German Dog Names
- Hanno
Origin:
Diminutive of Johan, German variation of JohnMeaning:
"God is gracious"Description:
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.
- Auster
Origin:
German surnameMeaning:
"oyster"Description:
Fans of writer Paul Auster might consider this a worthy alternative to the trendy Austin.
- Raffaela
Origin:
German variation of Hebrew RaphaelaMeaning:
"God heals"Description:
Whether spelled Raffaela, Rafaela, Raffaella, or Raphaela, a euphonius name with a dark-eyed, long-flowing-haired image. Like Gabriella and Isabella, is beginning to be drawn into the American mainstream.
- Jannis
Origin:
Frisian, Dutch variation of JohannesMeaning:
"God is gracious"Description:
In Germany, Jannis outranks its parent name, Johannes. Virtually no American babies were given the name in the last year on record.
- Haydn
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"heathen"Description:
Some music-minded parents might consider this especially as a middle name, to honor the great Austrian composer.
- Siegfried
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"victorious peace"Description:
Also spelled Sigfrid, this hefty German name has an appropriately majestic meaning: "victorious peace". Fittingly, a famous bearer was the English World War I poet and pacifist Siegfried Sassoon. Sassoon was named after the hero of a Wagner opera, which in turn was based on a tragic hero from German legend.
- Baer
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"bearlike, dweller at the sign of the bear"Description:
Reversed vowels make it seem less fierce.
- Adelio
Origin:
Spanish and Italian from GermanMeaning:
"the father of the noble prince"Description:
Appealing, upbeat name used mainly in Spanish-speaking countries.
- Ingo
Origin:
German and ScandinavianMeaning:
"protected by Yngvi"Description:
An unusual name heard in contemporary Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia, it's the male version of the more familiar Inga. It's the name of a German god, and attached to German-born soap star Ingo Rademacher--the father of sons named Peanut and Pohaku Zen.
- Amelina
Origin:
Old German form of Emmeline and AmeliaMeaning:
"work"Description:
Now that the range of names including the modern Emmeline and Amelia -- relatives of each other, but of neither Emily nor Emma -- has become so fashionable, the original root name Amelina is also due up for reconsideration. A lovely, delicate choice, its main disadvantage is that it sounds like a modern elaboration rather than the original name. And perhaps that it will be so often misspelled and mistaken for other forms of itself. But it is a lovely name with deep roots.
- Adelheid
Origin:
German and Dutch form of Adelheidis, GermanMeaning:
"noble, nobility"Description:
The ancient German name Adelheidis gave rise to both Adelaide and Adelheid. While Adelaide is more popular and better known internationally, Adelheid is still used occasionally in Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. The German pronunciation is not that different from Adelaide, with a soft h and a long I sound instead of a long A in the last syllable.
- Brant
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"sword"Description:
Brant, a no-nonsense one-syllable name, had some popularity in the early 1970s, but has been off the lists for a decade. Now, with similarly brisk names like Chase, Jace, Bryce, and Grant finding favor, Brant could make a comeback.
- Jeter
Origin:
French or German surnameDescription:
Jeter, which of course is used as a first name only because of Yankee star Derek, rhymes with Peter and may be derived from the French surname Jette, which was often bestowed on foundlings because it means "thrown out," or the German Jetter, an occupational name meaning "weeder." If your husband insists on Jeter, counter with Percival.
- Wagner
Origin:
German occupational nameMeaning:
"wagon maker"Description:
Whether pronounced like the wag of a tail or as the correct German VAHG-ner, this might be something a devoted opera buff could consider as a middle name.
- Wilmer
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"determined fame"Description:
The visibility of actor Wilmer (That 70s Show) Valderrama has highlighted this name, but it's not likely to spread because of its similarity to the feminine (and dated) Wilma.
- Walburga
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"strong protection"Description:
An ancient saint's name belonging to an 8th century English missionary. Variants include Walpurga and Walpurgis.
- Bing
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"kettle-shaped hollow"Description:
When Kate Hudson named her second son Bingham and announced that she would be calling him Bing, it put this zingy nickname name out on the table. Before that, there was only one, further nicknamed Der Bingle -- and he was really Harry Lillis Crosby.
- Isidor
Origin:
German and Russian variation of IsidoreMeaning:
"gift of Isis"Description:
Isidore and variants are remarkably underused and ripe for revival, a la Theodore and company.
- Danner
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"dweller near the fig tree"Description:
The authentic pronunciation brings it perilously close to Donna, but most English-speakers would rhyme it more attractively with tanner or manner. A nature name for boys that's both unusual and handsome.
- Mathilda
Origin:
Variation of MatildaMeaning:
"battle-mighty"Description:
The addition of the h makes it more Old World, which is not the direction you want to push Matilda in.