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Help[Opinions] Favorite German Names for Girls?
So far, we have leaned toward French names for girls. But we're thinking of making a more German/Old world name list.
Just searching for ideas right now. Fire away! I am especially interested in names you like AND you think are passable in the United States. We like the idea of highlighting our German heritage without being too crazy. (We have a very German last name.)
Amadea has always been a favorite (although that is not specifically German). I have a minor crush on Elsa at the moment. We really wish that Ursula was an option, but I fear many people would respond negatively to it. Husband suggested Ulrike (but I am not sure if English speakers will know what to do with that one...)
Just searching for ideas right now. Fire away! I am especially interested in names you like AND you think are passable in the United States. We like the idea of highlighting our German heritage without being too crazy. (We have a very German last name.)
Amadea has always been a favorite (although that is not specifically German). I have a minor crush on Elsa at the moment. We really wish that Ursula was an option, but I fear many people would respond negatively to it. Husband suggested Ulrike (but I am not sure if English speakers will know what to do with that one...)
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I love the name Amalia.
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Thanks for commenting on Amadea. It's a name I like, but am not sure I should use since it's a little grand. So I'm always eager to hear positive and negative opinions of it.
One more + for Elsa. I'm enjoying this!
DH will be very glad to read your comment on Ulrike.
Greta is cute. It's a little matchy with our surname. But ... :)
One more + for Elsa. I'm enjoying this!
DH will be very glad to read your comment on Ulrike.
Greta is cute. It's a little matchy with our surname. But ... :)
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Aw I LOVE Ursula and I too wish it were more usable :( Elsa is lovely!
One of my favorite German names is Hannelore and I think it would work very easily in the US.
I also like Alida, Annika, Beatrix, Cora, Corina, Elise, Evelyn, Georgina, Gisela, Gloria, Gratia, Greta, Heidi, Helene, Hulda, Johanna, Justine, Katrin, Leona / Leonie, Liesel, Mariele, Melanie, Ottilie, Petra, Philippa, Raphaela, Regina, Renata, Romy, Rosa, Rosalie, Sabine, Saskia, Selma (another favorite), Thora, Viveka (Swedish form of German name), Wilhelmina
One of my favorite German names is Hannelore and I think it would work very easily in the US.
I also like Alida, Annika, Beatrix, Cora, Corina, Elise, Evelyn, Georgina, Gisela, Gloria, Gratia, Greta, Heidi, Helene, Hulda, Johanna, Justine, Katrin, Leona / Leonie, Liesel, Mariele, Melanie, Ottilie, Petra, Philippa, Raphaela, Regina, Renata, Romy, Rosa, Rosalie, Sabine, Saskia, Selma (another favorite), Thora, Viveka (Swedish form of German name), Wilhelmina
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Gott in Himmel. Ursula and Elsa are top ten, perhaps top five, feminine names for me!
Ursula may have to wait a generation until all of the Disney-Mermaid tainted parents have aged. But Elsa is poised for a comeback, especially with the darling nn Elsie. If you're still unsure, there's always Elsbeth or Ilsa / Ilse.
I'm not going to give you any of my other beloved German / Germanic names because I'm rooting for Ursula and Elsa so much. Ulrike is fabulous as well and I think most people here in the U.S. would catch on. But doesn't that make the name Elsa all the more appealing? There's no pronunciation problem.
Go on. Elsa is so musical and sweet!
Ursula may have to wait a generation until all of the Disney-Mermaid tainted parents have aged. But Elsa is poised for a comeback, especially with the darling nn Elsie. If you're still unsure, there's always Elsbeth or Ilsa / Ilse.
I'm not going to give you any of my other beloved German / Germanic names because I'm rooting for Ursula and Elsa so much. Ulrike is fabulous as well and I think most people here in the U.S. would catch on. But doesn't that make the name Elsa all the more appealing? There's no pronunciation problem.
Go on. Elsa is so musical and sweet!
This message was edited 12/15/2011, 12:22 PM
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Whoo hoo
Glad to hear you like. At least Ursula gets a lot of love on this board. I'd be soooo tempted if the negative pop culture reference wasn't to a movie every kid has seen. (But if I were renaming myself, well....mmmwwwhha!)
I'm pumped that a few people now have said they like Elsa. I'm very charmed by the name. Maybe I am not crazy. Good. Trying to get my husband on board... :p
Glad to hear you like. At least Ursula gets a lot of love on this board. I'd be soooo tempted if the negative pop culture reference wasn't to a movie every kid has seen. (But if I were renaming myself, well....mmmwwwhha!)
I'm pumped that a few people now have said they like Elsa. I'm very charmed by the name. Maybe I am not crazy. Good. Trying to get my husband on board... :p
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Elsa is great and EASILY workable. It's my boyfriends 30 year old sisters name :)
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Elisabeth, Annelies, Ilse, Anne-Katrin, Anne-Sophie, Johanna
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I really like Elsa. Ulrike is a nice name as well. How about Ulrika? That would make it more passable in the U.S.
Mine (Most these aren't exclusively German, but they might appeal to you nonetheless):
Iris
Ada
Veronika
Viktoria
Beata
Aleida
Alexandra
Amalia
Amalie
Anja
Antonia
Augusta
Astrid
Carina
Karina
Corina
Clara/Klara
Edith
Helena
Eleonora
Leonie
Leona
Leonore
Flora
Gloria
Greta - This has really grown on me lately. It has an Old World feel, yet it's passable in the U.S.
Heidi
Judith
Karolina
Katarina/Katharina
Kasimira
Lena
Leni
Magdalena
Magda
Lydia
Lucia
Maja
Marina
Marlis
Martina
Miriam
Nadja
Vera
Renata
Paula
Petra - This has really grown on me.
Rosa
Rosemarie
Silvia
Sonja
Thea - I'm in love with this name.
Others that may appeal to you:
Anselma
Agnes
Claudia/Klaudia
Dorothea
Gisela
Ida
Johanna
Monika
Minna
Tabea
Teresa
Tanja
Valeria
Verena
Wilhelmina - The nicknames Willa and Mina make it even more passable.
Adelina
Theda
Mine (Most these aren't exclusively German, but they might appeal to you nonetheless):
Iris
Ada
Veronika
Viktoria
Beata
Aleida
Alexandra
Amalia
Amalie
Anja
Antonia
Augusta
Astrid
Carina
Karina
Corina
Clara/Klara
Edith
Helena
Eleonora
Leonie
Leona
Leonore
Flora
Gloria
Greta - This has really grown on me lately. It has an Old World feel, yet it's passable in the U.S.
Heidi
Judith
Karolina
Katarina/Katharina
Kasimira
Lena
Leni
Magdalena
Magda
Lydia
Lucia
Maja
Marina
Marlis
Martina
Miriam
Nadja
Vera
Renata
Paula
Petra - This has really grown on me.
Rosa
Rosemarie
Silvia
Sonja
Thea - I'm in love with this name.
Others that may appeal to you:
Anselma
Agnes
Claudia/Klaudia
Dorothea
Gisela
Ida
Johanna
Monika
Minna
Tabea
Teresa
Tanja
Valeria
Verena
Wilhelmina - The nicknames Willa and Mina make it even more passable.
Adelina
Theda
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Wow.
Love/Like:
Aleida
Amalia
Amalie
Anja
Antonia
Augusta (we are considering August for a boy)
Astrid
Helena
Eleonora
Leonie
Leona
Leonore
Heidi
Lydia
Lucia
Maja
Marina
Martina
Nadja
Vera
Petra
Rosa
Thea
Dorothea (nn Thea)
DH would nix a lot of those. He won't let me get Helena or Helen on the list, nor Lucia -- just can't stand the light I guess. ;) But he would add Gisela and Greta. He might be right about those. I only hesitate because our last name starts with the same letter.
I LOVE Thea also, esp. since it can be short for Dorothea or Theodora! Hubby is not so convinced. Boo.
Love/Like:
Aleida
Amalia
Amalie
Anja
Antonia
Augusta (we are considering August for a boy)
Astrid
Helena
Eleonora
Leonie
Leona
Leonore
Heidi
Lydia
Lucia
Maja
Marina
Martina
Nadja
Vera
Petra
Rosa
Thea
Dorothea (nn Thea)
DH would nix a lot of those. He won't let me get Helena or Helen on the list, nor Lucia -- just can't stand the light I guess. ;) But he would add Gisela and Greta. He might be right about those. I only hesitate because our last name starts with the same letter.
I LOVE Thea also, esp. since it can be short for Dorothea or Theodora! Hubby is not so convinced. Boo.
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I really like the name Elsie, but Elsa is nice, too. I've been hearing Ursula a lot lately. Even meeting some. I think it's being used more.
Zita
Romy
Lisbeth
Amalie
Leonie / Leona
Liesel
Lieselotte / Liselotte
Marcella
Regine / Regina
Ingrid
Kasimira
Carina
Greta
Rosemarie
Rosalie
Saskia
Christel
Zita
Romy
Lisbeth
Amalie
Leonie / Leona
Liesel
Lieselotte / Liselotte
Marcella
Regine / Regina
Ingrid
Kasimira
Carina
Greta
Rosemarie
Rosalie
Saskia
Christel
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I like Leonie and Leona, but DH won't bite. I've been suggesting Amalie too, and he's more receptive to that one.
DH definitely likes Greta (also Gretchen) and Ingrid.
Marcelle is on our French name list...
DH definitely likes Greta (also Gretchen) and Ingrid.
Marcelle is on our French name list...
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You met an Ursula? And the sky didn't fall in? Good news. :-D
(Sorry if that sounded flippant. Ursula is a favorite and it kills me to see so many people outside this site dismiss it so quickly. I love hearing stories like this of real world sightings. Thanks.)
(Sorry if that sounded flippant. Ursula is a favorite and it kills me to see so many people outside this site dismiss it so quickly. I love hearing stories like this of real world sightings. Thanks.)
This message was edited 12/15/2011, 12:24 PM
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Aloisia "Lois" - I know Lois isn't a German name but I think it works as a nickname for Aloisia, and might make it more acceptable in the US.
I love Elsa as well!
I love Elsa as well!
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