German girl names

SnowmenMadeofIcecream · 2023-04-03T17:56:53+00:00

Hello I'm looking for names for my baby girl due in a few weeks. I live in a German speaking country so the name needs to work well in German and English. So far on our list we have: Sabrina Imogen Cassandra/Cassie Tessa Any other ideas? We're a bit stuck. Thank you!

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hjfl · 05/04/2023 02:05

My German friends (early 30's) whose names also work well in English are called:

Thea
Jessie
Melanie
Johanna, one goes by Anna
Natalie
Alina
Sophie

A few that I personally think are dated :

Julia
Vera
Marina

ImpunityJane · 04/04/2023 23:10

Frieda
Juliane (although different starting sound, but pretty)
Leonie
Vivien
Mila / Milla
Lucy
Ella
Matilda
Romy
Rosa
Annie

Armeins · 04/04/2023 22:22

Matilda
Edda
Emilia
Hanna
Romy

Sugarfree23 · 04/04/2023 22:17

Gerda ? Might be a bit dated as it was my Grannies pal.

coloursquare · 04/04/2023 22:12

Pia

AnnaMagnani · 04/04/2023 19:33

DuchessOfSausage · 04/04/2023 19:20

I agree with you @Igneococcus , and I see it on other different language baby names threads - the names usually seem middle-aged. Often, they won't even be from the language specified.

Totally agree with this. The names I know and love are all for adults - some I suspect would be seen like Ethel or Margery in their country of origin, let alone Linda or Tracy.

Looking at the actual top 100 baby names, none of my favourites are loved by current new parents at all.

CattySam · 04/04/2023 19:26

I know sisters in UK with German parents.
Lotte and Clara, which I think are both beautiful.

DuchessOfSausage · 04/04/2023 19:20

I agree with you @Igneococcus , and I see it on other different language baby names threads - the names usually seem middle-aged. Often, they won't even be from the language specified.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 04/04/2023 19:03

Astrid
Anna
Greta

Original poster

SnowmenMadeofIcecream · 04/04/2023 19:01

YouSoundLovely · 04/04/2023 15:09

More observations: Cassandra I wouldn't go for because the Greek myth is more well-known in Germany than in the UK generally - a 'Kassandraruf' means a prediction of doom. Cassie will turn into 'Kessie' in no time. I like Tessa - simple and virtually no pronunciation difference, not well-known as a name in Germany. You could go Theresa on the birth cert (although having a birth cert name and a known-as name isn't such a thing in Germany).

Claudia is very much in the 'equivalent to Janet/Beryl' category and Andrea is 60s-80s.

Thank you, that's really helpful. And thanks to all the other posters too for the ideas. Lots to think about now!

OP posts:

AndISeeNothingWrongWithThat · 04/04/2023 16:44

www.germannames.de/wiki/Name_List_Female

I found this site really useful when choosing a cat name, recently! (No children.) 😸

Personally, I really like Hannelore, Liesel(otte), Hildegard, Gretchen etc.

Most English-speakers will pronounce German/Austrian names exactly as spelled instead of the "proper" pronunciations, I guess, unless you correct it every time. Gretchen sounds quite scratchy in comparison to the softer "Great-hyen" pronunciation etc.

Baldieheid · 04/04/2023 16:04

I have a German friend called Nicole.

petermaddog · 04/04/2023 16:02

peta

Hbh17 · 04/04/2023 15:52

Sigrun
Martina
Sabine

Thecatisboss · 04/04/2023 15:39

Be careful with names with a th in them as this is pronounced very differently. Dorothea was pronounced as Doroteaa.

YouSoundLovely · 04/04/2023 15:09

More observations: Cassandra I wouldn't go for because the Greek myth is more well-known in Germany than in the UK generally - a 'Kassandraruf' means a prediction of doom. Cassie will turn into 'Kessie' in no time. I like Tessa - simple and virtually no pronunciation difference, not well-known as a name in Germany. You could go Theresa on the birth cert (although having a birth cert name and a known-as name isn't such a thing in Germany).

Claudia is very much in the 'equivalent to Janet/Beryl' category and Andrea is 60s-80s.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 04/04/2023 15:02

Andrea

Keiki · 04/04/2023 14:52

Lydia, Veronica, Julia

YouSoundLovely · 04/04/2023 14:50

Apologise for insensitive phrasing in my last post and have reported.

Cherryblossoms85 · 04/04/2023 14:50

Definitely not Erika. Im German and that name has had no revival, it's old fashioned without any cute retro to it.

MaydinEssex · 04/04/2023 14:50

Emmeline or Emmie for short.

Matilda or Tilly for short.

Christa

Luisa

YouSoundLovely · 04/04/2023 14:47

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

midgemadgemodge · 04/04/2023 14:46

newtb · 04/04/2023 14:41

Lenore is apparently the German form of Helen. In a Beethoven opera from memory.

We have a German Helena in the family ( although now doubting is it an e or a on the end ? Pretty sure the hanne is pronounced as a hanna

itssquidstella · 04/04/2023 14:44

Donata
Beate

YouSoundLovely · 04/04/2023 14:43

Very wise to take Imogen off the list. She'd get either Imo-GEYN with a hard G or - if they realise she's (part?) English - Imo-chun.

Most of the names PPs are coming up with are very, um, retro. Sabrina from your list is very 80s.

Heidi, Magdalena and Lily (sadly usually spelt with two Ls in the middle) are popular among my dd's contemporaries and work in both languages. For some reason there seems to be a spate of Amys too.

More traditionally German might be Clara, Felicitas, Frieda, Emma (v much an old lady name here), Josephine (Yozuh-feenuh), Marianne (again with an 'uh' sound at the end). Annika is sweet. My eldest went to primary school with a Madita (also Astrid Lindgren-inspired).

I also like Annalena (like the foreign minister). Pronunication difference from English relatively slight. (And there's always a difference. I've named three English/German children what I thought were very 'international' names and the difference the pronunciation of one letter can make...)