German Names

German name with a Latin rhythm.

With a soft e, sounds like an affected pronunciation of Rita.

Baby-naming rule #984: forget any name that contains the syllable wig.

The German short form Liesa is usually pronounced lee-za, but most people in America will say it like Lisa -- or, just to annoy you, Liza.

A name with two strong literary associations, one overwhelmingly negative -- Lolita's pedophilic narrator Humbert Humbert -- and one positive, in the preferable European version: Italian author Umberto Eco.

Briefly faddish a few decades ago when Darrell was cool. But does have a creative connection to poet Randall Jarrell.

This name is related to Derek and Dietrich, either of which would be preferable.

Too close in sound to the so-far-out-it-will-always-be-out Bernard.

All Adolph variations are best avoided, though this takes some of the onus off.