Baby names of German origin: all names, their provenance and their meaning
If you are choosing a name for your baby, we give you some ideas that come from the German language, some you will already know and did not know their origin!
If you are expecting a baby, congratulations! One of the most difficult decisions you will have to face as a mother will be deciding what to name your baby. If you are looking for options, then we give you 5 girl names and 5 boy names whose origin is in the Germanic language.
German girl names
Index
EMMA
The name Emma was originally the diminutive of the names that began with ‘ermin’, whose meaning is ‘universal’ or ‘whole’. Her name represents a powerful woman who gets what she wants. In Europe it spread through Emma of Normandy, the wife of King Etelred II. In the United States it was the most popular name in 2008 and in Spain it experienced a great rise in 2004. We find many famous women with this name: the actresses Emma Stone , Emma Watson , Emma Roberts , Emma Thompson and the singer Emma Bunton are some of they. Jane Austen named the protagonist of her eponymous novel Emma.
GRETA
Greta is the German diminutive for Margarita. Its meaning is ‘pearl’ and we can also find this name in other forms such as Maggie or Gretel, protagonist of the tale Hansel and Gretel by the German Jacob Grimm, from the Brothers Grimm. In the 1930s it became very popular thanks to the actress Greta Garbo. Currently we find with that name of German origin Greta Gerwig, muse of independent cinema with films like ‘ Frances Ha ‘, ‘ Lola Versus ‘ or ‘ Mistress America ‘.
GISELA
Gisela comes from the German term ‘gîsal’, which means ‘promise’ or ‘commitment’. On other occasions they also translate it as ‘that which is a powerful arrow’ or ‘that which is strong because of the arrow’. In Spain, the most famous Gisela is the Catalan singer who rose to fame with the first edition of ‘Operación Triunfo’. A variation of Gisela is Giselle, the name of the Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen or the protagonist of the movie ‘ Enchanted: Giselle’s Story ‘.
AMELIA / AMALIA
The origin of Amelia / Amalia is also German, although it has spread in such a way that it is easy to find it in many countries both in Europe and America. Its meaning is ‘work’, therefore it represents a hard-working person who struggles to get what he wants. She was one of the 10 most popular names in Australia in 2013. The most famous Amelia is Amelia Earhart, the first female aviator.
MATILDE
Matilde comes from the German word ‘maht’ which means fortress and from ‘hild’ which means battle. It is a name that is used a lot in the Nordic countries along with Matilda, its variation. Precisely the name Matilda has grown a lot in recent years, firstly thanks to the movie ‘ Matilda ‘ (based on the eponymous book by Roald Dahl) and the character of Natalie Portman as Matilda in ‘ The Professional (Léon) ‘. Secondly, because some celebrities have called their daughters this way, such as the daughter of Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger or the baby of Malena Costa and her partner Mario Suárez .
Boy names of German origin
ERIC
The name Eric (also written Erik or Erick) comes from Old Norse, a Germanic language that was spoken in Scandinavia in the 8th century. It means ‘the eternal sovereign’ and is one of the most popular boy names in Norway, Iceland and Germany . It spread thanks to Eric the Red, a Norwegian explorer who discovered Greenland and also because of the late 19th century tale Eric or Little by Little by Frederic Farrar. Some well-known Erics are the actors Eric McCormack, Eric Bana , Eric Idle and Eric Dane or the famous guitarist Eric Clapton.
OLIVER
The name Oliver comes from a mixture of origins; From German Alfher was associated with the Latin term ‘olive’ and ended up with Olivier in French and Oliver in many other countries. Although during the medieval era it was very popular it stopped being used and it was as a result of Dickens’s book, ‘Oliver Twist’ , that it was used again as a proper name (in Spain Oliver or Olivero is also common as a surname). Some twentysomethings are named after the popular cartoon series ‘Oliver and Benji’. Famous people named Oliver are the film director Oliver Stone , the French actor Olivier Martinez or the German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.
HUGO
Hugo comes from the German ‘hug’, which means ‘mind, spirit’. Hugo is represented as a rational and wise man. For a few years it has become a popular name in the Spanish language, proof of this are the actor Hugo Silva or the former president of Venezuela Hugo Chávez . Hugo Boss fashion brand is of German origin . We also find the actor from ‘ V for Vendetta ‘ and ‘ The Lord of the Rings ‘, Hugo Weaving .
GUILLERMO
Guillermo is the Spanish version of the German name ‘Wilhelm’, whose meaning is composed of ‘ vilja ‘ (which means will) and ‘ helm ‘ (protection, shield), therefore Guillermo is a protector with will. Although in Spain it is a very common name, it is in Anglo-Saxon countries where it is considered one of the most popular names with its version, William. One of the most famous Guillermos today is the Mexican film director Guillermo del Toro . The Prince Prince William (William) has also endowed with fame to this male name.
BRUNO
Bruno means ‘tan / brown’ as it comes from the Germanic word ‘brun’. It is a name that is also widely used as a surname. It is very popular in European countries such as Spain, France, Portugal and of course, Germany. The most famous Bruno today is the singer of Filipino and Puerto Rican origin Bruno Mars , although his real name is Peter and Bruno is a family nickname.
And with these 10 names we hope we have helped you choose a name for your baby, good luck.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.