German Names that Start With H

This cognate of Jerome (of all things), familiar via the Dutch painter of fantastical scenes, H. Bosch, would appeal only to the most audacious, intrepid, attention-seeking baby namer. It is, however, still used in Germany, especially in Catholic Bavaria and in the north German Rhineland.

Some music-minded parents might consider this especially as a middle name, to honor the great Austrian composer.

Nicknames ending in o are invariably cute, though this one is a boys' name in its own right. And not just any boy name, but a saint's name no less. Saint Hanno, aka Saint Anno, was an 10th century archbishop of Cologne, He is also known as, less attractively, Hanno of Worms, which is one of the oldest cities in Germany.

A possible new entry in the Hayden-Corbin two-syllable boys' name club.

When you like Eric, but wish it were longer; also the name of a great early English poet.

Photographer Newton...or that hard thing you wear on your head.

This spin on the popular Hannah is widely-used in Europe and pronounced similarly to Hannah. It may also be a short form of Johanne, from John/Joan.

A li'l hell-raiser name in the Ryder-Rogue-Rebel vein.

Has a harmonic feel.

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

Helisent was used in the medieval days and has royal antecedents found in both France and Germany. Information on its origins is sketchy, but some say it's related to Elise or Helen or Heloise, or that it derives from a Visigothic name meaning "temple path". Variants include Elisende, Elisenda, Elysant, Elysande, Elissent and Elisent.

Heinz has become a cartoonish German name, prone to ketchup teasing.

A name used in Germany and Holland as a form of Jerome, it's the unlikely moniker of fictional detective Hieronymous "Harry" Bosch.

One you might like for its cozy meaning, but there is that Pied Piper rat connection.

A preppy surname of hidden German origin that would fit right in with currently trendy s-ending boy names like Brooks.

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.

The minimalist Howard.

Hack is, unfortunately, both an unappealing word and sound.

A German name with little chance of American adoption.