Trying to find popular German names for boys? Consider these classic and traditional German boy names for your new bundle of joy.
Choosing a name for your new son is one of the most exciting parts of being a parent. Your newborn baby boy is due any day now, and you’re still browsing for the best baby names.
Perhaps you’re influenced by your German roots or just German culture in general, but you are thinking about an old German name for your child.
Traditional German names are known for a hard consonant sound such as Dietrich, Frederick, and Conrad. Popular German names are influenced by surrounding European countries. Names include Brenner, Bronson, and Carey.
Table of Contents
Most Popular German Boy Names
According to the Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache (Society for the German Language), these were the top 10 most popular German boy names for the last decade.
- Noah – meaning “rest” or “comfort”; derived from the Hebrew name Noach.
- Ben – short form of Benjamin, meaning “son of the right hand” or “favored son”.
- Paul – derived from the Latin name Paulus, meaning “small” or “humble”.
- Finn/Fynn – derived from the Irish name Fionn, meaning “fair” or “white”.
- Leon – derived from the Greek name Leonidas, meaning “lion’s son” or “brave as a lion”.
- Elias – derived from the Hebrew name Eliyahu, meaning “my God is Yahweh”.
- Felix – derived from the Latin word felix, meaning “happy” or “fortunate”.
- Henry/Henri – derived from the Germanic name Heinrich, meaning “ruler of the household” or “home ruler”.
- Luis/Louis – derived from the French name Louis, meaning “famous warrior”.
- Max – short form of Maximilian, meaning “greatest” or “largest”.
Classic German Baby Boy Names To Consider (With Meanings)
For other male baby names influenced by Germany, check out this list below. Consider these strong German names and choose your favorite.
- Abbe
- Meaning: My Father is Joyful
- Abbott
- Meaning: Father, Priest, Father of Abbey
- Abelard
- Meaning: Noble
- Adal
- Meaning: Noble
- Adalwolf
- Meaning: Noble Wolf
- Alexander
- Meaning: Defender of Mankind
- Amery
- Meaning: Divine
- Amo
- Meaning: Power of an Eagle
- Archard
- Meaning: Strong
- Arnold
- Meaning: Strong as an Eagle
- Barduwulf
- Meaning: An Ax-Wielding Wolf
- Baltasar
- Meaning: Protected by God
- Baldwin
- Meaning: brave
- Baret
- Meaning: Bear-Strength
- Barnard
- Meaning: Brave, Bear, Courageous
- Barnim
- Meaning: To Protect
- Barrett
- Meaning: Strong as a Bear
- Baron
- Meaning: Noble Man
- Ben
- Meaning: Son Of
- Bren
- Meaning: Flame
- Brenner
- Meaning: One Who Works With Fire
- Bronson
- Meaning: Brown’s Son
- Carey
- Meaning: He Lives in the Fortress
- Cariel
- Meaning: He is a Free Man
- Carsten
- Meaning: Christian
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- Christoph
- Meaning: Christ Bearer
- Conrad
- Meaning: Bold and Mighty, Admired by All
- Corrado
- Meaning: Fearless, Bold, Not Afraid, Valiant
- Corty
- Meaning: One Who Advises Others Boldly and in a Candid Manner
- Cuma
- Meaning: The One Who Bears Christ
- David
- Meaning: The Beloved Friend
- Delmar
- Meaning: One Who Came from Sea
- Derek
- Meaning: The People’s Ruler
- Dietrich
- Meaning: King Of Nations
- Edgar
- Meaning: Spearman
- Egelbert
- Meaning: A Bright Light of God
- Egon
- Meaning: One Who Gets Strong with a Sword
- Elias
- Meaning: One Who Believes Yahweh is the Lord
- Fedde
- Meaning: Peace
- Franz
- Meaning: German Version of Frank
- Frederick
- Meaning: Peaceful Ruler
- Garit
- Meaning: A Person Who is Always with a Spear
- Garold/Gerald
- Meaning: A Ruler Who Controls the Army with a Spear
- Geoffrey
- Meaning: Man of Peace
- Godfrey
- Meaning: Peace of God
- Gunther
- Meaning: Warrior
- Hans
- Meaning: God is Gracious; German Version of John
- Hedwig
- Meaning: Fighter
- Henry
- Meaning: Estate Ruler
- Hulbart
- Meaning: Elegant
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- Jarem
- Meaning: A Might Spearman
- Johan/Joannes
- Meaning: God is Gracious; German Version of John
- Kaiser
- Meaning: German version of Caeser
- Karl
- Meaning: Manly; Strong
- Keifer
- Meaning: Pine Tree; Jaw
- Koen
- Meaning: Wise
- Kort
- Meaning: Honest Advisor: Courageous
- Kurtis
- Meaning: Polite One
- Leon
- Meaning: Lion
- Leopold
- Meaning: Bold
- Louis
- Meaning: Great Knight, Brave Warrior
- Mantel
- Meaning: Cloak Bearer, Makes Garment
- Marcus/Markus
- Meaning: Of Mars
- Martell
- Meaning: Warrior of Mars
- Mayne
- Meaning: One Who is Powerful and Strong
- Nicko
- Meaning: God of Success
- Nikolaus
- Meaning: Victorious
- Noah
- Meaning: Relaxation, Restful, Harmony, Calm
- Odie
- Meaning: The Superman Among Human Being
- Otto
- Meaning: Wealthy
- Raymond
- Meaning: Wise Protector
- Reiner
- Meaning: Counselor
- Robert
- Meaning: Glory Bright
- Roderick
- Meaning: Famous Ruler
- Royce
- Meaning: German Version of Reece; Roy’s Son
- Ryker
- Meaning: Rich
- Truman
- Meaning: Spear of Strength
- Wiley
- Meaning: Brilliant
- William
- Meaning: Protector
READ: Gorgeous German Girl Names To Consider (With Meanings)
Unique German Boy Names
- Anselm
- Meaning: “divine helmet”
- Baldur
- Meaning: “bold, brave army”
- Balthazar
- Meaning: “Baal protect the king”
- Conrad
- Meaning: “brave counsel”
- Dietrich
- Meaning: “ruler of the people”
- Emmerich
- Meaning: “universal ruler”
- Falko
- Meaning: “falcon”
- Finnian
- Meaning: “fair, white, blessed”
- Gideon
- Meaning: “destroyer”
- Gregor
- Meaning: “vigilant, watchful”
- Henrik
- Meaning: “ruler of the home”
- Leif
- Meaning: “heir, descendant”
- Linus
- Meaning: “flax”
- Magnus
- Meaning: “great, mighty”
- Nils
- Meaning: “victorious people”
- Oskar
- Meaning: “spear of God”
- Ragnar
- Meaning: “warrior, judgment”
- Roland
- Meaning: “famous throughout the land”
- Siegfried
- Meaning: “victorious peace”
- Wolfgang
- Meaning: “wolf path”
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