12 Germanic Names for Girls
Why not go against the grain and choose one of these distinctive Germanic names for girls?
Have you just found out that you’re expecting a baby girl? Congratulations! Now that you know, it’s time to choose the perfect name for your daughter.
It is important to keep in mind that most Germanic names for girls have a meaning associated with power, struggle, dignity, fame and success.
Other names of German origin convey joy, strength and character.
Choosing the right name can depend on many factors. Culture and family tradition may come into play, in addition to the desire to choose a name that is original.
With this in mind, many families choose a Germanic name for their baby daughter.
12 Germanic names for girls
If you’re interested in names with a German origin, here’s a list of 12 possibilities.
1. Adalia
The first example on our list of Germanic names for girls is Adalia, a name with dual heritage. It has roots in both German and Hebrew.
This girl’s name means “noble one.” In Hebrew, it comes from a male name used in the Old Testament, meaning “God is just.”
Interestingly, Adalia is also the name of a municipality in the province of Valladolid in Spain. The name was also used in the past to refer to the city of Antalya on the Mediterranean coast of southern Turkey.
2. Alicia
Alice and Alicia are short forms of the Germanic name Adalheidis, which means “simple, with a noble soul.” Other variations include Elise and Alisa.
Famous people with this name include the American singer Alicia Keys and the Spanish pianist Alicia de Larrocha.
3. Carla
This is the feminine form of the German male name Karl, which means “free man” or “strong man.” Carla can therefore be understood to mean “brave and free woman.”
Popular variations include Karla, Carlotta and Carolina. It has also been popular in the Spanish-speaking world since the 1970s.
4. Emma
Emma is one of the most popular Germanic names for girls today. It derives from the Old High German word ermen, meaning “whole” or “universal.”
Originally, Emma was used as an abbreviation of names beginning with ermen. Emma is also a nickname for girls named Amelia and Emmeline.
5. Edina
Edina means “rich friend.” It is a feminine variation of the English and German name Edwin.
“I hope that my daughter grows up empowered and doesn’t define herself by the way she looks but by qualities that make her an intelligent, strong and responsible woman”
-Isaiah Mustafa-
6. Frida
Frida is a name of Old German origin. It derives from the word Fridu, which means “peace.”
Without a doubt, the best-known Frida in history is Frida Kahlo, the Mexican painter known for her unique beauty and startling talent.
7. Gisele
This is a name with a musical sound that evokes an inner strength.
Gisele (or Gisela) come from the Old German Gisil-hard, meaning “she who is strong like an arrow” or “she who is a powerful arrow.”
8. Irma
Irma is a diminutive form of Irmina, which originates from the German root Irmin.
This ancient name means “great” or “majestic.” The name also references the god Irmin, a powerful deity in Nordic mythology.
9. Linda
Linda is the most common short form of Germanic names such as Hermelinda, Adelinde or Belinda. Some authors suggest that it may come from the Germanic lind, meaning “shield.”
However, other etymologists argue that the name comes from linda/lindo, which means beautiful or attractive in modern-day Spanish and Portuguese.
10. Melba
The names Milva, Milba or Melba mean “kind and protective.” The latter form is also an affectionate way to refer to the Australian city of Melbourne.
11. Roselyn
Roselyn is another name that has more than one possible root. The first, and most obvious, is a combination of the names Rose and Lynn.
The second etymology suggests that it comes from the Germanic Rosalind, which means “tame horse” or “beautiful rose.”
12. Odilia
The final example in this list of Germanic names for girls, Odilia means “the lady of the manor” or “the owner of wealth.” The name is a diminutive form of the Old German Oda.
There are many possible names for girls with Germanic roots, each as beautiful as the last.
If you want to give your daughter a name that stands out from the crowd, these are a few alternatives worth considering.
Talk it over with your partner and see which names you like best!
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
Brown, C. (2008). Developmental psychology. Developmental Psychology (pp. 1–208). SAGE Publications Inc. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446214633
Maccoby, E. E. (1992). The Role of Parents in the Socialization of Children: An Historical Overview. Developmental Psychology, 28(6), 1006–1017. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.28.6.1006