from Italy: first, names from the Old Testament - Adam (Hebrew original), Susanne (Hebrew lily), then Andreas (Greek brave), Agathe (kind), Katharina (pure), from Latin - Viktor (winner), Beata (happy). Particularly active biblical names borrowed in the 15th century. Moreover, in Catholic families preference was given and is given to the names of saints - the patrons of babies, in Lutheran families - to the names of biblical characters. Personal names of religious content were also created from German words and basics: Traugott, Furchtegott, Gotthold.

Factors affecting the choice of name

The choice of a personal name is often influenced by fashion:

romantically "Nordic" (Knut, Olaf, Sven, Birgit), borrowed from Old German
mythology or from heroic epic(Siegfried, Siegmund.);

French names (Annette, Claire, Nicole, Yvonne);

Russians (Vera, Natascha, Sascha);

Italian or Anglo-American.

So, in 1983, in the area of the city of Bern, the most common names for girls were Nicole, Anja, Susanne, Maudy, Christin, Yvonne. For boys - Christian, Thomas, Stefan, Patrick, Michael, Sebastian.

The fashion for names is largely shaped by imitation. In the old days, children were willingly given the names of monarchs (in Prussia - Friedrich, Wilhelm; in Saxony - August, Johann, Albert; in Austria - Joseph, Leopold, Maximilian), as well as the names of heroes literary works.
Today to choose a name strong influence cinema, television and variety show, there is also a craving for originality, uniqueness, unusualness of the name. Previously known names are often written in a foreign way: Elly, Sylvia, Gaby (instead of Elli, Silvia, Gabi). Some names have gone out of fashion, they are given very rarely today. Older people have names that are no longer in use today.

Abbreviation of names

In everyday life, many personal names, especially long ones, are abbreviated, for example, Ulrich -> Ulli; Bertolt -> Bert(i); Bernhard -> Bernd; Katharina -> Kat(h)e; Friedrich -> Fritz; Heinrich -> Heinz, Harry; Johannes -> Hans; Susanne -> Susy. Some of these so-called hypocoristic names are now used on a par with the original, that is, independently (for example: Fritz, Heinz, Hans).
German surnames developed much later than personal names. They developed from the so-called nicknames (Beinamen), which originally contained information about the origin of the bearer of the name, about the place of his birth (Walter von der Vogelweide, Dietrich von Berne).

Many nicknames indicated some physical or other difference in this individual: Friedrich Barbarossa (Rotbart, Redbeard), Heinrich der Lowe. Over time, this nickname began to be passed on to the heirs and fixed in official documents.
The famous German linguist W. Fleischer points out that German surnames begin to appear in the 12th century - first in big cities in the West. In the north, in the province of Hanover, they were introduced only in early XIX century by Napoleon. generic names, surnames were fixed primarily for the feudal lords. Fleischer cites as an example characters Lessing's plays "Minna von Barnhelm": Freulein von Barnhelm, Major von Tellheim - nobles; servants - Just, Franziska. And today it is customary to call domestic servants simply by their first name, in contrast to the usual treatment: Frau + first or last name; Herr + first or last name.
The vast majority of modern German surnames were formed from personal names (Walter, Hermann, Peters, Jacobi), nicknames (Bart, Stolz) and the names of professions and occupations (Muller, Schmidt, Koch, Schulze, Schumacher).

Most modern German names can be divided into two groups:

1) names of ancient Germanic origin (Karl, Ulrich, Wolfgang, Gertrud);

2) foreign names borrowed from the Catholic calendar (Johann, Katharina, Anna, Margarete).

German law forbids giving children names as names, surnames, or fictitious names (as is customary, for example, in the United States), but it allows you to give an unlimited number of names, which is consistent with Catholic traditions, which are followed by a third of the population of Germany.

Recently, short or diminutive names are increasingly used as passport names: Kathi (instead of Katharina), Heinz (instead of Heinrich). Merging of double names is also practiced: Marlene = Maria + Magdalene, Annegret = Anna + Margarete, Annemarie = Anna + Marie.

Until the middle of the 20th century, it was customary in Russian to transmit the German sound [h] as “g”: Hans - Hans, Helmut - Helmut, Burkhard - Burkhard. According to modern rules of practical transcription, these names are transmitted as Hans, Helmut, Burkhard. An exception (for obvious reasons) is made only for the transmission of the letter combination "her": Herbert - Herbert, Herwig - Herwig. In other cases, it is recommended to convey the pronounced [h] as "x". (Although the old traditions are still alive: we speak and write Heinrich Heine, Wilhelm Hohenzollern, although in reality these names should sound: Heinrich Heine, Wilhelm Hohenzollern).

Female names ending in -e are sometimes transmitted in Russian transcription with the ending -a: Martine - Martin, Magdalene - Magdalena (especially since German also has the forms Martina and Magdalena). At the same time, for some names there is a stable form of transmission through -e: Anneliese - Anneliese, Hannelore - Hannelore.

Personal names and surnames are an integral part of the culture of any nation, capable of revealing its character, reflecting beliefs, way of life, value and aesthetic guidelines. The world of individual names and surnames is a world of meanings and meanings that need to be deciphered. Behind every name is a mystery and a riddle. Sonorous German female names carry echoes of Germanic myths and ballads. The rattling of medieval stadiums is heard in them, and the images beautiful ladies and the warlike Valkyries behind them influence the fate of their bearers. But is it?

German woman with national flag

German traditions in naming children

In Germany, children are given several names at birth. Their number can reach up to ten. With the onset of adulthood, everyone decides whether to choose only one name or leave everything. Names can also be used as family names.

The formation of complex personal names is a very old tradition associated with the ancient Germanic naming system that prevailed in Western Europe up to the 10th century. Most often, the name consisted of two lexemes and acquired a three-dimensional meaning. For male names, popular lexemes were used with the meaning "friendship", "protection", "struggle", "war", "strength", "god", "power", "power", "glory" and the like. Interestingly, many of them were also used in female names. But, of course, in general, the meanings of female names gravitated towards other meanings: “ancestor”, “fertile”, “friendly”, “burly”, “attractive”, “healthy”, “generous”, etc. From the “cubes” lexemes formed personal names, unique and inimitable, having sacred meaning And magical power. At the same time, one of the tokens of the child's name was very often a token from the name of the parents or more distant ancestors.

From the end of the 10th century, naming traditions began to change. The titled nobility seeks to justify their claims to completeness of power, including by choosing special names that are passed down from generation to generation. The prestige of aristocratic names made them popular among the masses. This led to a peculiar fashion and the spread of the same names.

TO XIII century the most common names for girls in Germany were: Ava, Greta, Adaliza (Adela, Lisa), Gertrude, Werth, Matilda, Heila.

By origin, German female names can be divided into two groups. The first includes names of ancient Germanic origin. These are such names as Gertrude, Gerda, Carla, Emma and others. The second group is foreign names borrowed from Christianity - Katrina, Maria, Hanna, Margarita, etc. According to German law, girls cannot be given fictitious and geographical names, but it is allowed to use abbreviated versions (Inga, Lena, Mia), the fusion of two names : Marlene = Maria + Marlena, Annamaria = Anna + Mary and others.

German names for girls

Of course, it is impossible to list all German female names. German not everyone likes it. Many consider it rude and too warlike, but still there are female names of Germanic origin, the sound of which is melodious to the ear and favorable in meaning. Many of them are great for modern girls. Let's dwell on the most popular and beautiful.

List of popular German female names and their meanings

Mia - short for Mary;
- means bitter, serene, desirable;
Hannah (Anna) - the grace of God, brave;
Emma - precious, universal;
- wise;
Leonie is a lioness;
Joanna - merciful;
- short for Helena, torch, light;
Ursula is a bear;
Katrina - pure;
Helga - sacred, holy;
- reborn, reborn
- Sabine;
Ingrid - beautiful, fertile;
Monica is the only one;
Petra - stone;
Susanna - water lily;
Brigitte is strong;
Erica - powerful, ruler;
- a Christian
Stefanie - crowned;
Gertrude - spear + beloved;
Elizabeth - my God - an oath;
Angelica - angelic;
Gabriela - God's warrior;
Ilsa - short for Elizabeth;
Nicole is the winner of nations.

The first eight names are the most popular female names in Germany and Austria over the past ten years. The rest are the most common in 1890-2002. Some names, such as Hannah and Emma, lost popularity during the 20th century, but regained it in the 21st century.

German female names Hanna and Emma - rebirth

The name Hannah is of Hebrew origin and means "God's mercy", "grace". In Christianity, it is one of the most common and is associated with such biblical characters as Anna, the mother of the Virgin Mary, the mother of the prophet Samuel, and others. The most famous German women with the name Hannah:

Hannah Arendt is a philosopher;
Hanna Reich - pilot;
Hanna Heh - artist;
Hanna Shigulla is an actress.

The name Emma comes from an ancient Germanic name meaning "huge, all-encompassing". The meaning of the name determined Emma's occupations - most often they are actresses, writers, singers. It has become widespread throughout Europe, and now there is a triumphant "return" of this name to its historical homeland.

For the first time, German female names appeared several hundred years before our era. Their sound reflected the life, culture and beliefs of the ancient Germanic tribes.

The Germans believe that the name can significantly affect the fate of a person, so the choice of a name for a newborn girl is approached with great care. Many German names of women known to this day consist of two parts, each of which has its own meaning.

In the Middle Ages, the Germans borrowed names from other nationalities. Modern German female names come from literary works or films.

The Germans spelled out at the legislative level how girls can be called. It is forbidden to call them obscene, dissonant names. In Germany, there is an official list of allowed female names.

Let's talk about some of the most beautiful old and modern German names and the meaning of some of them.

Ursula

Ursula is a popular German name, girls are called Ulla or Uschi for short. Girls named Ursula are active and hardworking. They are demanding and receptive to the world around them.

Ursulas have a strong character, never get lost in difficult situations. Ulla loves praise, but she sees flattery from afar. She does not like lying and insincere people.

Ursulas are hardworking and always bring what they start to the end. They are friendly to others, but only until the moment when people do not affect the interests of Ulla.

For Ursula, her colleagues are not allies, but rivals. If there is an urgent need, Ulla is capable of compromises.

A woman with that name considers her opinion the only true one, therefore she often reads lectures to others. In general, Ursula is a committed and responsible person, achieving great success at work.

ingrid

The name Ingrid means the need for dominance. A woman named Ingrid is not afraid of conflicts and tries to constantly demonstrate her power. She is always busy with something. Tireless Ingrid is ready to take part in several cases at once, sometimes exhausting herself.

In personal relationships, she is devoted and faithful, but due to constant employment, she often does not have time to build a strong family. Sometimes Ingrid can speak rudely and bluntly, she is very intolerant of other people's mistakes.

But quickly leaves and calms down. Ingrid is a born leader, she is able to manage a huge team.

Hannah

The old name Hanna, popular in Germany, has Jewish roots and is directly related to Christianity. That was the name of the mother of Mary, who gave birth to Jesus Christ. The name Hannah has several meanings - the grace of God, brave, courage.

A woman who received this name has been striving for justice and independence since childhood. Little Hannas are quick-tempered and vulnerable, they can cause a storm of emotions out of the blue.

With age, they cease to be quick-tempered and learn to control themselves. Hannas are sincere and always ready to help. They do not like fuss, in any difficult situations they behave calmly and judiciously.

Gertrude

The German name Gertrude has Scandinavian roots and translates as a warrior. Hera has a masculine disposition, she is able to achieve a lot in life.

Little Gertrude is a quiet and fearful child, she is a good student and demonstrates talents in various fields. Adult Gertrude has strong character, strict to others. IN family life Hera is soft, gentle and devoted, she is a hospitable hostess, it is always warm and cozy in her house.

Elsa

Elsa is the German version of the name Elizabeth, in Germany this name is very common. Elsa is determined and brave. As a child, he prefers to play with boys.

Elya takes what is happening close to her heart and requires an attentive and sensitive attitude. Little Elsa has a well-developed imagination, but she has no special abilities for learning.

Adult Elsa is a workaholic, leads an active lifestyle, achieves heights in her career. With colleagues, she is usually closed, rarely sharing her personal life. Elsa is distinguished by her love for pets; there are usually many pets in her house.

In her personal life, Elsa prefers numerous novels, they are not inclined to strong ties. In men, they especially value intelligence. Domineering character does not prevent Elsa from being a good and fair mother.

Brigitte

Brigittes are indecisive and timid, preferring to keep a low profile and keep their emotions in check. Women with this name are true to their word, they always keep their promises. They take betrayal and betrayal hard.

If Brigitte has become attached to someone, then you can be sure that this is for a long time. Brigittes are hardy and tireless, due to this they can achieve a lot. They become ideal housewives and wonderful mothers.

Rosemary

Rosemary is known for her simple and uncomplicated nature. They always have many friends, they are mobile and cheerful. As a child, Rosemary can reach certain heights in sports.

Adult Rosemary is distinguished internal contradictions: she can passionately love a person and also hate him fiercely. Women with this name are subject to frequent mood swings without any external causes.

Other popular German names

Rosemary is a reminder.
Greta is a gem.
Wilda is wild.
Nicole is the conqueror of nations.
Christina is a Christian.
Bertha is brilliant.
Emma is precious.
Ida is good.
Susanna is a water lily.
Astrid is beautiful.
Angelica - angelic.
Brigitte is strong.
Laura - laurel.
Monica is the only one.
Gabriela is God's warrior.
Hannah is brave.
Anna is a blessing.
Beata is blessed.
Stephanie is crowned.
Katrina is clean.
Sofia is wise.
Renata - born again.
Helga is a saint.
Maria is desirable.
Ursula is a bear.
Gertrude - beloved + spear.
Erica is powerful.
Ingrid is fertile.
Elizabeth is my God.
Petra is stone.
Helena is a torch.
Adelinda is a noble snake.
Amalia is work.
Benedict - blessed.
Griselda is a gray maiden.
Yvonne is a yew tree.
Rebecca - trapping.
Jadwiga is a wealthy warrior.
Francis is free.
Raffaela - God has healed.
Elsa - worshiping God.
Hilda is practical.
Gertrude is the power of the spear.
Brunnhilde is a female warrior.
Gretchen is a little pearl.
Juliana is young.
Annemarie - good.
Sommer is summer.
Margaret is a gem.
Martha is a lady.
Clara is bright.
Carla is human.
Ingeborg - protection.
Isolde is an ice rule.
Gabi is strong.
Amalia is work.
Erma is whole.
Francis is free.
Eleanor is different.
Emily is competitive.
Teresa is a reaper.
Suzy is a lily.
Felika is lucky.
Helma is a helmet.
Dress is rich.
Ida is good.
Louise is a warrior.
Ernesta - fighting death.
Irma is a dedication to the god of war.
Astrid is the goddess of beauty.
Helena is the moon.
Hilda is attractive.
Frida is the strength of an elf.
Ulrika - power.
Imma is whole.
Leona is a lioness.
Lorelei is the muttering of the rock.
Carlota is human.
Jitta is majestic.
Verena is wisdom.
Volda is the rule.
Hertha is the power of the spear.
Iolanta is a violet.
Isolde is cold gold.
Jolenta is a purple flower.
Matilda is strong in battle.
Verena is sacred wisdom.
Albertina is a bright nobility.
Ermtraud is totally loved.
Adelaide is of noble birth.
Heinriche is the household ruler.
Svanhilda - a slain swan.