Vornamenlexikon 5
German First Names Lexicon
German-English Names Glossary
Also see our English-German Genealogy Glossary and German Surnames Glossary
This is Part 5 of our lexicon of German first names and their meanings.
Ab-Ant | Ara-Cha | Chl-Eri | Erk-Geo
Ger-Götz | Gra-Hans | More coming
| German First Names - Vornamen Ger-Götz |
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| Symbols used: f. (feminine), m. (masculine), Gr. (Greek), Ital. (Italian), Lat. (Latin), OHG (Old High German), Sp. (Spanish). The gender of names is only indicated in cases where that may not be obvious. |
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| Gerald, Gerold Old Germanic masc. name that is rare today. OHG "ger" = "spear" + "walt" = rule, approx. "rules by spear." Ital. "Giraldo" |
Gerrit/Gerit m./f. A Frisian nickname for "Ger-" names. |
Gisela Old German fem. name whose meaning is uncertain. Charlemagne's (Karl der Große) sister was named "Gisela." |
| Geralde, Geraldine Fem. form of "Gerald" |
Gert/Gerta Short form for masc. or fem. "Ger-" names |
Giselbert m., Giselberta f. Old Germanic name; the "gisel" meaning is uncertain, the "bert" part means "shining" |
| Gerbald, Gerbold m. Old Germanic name meaning "bold spear" |
Gertraud, Gertraude, Gertraut f. A variation of "Gertrud(e)" (below) |
Gitta/Gitte Short form of "Brigitte/Brigitta" |
| Gerbert m. Old Germanic name meaning "glittering spear" |
Gertrud/Gertrude f. Old Germanic name meaning "strong spear" - Name day: 17 March. Once a very popular girls name in Germany, it is rare today. |
Godehard m. An old Low German variation of "Gotthard" |
| Gerd/Gert m. Short form of "Gerhard" (below) |
Gerwald m. A variation of "Gerald" |
Golo m. Old Germanic name, a short form of names with "Gode-" or "Gott-" Example: Golo (Gottfried) Mann (German historian, 1909-1994) |
| Gerda f. A borrowing of an old Nordic/Icelandic feminine name (meaning "protector") made popular in Germany in part by Hans Christian Andersen's name for the "Snow Queen." Also used as a short form of "Gertrude." |
Gerwig m. Old Germanic name meaning "spear fighter" |
Gorch m. Low German form of "Georg" Example: Gorch Fock (German writer), real name: Hans Kinau (1880-1916) |
| Gerhard/Gerhart m. An old Germanic name dating back to the Middle Ages meaning "hard spear." A once popular name shared by German chancellor Gerhard Schröder and pop singer Gerhard Wendland (1950s). |
Gerwin m., Gerwine f. Old German name: "spear" + "friend" |
Gottbert m. Old German name: "God" + "shining" |
| Gerke m./f., Gerko m. Low German and Frisian name used as a nickname for "Gerhard" and other names with "Ger-." |
Gesa f. Low German/Frisian form of "Gertrud" |
Gottfried Old German masc. name: "God" + "peace"; related to Engl. "Godfrey" and "Geoffrey" |
| Gerlinde, Gerlind, Gerlindis f. Old Germanic name meaning "spear shield" (of wood). |
Gisa f. A short form of "Gisela" amd other "Gis-" names |
Gotthard, Gotthold, Gottlieb, Gottschalk, Gottwald, Gottwin Old German male names with "God" + adj. - See more below. |
| Gott-names - In the era of Pietism (17th/18th century) it was popular to create German male names with Gott (God) plus a pious adjective. Gotthard ("God" + "hard"), Gotthold (+ "fair/sweet"), Gottlieb (+ "love"), Gottschalk ("God's servant"), Gottwald (+ "rule"), Gottwin (+ "friend") - Example: Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (German poet and dramatist, 1729-1781) | ||
| Gerolf m. Old German name: "spear" + "wolf" |
Gisbert m., Gisberta f. Old Germanic name related to "Giselbert" |
Götz Old German male name, short for "Gott-" names, especially "Gottfried." Examples: Goethe's Götz von Berlichingen and the German actor Götz George (1938- ). |
| Abb-Ant | Ara-Cha | Chl-Eri | Erk-Geo Ger-Götz | Gra-Hans | More coming |
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