The first name German
A boy’s name from Russian meaning “the peoples of germānia”, “closely related”.
Pronounced /ˈd͡ʒɝ.mən/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Russian origin
German means “the peoples of germānia”, “closely related” in Russian.
From Latin Germānus, Germānī (“the peoples of Germānia”), as distinct from Gauls (in the writings of Caesar and Tacitus), and of uncertain ultimate origin (possibly Celtic/Gaulish). Not related to german (“closely related”) or germane (from the Latin adjective germānus, through Old French). Attested since at least 1520. Replaced the older terms Almain and Dutch (from Proto-Germanic *þiudiskaz) in English. Besides cognates of German, Almain, and Dutch, two other categories of words for the Germans in other languages are cognates of Saxon and descendants of Proto-Slavic *němьcь; see those entries for more. The surname is generally from the noun, though sometimes confused with Herman, Hermann under Russian influence. As a German surname, Americanized from Germann. Compare Germán, Germain, Jerman.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity in the United States
Babies named German at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 112 boys born in the United States were named German, the 1,541st most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1991, when 304 were.
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.
German in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
Famous people named German
31 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Germán PezzellaArgentine footballer, born 1991
- Germán LuxArgentine association football player, born 1982
- Germán BurgosArgentine footballer and coach, born 1969
- Germán DenisArgentine association football player (born 1981)
- Germán RiescoChilean politician and president (1854-1916)
- Germán GarmendiaChilean YouTuber and Humorist, born 1990
- Héctor Germán OesterheldArgentine journalist and cartoonist (1919–1978)
- Germán CanoArgentine footballer, born 1988
- Germán LauroArgentine shot putter and discus thrower, born 1984
- Germán ContiArgentinian association football player, born 1994
- Germano Boettcher SobrinhoBrazilian footballer (1911-1977)
- Germán AcerosColombian footballer (1938-2018)
More Russian boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name German mean?
- German means “the peoples of germānia”, “closely related” in Russian.
- What is the origin of the name German?
- From Latin Germānus, Germānī (“the peoples of Germānia”), as distinct from Gauls (in the writings of Caesar and Tacitus), and of uncertain ultimate origin (possibly Celtic/Gaulish). Not related to german (“closely related”) or germane (from the Latin adjective germānus, through Old French).…
- Is German a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 10,295 US babies named German since 1880 were boys.
- When was German most popular?
- 1991 in the United States, when 304 babies were named German, its highest rank at 582nd.
- How do you pronounce German?
- German is /ˈd͡ʒɝ.mən/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of German?
- Hansel.
- Is German also a surname?
- Yes. German is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.