German Boy Names

Selig comes from the Yiddish vocabulary word meaning 'happy, fortunate, blessed.' Most of us are more familiar with its Woody Allen variation, Zelig.

Probably intended as a variant spelling of Kyle, this German word (meaning "wedge") is not used as a name there.

The American child given this name of four kings of Denmark, not to mention one so similar to that of the Harry Potter archvillain Lord Voldemort, might have to pay a large emotional import tax.

Less commercial-sounding than Brand.

Earthbound surname that few would make as first choice.

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

The name of a monk who is the patron saint of blacksmiths -- not a twentieth-century occupation or baby name.

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

Hip short form of Bernard, also Swiss place-name.

Conjures up the military image of Fort Benning in Georgia — or the surname of actress Annette.

Concise and clipped European version of the earnest Ernest.

Futuristic, in a 1930s kind of way.

Most famous as the name of King Pepin the Short, this choice might feel somewhat belittling. The even-shorter form is Pippin, a name adopted for musical theater, and the Dutch form Pepijn is in that country's Top 100.

All anyone will think of is the Fonz.

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