280+ German Baby Girl Names (Sweet, Strong & Timeless Picks)

Choosing a baby name is such a special adventure, isn’t it? It’s like shopping for the perfect pair of shoes—something you’ll love forever, that fits just right, and makes you smile every time you see it.

If you’ve been swooning over German baby girl names, you’re in for a treat. German names carry such a mix of tradition, strength, charm, and elegance. Some are short and spunky, others are regal and romantic, and a few are delightfully quirky (in the best way).

I’ve pulled together over 280+ beautiful German girl names—complete with meanings, origins, and little tidbits to help you picture the vibe of each. Whether you’re drawn to nature-inspired choices, old-school classics, or totally unique finds, this list has something for you. So grab a cup of coffee (or maybe a pretzel for the vibes), and let’s dive in!

Nature-Inspired Beauties

If you love names that feel fresh, earthy, and rooted in nature, these German gems might win your heart.

1. Alma – Means “nurturing” or “soul.” Feels gentle and earthy, like a calm meadow.
2. Rosen – Derived from “rose.” Perfect for a floral-loving family.
3. Silke – From “silk,” soft and smooth, perfect for a graceful little one.
4. Heike – A classic name meaning “ruler of the home,” but it feels as breezy as a field of heather.
5. Linde – Refers to the linden tree, which is sacred in German folklore.
6. Edeltraud – “Noble strength,” but it has that woodsy “edelweiss” vibe.
7. Maren – Means “sea,” dreamy and nature-kissed.
8. Sanne – Sweet and sunny, like a flower field.
9. Birgit – Linked to “birch,” crisp and fresh.
10. Viola – A flower name (violet) that also feels musical.
11. Alwine – “Friend of the elves.” A magical, fairytale vibe.
12. Frieda – Meaning “peace.” A calm, grounding choice.
13. Lorelei – From German folklore, tied to the Rhine River siren. Enchanting!
14. Ida – Short, sweet, and tied to nature with its “hardworking” roots.
15. Holle – Connected to the Germanic goddess of winter and harvest.
16. Milla – A modern pick that means “gentle strength.”
17. Rike – A short, earthy spin-off from “Friederike.”
18. Waldtraut – “Forest strength.” Definitely one for nature-loving families.
19. Elva – Means “elf.” Magical forest vibes.
20. Anneliese – Combines “Anna” and “Liese,” but it has a soft, floral charm.
21. Gretel – Hansel’s sister! Feels fairy-tale sweet with woodsy charm.
22. Alberga – “Noble protector,” but with roots tied to nature’s strength.
23. Waldburg – Literally “forest fortress,” earthy and bold.
24. Raina – Means “queen,” but also linked to rain—gentle and cleansing.
25. Hollea – Inspired by Frau Holle, tied to crops and harvests.
26. Silvana – “From the forest.” Gorgeous, mystical energy.
27. Marinda – “Of the sea.” Oceanic vibes.
28. Hagenia – Botanical-sounding, rooted in greenery.
29. Fenna – “Peace,” but it feels breezy like a meadow name.
30. Klee – Means “clover.” Sweet and lucky.
31. Levana – Connected to the moon’s rise. Lunar beauty.
32. Saphira – Gem-inspired, like a sparkling blue stone.
33. Aurelia – “Golden one.” Radiant and sunny.
34. Bluma – Means “flower.” A hidden German-Jewish gem.
35. Meike – Soft and natural, earthy in tone.
36. Rosenlied – “Rose song.” Romantic and poetic.
37. Fauna – Latin in origin, but beloved in German circles for nature vibes.
38. Alvara – “Elf army.” Enchanted forest energy.
39. Iskra – Means “spark.” Has firecracker energy.
40. Junia – Evokes early summer, fresh and green.
41. Nerida – Rare, means “sea nymph.” Dreamy.
42. Solveig – Northern German/Scandi, meaning “sun strength.”
43. Vera – Means “faith” but also tied to greenery (veritas = truth).
44. Hannelin – A sweet variant with pastoral charm.
45. Eira – Linked to snow. Crisp and cool.
46. Walda – Means “rule,” but sounds foresty and rustic.

Old-School Cool

These names are straight from grandma’s generation—but trust me, vintage is in. Think retro-chic meets timeless class.

1. Hildegard – “Battle garden.” Fierce but kind of glam in an old-Hollywood way.
2. Gertrud – Means “spear of strength.” Rugged, yet ripe for a cool comeback.
3. Ursula – “Little bear.” Plus, Disney villain vibes.
4. Brunhilde – A legendary Valkyrie name—majestic and powerful.
5. Ottilie – Elegant, soft, and retro-chic.
6. Waltraud – Means “ruler of the forest.” Old-school, yet earthy.
7. Lieselotte – Long and lyrical, combines “Elizabeth” + “Charlotte.”
8. Hannelore – Has that 1950s German movie-star flair.
9. Ingeborg – Strong, noble-sounding. Definitely vintage power.
10. Elfriede – Means “elf-strength.” A magical twist on old-school charm.
11. Irmgard – A traditional name with sturdy strength.
12. Adelheid – The original form of “Heidi.” Regal and lovely.
13. Wilhelmina – Feminine of “William.” A stately, elegant pick.
14. Margarethe – Old-fashioned version of Margaret.
15. Erna – Simple, vintage, and strong.
16. Käthe – A cute, retro take on Katherine.
17. Helga – Means “holy” or “blessed.” Bold and Viking-esque.
18. Gisela – Regal, meaning “pledge.” Feels vintage but chic.
19. Traudl – Old-fashioned nickname-style, but has a cozy charm.
20. Lotte – Sweet, playful, and very storybook.
21. Annelore – A vintage mashup, charmingly old-world.
22. Ottilia – Sister to Ottilie, but bolder.
23. Siglinde – “Gentle victory.” Sturdy but lyrical.
24. Kunigunde – Regal, medieval, very historic German princess vibe.
25. Mechthild – “Mighty battle.” Strong and queenly.
26. Irmelinde – A softer twist on Irmgard.
27. Gerhild – “Spear-battle.” Valkyrie vibes.
28. Walburga – Associated with Saint Walburga, vintage saintly cool.
29. Benedikta – Feminine of Benedict. Classical and dignified.
30. Dorle – Old-fashioned nickname for Dorothea. Cozy.
31. Elsebeth – A charming variant of Elizabeth.
32. Trudel – Quirky retro, short for Gertrud.
33. Brunilde – Another Brunhild variant—epic and operatic.
34. Frowine – Archaic, meaning “joy.” Sweet and antique.
35. Hadwig – Old noble name, rooted in “battle.”
36. Adeltrud – Blends “noble” and “strength.”
37. Leopolda – Feminine of Leopold. Regal!
38. Margilde – Medieval form of Margaret.
39. Radegund – Historic saint’s name, rare but fascinating.
40. Utehild – Strong and historic.
41. Wiltrud – Means “battle strength.” Very vintage.
42. Kreszentia – Quirky, tied to “crescent moon.”
43. Gunhild – A sturdy Nordic-Germanic pick.
44. Adalberta – Feminine of Albert, old and noble.
45. Irma – Sweet, vintage, and softly strong.

Modern & Chic

German names aren’t all heavy and vintage—some feel sleek, stylish, and totally ready for the 21st century.

1. Amelie – French-German, meaning “hardworking.” Think Amélie vibes.
2. Clara – Means “bright” or “clear.” Timeless and fresh.
3. Lena – Short, sweet, and very modern Europe.
4. Mila – Chic, minimal, and global.
5. Sophie – Classic but modern favorite across Europe.
6. Leonie – Means “lioness.” Strong and trendy.
7. Nina – Cute, simple, and totally international.
8. Johanna – Classic, but sleek and sophisticated.
9. Ella – Short, sweet, and dreamy.
10. Emilia – Romantic, flowing, and trendy.
11. Lara – Simple, stylish, and modern.
12. Tabea – Unique but fashionable, meaning “gazelle.”
13. Carla – Feminine form of “Karl.” Strong yet chic.
14. Aylin – Modern, with Turkish-German crossover popularity.
15. Zara – Stylish and bold. (Yes, like the fashion brand).
16. Selina – Moonlit, soft, and modern.
17. Ronja – Popular in Germany thanks to Ronja the Robber’s Daughter.
18. Stella – Starry and dreamy.
19. Amira – Elegant, regal, and international.
20. Fiona – Soft and magical, with modern flair.
21. Alina – Light and trendy, very popular today.
22. Vivien – Chic, lively, and cosmopolitan.
23. Liora – Means “light.” Bright and modern.
24. Nova – Fresh, starry, celestial.
25. Sarina – Flowy, elegant, and cool.
26. Marenna – Sleek and international.
27. Celina – Moon-kissed and chic.
28. Viktoria – Strong, timeless, but very chic in Germany.
29. Naila – Popular in German-Turkish communities.
30. Joline – Modern, lyrical spin on Josephine.
31. Amira-Sophie – Hyphenated chic is trendy in Germany.
32. Yara – Mythical, modern, and sleek.
33. Amina – Soft, modern, and widely loved.
34. Enya – Musical, magical, and stylish.
35. Chiara – Italian-German crossover, means “bright.”
36. Mira – Minimalist and modern.
37. Noelia – Christmas-inspired, chic and melodic.
38. Samira – Exotic and elegant.
39. Elina – Flowing, modern, and delicate.
40. Carina – Means “beloved.” Chic, simple, sweet.
41. Nivara – Rare, stylish, and modern.
42. Delia – Short, trendy, and lovely.
43. Amaris – Exotic, modern pick.
44. Valeska – Dramatic and chic, with Slavic-German charm.
45. Lilou – Cute, trendy, and stylishly short.

Literary & Legendary

German culture and folklore are filled with names that sparkle with stories.

1. Gretchen – Famous from Goethe’s Faust.
2. Lorelei – Legendary siren of the Rhine.
3. Isolde – Romantic heroine of Tristan and Isolde.
4. Kriemhild – Queen in the Nibelungenlied.
5. Gudrun – Another legendary Germanic heroine.
6. Sieglinde – A Valkyrie mother in Wagner’s opera.
7. Brunhild – Fierce warrior queen from epic tales.
8. Elsa – Fairy tale + Disney fame.
9. Undine – Mythical water spirit.
10. Minna – Romantic heroine in 19th-century German literature.
11. Eva – Classic biblical name, but with German literary charm.
12. Christa – Inspired by German poet Christa Wolf.
13. Rosamund – Meaning “horse protection.” Romantic medieval vibe.
14. Nibelung – From the famous saga, unique and epic.
15. Hedwig – Yes, Harry Potter’s owl! But also a German saint.
16. Mathilde – Regal and romantic from German history.
17. Adela – Noble and literary-feeling.
18. Irmelin – A poetic, dreamy name (Björk even used it).
19. Isabeau – Medieval German-French princess name.
20. Verena – Saintly and literary, soft but strong.
21. Kunegunde – Appears in old German tales and history.
22. Alwina – “Friend of elves,” fairytale vibes.
23. Swanhild – Legendary Valkyrie name.
24. Sieghild – From Germanic legend, “victory battle.”
25. Dietlinde – Epic-sounding, tied to medieval lore.
26. Irmelda – Romantic and old-world.
27. Amalia – Used by German royalty and writers.
28. Roswitha – Historic female poet from the 10th century.
29. Hrosmunda – Medieval, legendary figure.
30. Irmengard – Noblewoman name from medieval literature.
31. Gerhildis – Another saga-inspired gem.
32. Isabelline – Poetic twist on Isabella.
33. Theodelinda – Medieval Lombard queen, legendary.
34. Kreselda – Fairy-tale sounding, very rare.
35. Odalinde – Saga name meaning “noble serpent.”
36. Brangäne – Companion to Isolde in legend.
37. Alfhild – Old Norse-Germanic heroine name.
38. Siglindea – Wagnerian opera flair.
39. Hedwigis – Saintly, literary-feeling.
40. Engeltrud – Medieval legend style.
41. Veronika – Popular, with saintly-literary roots.
42. Adelinde – Romantic, historic.
43. Gundelinde – Epic saga name.
44. Odalindis – Very rare, mystical.
45. Irmintrud – Legendary and noble.

A–Z German Girl Names

Because sometimes it’s just fun to scroll through alphabetically and see what sparks joy.

1. A – Annika, Adelina, Asta, Almut, Amalia
2. B – Brunhilde, Beatrix, Bärbel, Bianca, Brigitte
3. C – Clara, Carina, Cosima, Cordula, Christa
4. D – Dagmar, Dorothea, Doris, Damaris, Daniela
5. E – Elsa, Edith, Erika, Elvira, Elke
6. F – Frieda, Franziska, Fritzi, Felicitas, Fenja
7. G – Gisela, Greta, Gudrun, Gesine, Gerda
8. H – Helene, Hilda, Hermine, Hedda, Hannelore
9. I – Inga, Ilse, Irina, Isolde, Irmgard
10. J – Johanna, Jutta, Joline, Juliane, Josefine
11. K – Käthe, Klara, Karin, Katharina, Kordula
12. L – Lotte, Lena, Leonie, Luisa, Lore
13. M – Mathilde, Margot, Miriam, Mila, Marlene
14. N – Nadine, Nele, Norah, Nike, Noelle
15. O – Ottilie, Olga, Ortrun, Oda, Oksana
16. P – Paula, Pia, Patrizia, Philine, Petronella
17. Q – Quirina (rare but real!)
18. R – Renate, Romy, Rita, Rike, Roswitha
19. S – Sabine, Selma, Silke, Saskia, Senta
20. T – Thea, Theresa, Tabea, Traudl, Trudi
21. U – Ulrike, Ursula, Ute, Ursel, Undine
22. V – Verena, Viktoria, Viola, Valeria, Vanessa
23. W – Waltraud, Wanda, Wilhelmina, Wiebke, Walburga
24. X – Xenia (yep, it’s used in Germany!)
25. Y – Yvonne, Ylva, Yasmin, Yara, Yvette
26. Z – Zara, Zenzi, Zita, Zelda, Zarah

Unique Finds

Not every name here is a household staple—you might just discover your one-of-a-kind gem.

1. Fenja – Mythical, rare, and elegant.
2. Svea – Patriotic name in Germany, means “Swede.”
3. Wiebke – A northern German treasure.
4. Nele – Cute and breezy.
5. Zenzi – Vintage, quirky, and fun.
6. Anke – Short and spunky.
7. Oda – Minimalist and striking.
8. Kreszenz – Super rare, rooted in “crescent.”
9. Luzie – A fun twist on Lucy.
10. Kaja – Breezy and light.
11. Senta – Rare but stylish.
12. Romy – Glamorous, thanks to actress Romy Schneider.
13. Ylva – Means “she-wolf.” Fierce and unique.
14. Marlis – Mix of Maria and Liesel.
15. Elke – Quirky but chic.
16. Hedda – Retro, but cool in modern settings.
17. Ortrun – Rare, noble-sounding.
18. Bärbel – Playful and vintage.
19. Traute – Old-school cute, like a cozy nickname.
20. Jorinde – From the fairy tale Jorinde and Joringel.
21. Anoushka – Exotic and rare in Germany.
22. Cedra – Tree-inspired, unique.
23. Delphina – Ocean-inspired, rare.
24. Fenella – Soft, whimsical, and unusual.
25. Isola – Means “island.” Dreamy.
26. Junelle – Rare modern invention.
27. Kendra – Rare in German circles, but striking.
28. Leontina – Feminine of “lion.” Strong and majestic.
29. Malou – Modern rare gem, chic.
30. Orelia – Golden and rare.
31. Petraia – Stone-inspired, unique.
32. Quilla – Moon goddess vibe.
33. Renaya – Invented-sounding, but soft and rare.
34. Soraya – Starry, unique in Germany.
35. Talida – Dreamy, rare.
36. Undra – Strong and unusual.
37. Velina – Soft and delicate.
38. Wilona – Rare, lyrical, and pretty.
39. Xaviera – Exotic, powerful.
40. Ysolt – Germanic twist on Isolde.
41. Zoraya – Mystical, unusual.
42. Anitra – Musical and rare.
43. Calluna – Means “heather.” Botanical and rare.
44. Fiorella – Flower-inspired, unique.
45. Ovidia – Rare, mysterious, ancient vibes.

Sweet & Short

For those who love names that pack a punch in just a few letters.

1. Ina – Simple and gentle.
2. Ute – Short, vintage, and charming.
3. Ena – Elegant, airy, and light.
4. Ira – Minimalist and striking.
5. Nina – Classic and globally loved.
6. Mia – Sweet and trendy.
7. Lia – Light, lyrical, and modern.
8. Ivy – Rare in Germany, but gaining love.
9. Ava – Chic and stylish.
10. Zoe – Timeless and zippy.
11. Ada – Classic, simple, and elegant.
12. Ina-Marie – Short hyphenated cutie.
13. Ine – Simple, minimal, and charming.
14. Ora – Means “light” or “gold.”
15. Lio – Short and spunky.
16. Una – “One.” Simple and strong.
17. Eve – Classic, short, timeless.
18. Zia – Sweet, zippy name.
19. Fay – Fairy-like charm.
20. Nia – Minimalist, musical.
21. Gia – Italian-German crossover chic.
22. Sia – Simple, modern, and stylish.
23. Rae – Short and radiant.
24. Ive – Minimalist, rare.
25. Kya – Breezy and short.
26. Noa – Soft, short, and modern.
27. Ara – Sky-inspired.
28. Moe – Quirky and short.
29. Ivy-Sue – Cute, double-barrel modern short.
30. Ali – Short, playful, charming.
31. Dea – Means “goddess.”
32. Ena-Rose – Compact, floral hyphen.
33. Aya – Simple, globally loved.
34. Luz – Means “light.”
35. Neo – New, futuristic.

Wrap-Up

Whew—that was a LOT of German baby girl names! From fairy-tale classics like Gretel and Lorelei to sleek modern picks like Mila and Leonie, Germany’s naming traditions really have it all. Whether you love the strength of old-school names, the freshness of nature-inspired choices, or the elegance of modern chic picks, there’s a name here waiting to become your little girl’s story.

Remember: the “perfect” name is the one that feels right in your heart. Don’t stress if it’s rare, traditional, or totally trendy—what matters most is that it feels like her.

So go ahead, jot down your favorites, try saying them out loud, and picture them on birthday cakes, report cards, and wedding invitations. You’ll know when you’ve found the one.