The story behind German
From Latin Germānus, Germānī (“the peoples of Germānia”), as distinct from Gauls (in the writings of Caesar and Tacitus), and of uncertain ultimate origin (possibly Celtic/Gaulish). Not related to german (“closely related”) or germane (from the Latin adjective germānus, through Old French). Attested since at least 1520. Replaced the older terms Almain and Dutch (from Proto-Germanic *þiudiskaz) in English. Besides cognates of German, Almain, and Dutch, two other categories of words for the Germans in other languages are cognates of Saxon and descendants of Proto-Slavic *němьcь; see those entries for more. The surname is generally from the noun, though sometimes confused with Herman, Hermann under Russian influence. As a German surname, Americanized from Germann. Compare Germán, Germain, Jerman.
Pronunciation
General-American: /ˈd͡ʒɝ.mən/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Received-Pronunciation: /ˈd͡ʒɜː.mən/
Popularity
German ranked #1541 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to German
Ivan
From Russian Ива́н (Iván), and from Ivan in several Slavic languages. Doublet of John and its relatives Evan, Giovanni, Ian, Johann, and Sean, etc. Rare variant of Evan, from…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Iván
Borrowed from Russian Ива́н (Iván).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ivān
Borrowed from Russian Ива́н (Iván). Doublet of जॉन (jŏn) and यूहन्ना (yūhannā).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Iwan
a male given name from Russian [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Biblical Hebrew], equivalent to English Ivan From Latin Iōannēs, from Ancient Greek Ἰωάννης (Iōánnēs),…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Lenin
Borrowed from Russian Ленин (Lenin).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Lênin
Borrowed from Russian Ленин (Lenin).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for German
Anātolī
Borrowed from Russian Анато́лий (Anatólij).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends Ī
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Ania
a female given name from Russian Аня (Anja), equivalent to English Anya
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Anniina
From Russian Аннина (Annina) or Italian Annina, popularized in Finland by the song Annina (1901) by Oskar Merikanto.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for German
Aelita
From Russian Аэли́та (Aelíta).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Anātolī
Borrowed from Russian Анато́лий (Anatólij).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends Ī
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Andrei
Borrowed from Russian Андре́й (Andréj). Doublet of André.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length