German Boy Names

Last-name-first-name with a romantic but dangerous edge.

You've got the red-nosed reindeer to transcend, but there are other distinguished personages named Rudolph, Rudolf, and Rudy.

Newswoman Paula brought the surname Zahn to the public eye. It makes a dramatic, unusual Zane alternative -- though you may not want to enlighten your child as to its prosaic meaning.

In literature identified with The Sorrows of Young Werther -- not much to wish on a child.

A daring middle name possibility for classical concertgoers. Alternatives are Wolfgang and Amadeus.

The American child given this name of four kings of Denmark, not to mention one so similar to that of the Harry Potter archvillain Lord Voldemort, might have to pay a large emotional import tax.

One of the rarest Bert names, Engelbert has been used at least since the time of Charlemagne and is the name of several saints. But mostly, it's impossible not to associate it with Engelbert Humperdinck, both the German composer and the British pop singer (born Arnold Dorsey) who borrowed his name.

In its native Germany, Gerhard was very popular a hundred years ago and is now rather old-fashioned. It isn't much used by English speakers either, but has a certain clunky charm about it.

Though you might have been a fan of tennis star Chris Evert, stick with EVERETT, which everyone will think you're saying anyway.

Name of Faulkner's great emotional villain in As I Lay Dying, Anse is not ordinarily used as a first name. It literally means cove in French, though the element ans means God in Old German and is found in names such as Ansel and Anselm.

No guarantee of a fellowship.

Hip short form of Bernard, also Swiss place-name.

Formal name lacking any sparkle or sheen.

Another spelling of JANNIK, a John form that has a terminally Olde Worlde sound to the American ear.

A li'l hell-raiser name in the Ryder-Rogue-Rebel vein.

Natz recommended.

This surname-name originated as a nickname for redheads.