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Name Lineage

    The first name Germain

    A boy’s name.

    2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    A patronymic from a medieval given name, identical with the French one; or from an ethnic term for a German.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    Germain last appeared in the official list in 2002, given to 3 boys. It peaked in 2001, with 3 births (#3,134).

    0510 1996200020052010201520202025
    6
    babies named Germain, 1996–2025
    #3,225
    rank in 2002
    2001
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Germain with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Germain at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 7 boys born in the United States were named Germain, the 10,027th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1981, when 30 were.

    01530 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    1,034
    babies named Germain since 1880
    #10,027
    rank in 2025
    1981
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Other spellings and forms

    Famous people named Germain

    25 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Jacques-Germain Soufflot
      French architect (1713–1780)
    • Germain Derycke
      Belgian road bicycle racer (1929–1978)
    • Germain of Paris
      Bishop of Paris, 496–576
    • Germain Pilon
      French artist (1525–1590)
    • Germain Boffrand
      French architect (1667-1754)
    • Germain Nouveau
      French poet of the symbolist movement (1851–1920)
    • Germain Chardin
      French rower, born 1983
    • Germain Sanou
      Burkinabé footballer, born 1992
    • Germain Pirlot
      Belgian esperantist, author of the name "euro", born 1943
    • Germain Berthé
      Footballer, 1993–2026
    • Germain Katanga
      Former leader of the Patriotic Resistance Force in Ituri, born 1978
    • Antoine Germain Labarraque
      French chemist and pharmacist (1777-1850)

    Questions

    What does the name Germain mean?
    A patronymic from a medieval given name, identical with the French one; or from an ethnic term for a German.
    How popular is the name Germain?
    In 2002, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Germain, ranking 3,225th. Its peak was 2001, with 3 births.
    Is Germain a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 96% of the 1,034 US babies named Germain since 1880 were boys.
    When was Germain most popular?
    1981 in the United States, when 30 babies were named Germain, its highest rank at 1,872nd.
    What are other spellings of Germain?
    Germaine and Jermain.
    Is Germain also a surname?
    Yes. Germain is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.