German names for boys
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Most popular German names in official statistics
Austria, 2025
Source: Statistik Austria.
Germany, 2025
Source: Landeshauptstadt München, Statistisches Amt (Munich city open data).
Switzerland, 2025
Featured in baby name books
Abraham
Abraham is a Hebrew name meaning “father of many” or “father of nations,” with forms like Abe, Avram, and the Arabic Ibrahim. The biblical Abraham, first called Abram, is regarded as a forefather of both the Jewish and Arab peoples through his sons Isaac and Ishmael.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, Unusual Baby Names
Adam
Adam is a Hebrew name meaning “man” and tied to the word for earth, often rendered “of the red earth.” In the Bible, Adam was the first man, formed from dust and placed in Eden with Eve as his partner.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, Sci-Fi Baby Names
Adrian
Adrian is a Latin name for a man “from Hadria,” a town in northern Italy that gave its name to the Adriatic region. Adrian is also read as meaning “dark,” “black,” or “black earth,” with variants like Adrien and Hadrian.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), The Best Baby Names for Boys, Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names
Albert
Albert is a Germanic name meaning “noble and bright,” often extended to “famous,” with forms like Albrecht and Alberto and nicknames Al and Bertie. Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, popularized the name in England, and Albert Einstein linked it with genius; it was very popular until the 1930s but has since faded.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Numerology for Baby Names, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Everything Baby Names Book
Alexander
Alexander is a Greek name meaning “defender of men” or “protector,” with countless forms worldwide, including Alessandro, Alejandro, Alistair, and Sasha. Alexander the Great made the name a byword for strength and leadership, and it has never been more popular; other famous bearers include Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time
Alfred
Alfred is an Old English name meaning “elf counsel” or “wise counselor,” with Alfie, Alf, and Fred as nicknames and Alfredo as a Latin form. King Alfred, who unified the Anglo-Saxon peoples, is the only English king known as “the Great.”
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names
Arthur
Arthur is a Celtic name usually traced to artos, “bear,” and glossed as “bear-hero” or “rock,” with Arturo and Artur as other forms. The legendary King Arthur made the name famous, and the Duke of Wellington and Tennyson’s Idylls of the King boosted it; it was in the U.S. top fifteen around 1900.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time
Daniel
Daniel is a Hebrew name meaning “God is my judge,” with Dan and Danny as nicknames. The biblical Daniel was an exiled Israelite who rose in Babylon by interpreting dreams and survived a night in the lion's den.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names
David
David is a Hebrew name meaning “beloved,” “cherished,” or “darling.” The biblical David was a shepherd boy who slew Goliath, wrote psalms and music, and became a mighty king of Israel.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, Numerology for Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time
Dennis
Dennis means “follower of Dionysus,” the Greek god of wine and revelry. St. Denis is France's patron saint, where the name is very popular as Denis.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Numerology for Baby Names
Edgar
Edgar is an Old English name meaning “wealthy spearman.” Edgar is an ancient English royal name and a character in King Lear, and it is worth a second look now that Edward is so common.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time
Edward
Edward is an Old English royal name meaning “wealthy guardian” or “prosperous protector.” Edward is also glossed as “guardian of property,” and bearers include playwright Edward Albee, painter Edward Hopper, and actor Edward Norton.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Numerology for Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Everything Baby Names Book
Emmett
Emmett is a boy’s name that grew out of Emma and means “universal,” or “industrious ruler.” Emmett is also read as Hebrew for “truth” or German for “powerful.”
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Unusual Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Numerology for Baby Names, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Everything Baby Names Book
Eric
Eric is a Norse name meaning “eternal ruler” or “ruler of the people.” Erik the Red and several Scandinavian kings bore the name, and it peaked in the 1970s helped by Eric Clapton and speedskater Eric Heiden.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names
Evelyn
Evelyn is most often said to mean “hazelnut.” Other sources trace Evelyn to the Norman Aveline, read as “beautiful bird,” or link it to Eve’s “life” and the meaning “young and lively.”
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Book, The Best Baby Names for Girls, Unusual Baby Names, Numerology for Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book
Felix
Felix is a Latin name meaning “happy,” “lucky,” or “fortunate.” Used since ancient times, Felix is a steady classic and a more distinctive alternative to Alex.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, Unusual Baby Names
Gabriel
Gabriel is a Hebrew name meaning “hero of God,” “God is my strength,” or “man of God.” Gabriel is the archangel who appears to Daniel and announces the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, and in Islam he reveals the Koran to Muhammad.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Book, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Baby Names Made Easy, Classic Biblical Baby Names, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Everything Baby Names Book
Henry
Henry is a Germanic name meaning “ruler of the house” or “home ruler,” with Harry, Hal, and Hank as nicknames. Brought to England and France by the Normans, Henry was borne by eight kings in each country and remains a dignified evergreen like John or William.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names
Jacob
Jacob is a Hebrew name meaning “supplanter,” with “heel” also given. In the Bible, Jacob was the younger twin son of Isaac and Rebekah who took his brother Esau’s birthright and became a great patriarch.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, Numerology for Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time
Jonathan
Jonathan is a Hebrew name meaning “gift from God” or “Jehovah gave.” In the Bible, Jonathan was King Saul’s oldest son and David’s loyal friend, warning him of Saul’s plot; the name thus signifies loyalty.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time
Joseph
Joseph is a Hebrew name meaning “God will add” or “God will increase.” In the Bible, Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son, sold into slavery in Egypt, and another Joseph was the carpenter husband of Mary.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time
Julian
Julian is a Latin name derived from Julius, meaning “young” or “youthful.” Julian is also read as “Jove’s child.”
Sources: Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, The Best Baby Names for Boys, 10,000 Baby Names
Louis
Louis is a French and German name meaning “famous warrior.” Dating to the sixth century, Louis was the name of many French kings; Louis has slipped in use while the Spanish Luis climbs, though some see a comeback ahead.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names
Marvin
Marvin is a modern form of the Welsh Mervyn, meaning “sea friend” or “lover of the sea.” Marvin is also glossed as “mariner” or “gentle lord.”
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Numerology for Baby Names, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Everything Baby Names Book, Baby Names Book
Michael
Michael is a Hebrew name posing the question “who is like God,” and is the name of an archangel. Michael is the archangel who protects Israel in Daniel and leads heaven’s angels against the devil in Revelation; he is also patron saint of soldiers and appears in the Koran.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time
Paul
Paul is a Latin name meaning “small” or “humble,” with forms around the world such as Pablo, Paolo and Pavel. The apostle Paul, born Saul, persecuted Christians until a blinding vision on the road to Damascus, then became a central figure of the early Church and wrote much of the New Testament.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time
Peter
Peter comes from the Greek Petros, “rock,” and has countless international forms, including Pierre, Pedro, Pyotr and Pieter. The apostle Peter, a Galilean fisherman born Simon, was renamed by Jesus as the rock of his church and is regarded as the first pope.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time
Samuel
Samuel is a Hebrew name meaning “God has heard” or “asked of God.” The biblical Samuel, born to Hannah who had asked God for him, became Israel’s last judge and first prophet.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names
Tobias
Tobias is a Hebrew name meaning “God is good,” with Toby as its classic nickname and Tobiah and Tobin as related forms. In the Book of Tobit, Tobias travels with the angel Raphael, defeats a demon, and marries Sarah.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names
Walter
Walter is a German name meaning “ruler of the army” or “army commander,” though some books render it “ruler of the people.” The name was a U.S. top-fifteen pick in the early 1900s and is tied to Walter Scott, Walter Raleigh, Walter Cronkite, and Walt Disney; Walt and Wally may make it fresh again.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Book, Baby Names Made Easy, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Unusual Baby Names, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Everything Baby Names Book
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These lists are only intended to give you name ideas. Make sure to further research each name, as some may have negative connotations.