German Dog Names

Katharina is an attractive form of Katherine and a great way to update a classic. But English speakers may want to choose the Katerina or Katarina spelling to avoid pronunciation confusion.

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

Like Papa name Rudolf, Rolf never quite emigrated from the Bavarian Alps. You might want to move on to Rollo or Wolf.

A German surname name deriving from the same root as English Ryder. Traditionally, it was the name of the second lowest hereditary rank of the nobility, roughly equivalent to English Baronet. Notable associations are British actor Paul Ritter and a popular European chocolate brand.

Theodoric feels prehistoric, though with short form Theo one of the hottest names around, this old German names for boys may soon feel new again.

Seen across Europe as both an independent name and a short form of names such as Antoni and Anton. In the US, however, this is considered to be the feminine spelling.

Alda's brother name Aldo has been a mainstay of the U.S. popularity chart for decades now, and the related Alden is soaring up as well. This version has never really caught on. (Maybe it's the association with Alan Alda: great actor, unlikely namesake for a little girl.) However, there is possible hope now that Alba and Alma are on the rise. Aida and Arden are more familiar alternatives.

Native-American feel via similarity to Winona.

Finja Is a Josephine nickname that ranks among the Top 100 girl names in Germany.

This is one of the least known or used of the Theo names, quite possibly because of its last syllable. In Samuel Butler's 1903 novel The Way of All Flesh, there is a clergyman character named Theobald Pontifex.

This surname-name originated as a nickname for redheads.

Brings to mind phrases like "I vanda new bike" or "I vanda go home".

The enduring form of Nicholas in countries that speak predominantly Germanic languages.

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

See LOUISE.

Less commercial-sounding than Brand.

Like Mitzi, the bubbly Fritzi shows signs of rising again. Has a bit of a comic-strip feel.

A male character in The Chronicles of Narnia, but could conceivably be used for a girl.