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German Dog Names – 150+ Fantastic Names for Your Dog

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German dog names are wunderbar!

Whether you or your family are from Germany, your dog is of German breeding, or you just love German beer, cars or culture, we’ve got great German dog names for you.

german dog names - german shepherd

We’ve drawn inspiration from traditional German names, popular destinations, regional foods and drinks, famous figures and so much more.

Get ready for 150+ awesome German dog names for your pup!

Male German Dog Names

Here are some popular German male names that you could choose for your new dog. The traditional meanings are also included for additional info.

  • Adler – eagle
  • Adolph – noble wolf
  • Albern – white
  • Albert – noble, bright
  • Albrecht – also means noble, bright
  • Alger – clever warrior
  • Aldo – old and wise
  • Alphonse – noble, ready for battle
  • Alvin – noble friend, friend of the elves
  • Arlo – unknown
  • Arnold – ruler, strong as an eagle
  • August – great, magnificent
  • Axel – father of peace
  • Baldwin – brave friend
  • Bach – dweller near the brook
  • Bernard – strong, brave as a bear
  • Bruno – brown
  • Claus/Klaus – people of vistory
  • Dedrick – the people’s ruler
  • Dieter – ruler of the people
  • Dirk – also the people’s ruler
  • Emmet – universal, truth
  • Ernie/Ernest/Ernst – serious, resolute
  • Felix – happy, fortunate
  • Franz – free man
  • Frederik – peaceful ruler
  • Fritz – also peaceful ruler
  • Gunther – bold warrior
  • Hans – God is gracious
  • Heinrich – home of the king
  • Heinz – also home of the king
  • Kaiser – emperor
  • Leonard – brave lion
  • Max – the greatest
  • Otto – wealthy
  • Raymond – wise protector
  • Roland – famous throughout the land
  • Rolf – famous wolf
  • Rudolph/Rudy – also famous wolf
  • Schwartz – black hair or dark complexion
  • Siegfried – victorious peace
  • Sigmund – victorious protection
  • Stein – stone
  • Ulf – wolf
  • Waldo – to rule
  • Walter – army ruler
  • Wolfgang – traveling wolf

Female German Dog Names

These names are commonly used for girls in Germany. Beautiful, unique and distinctly German, it’s no wonder they’re so popular in the country.

  • Ada – noble, nobility
  • Addie – also noble, nobility
  • Amelia – work
  • Anka – purse
  • Annette – the Lord has favored me
  • Ava – life
  • Beatrix – she who brings happiness
  • Bernadette – brave as a bear
  • Britta – strength or exalted one
  • Brunhilde – armed for battle
  • Caroline – free man
  • Claudia – enclosure
  • Ella – all, completely; fairy maiden
  • Elsa – pledged to God
  • Emma – universal
  • Frederika – peaceful ruler
  • Frieda – also peaceful ruler
  • Fritzi – also peaceful ruler
  • Gretchen – pearl
  • Greta – also pearl
  • Heidi – of noble birth
  • Hilda – battle woman
  • Ida – industrious one
  • Leona – lioness
  • Liesel – pledged to God
  • Lola – lady of sorrows
  • Marta – lady
  • Millie – gentle strength
  • Mischa – who is like God
  • Sofie – wisdom
  • Trudy – spear of strength
  • Ursula – little female bear
  • Wanda – shepherdess; wanderer
  • Zelda – gray fighting maid
street in Germany at night

German Dog Names Inspired by Locations

Another idea for finding cool German dog names is to look at the names of cities, regions and rivers in the area.

  • Munich (or München in German) – The third largest city in Germany, Munich is home to the famous Oktoberfest festival.
  • Berlin – The capital and most popular city in Germany, Berlin is full of amazing history, landmarks and more.
  • Frankfurt – This large German city makes an uber cute dog name.
  • Hamburg – The second largest city in Germany, Hamburg is home to nearly 2 million people.
  • Cologne – Another populous city, Cologne is known for its stunning cathedral.
  • Düsseldorf – An international business and financial center, Düsseldorf is a distinctly sounding city that could also make a cool dog name.
  • Stuttgart – The city of Stuttgart is perhaps best known for its automative industry. Leading brands Porsche and Mercedes-Benz both are headquartered there.
  • Dresden – Situated in the eastern part of the country, Dresden had heavy losses in WWII, but has been carefully restored since then.
  • Vienna – The capital and largest city in Austria, Vienna makes a gorgeous, unique dog name.
  • Salzburg – Over to the west of Vienna is the Austria’s other popular city, Salzburg, known for its picturesque views and storied history.
  • Bavaria – A federal state of Germany, Bavaria is a well-known region of Germany.
  • Hessia – Another German state, Hessia could make a beautiful name for a female pup.
  • Rhine – As in the Rhine River, a large European body of water that cuts through Germany.
  • Elbe – Another large river, the Elbe passes through the Czech Republic and Germany.
  • Danube – The second largest river in all of Europe, the Danube starts in Germany and flows 2,860 km east, ending in the Black Sea.
german shepherd and puppy

Fun Names From Food

Germans tend to eat hearty meals that can be a little on the heavy side, full of meat, potatoes and bread. When looking at German dog names, we found that popular foods in the region provide cute, unique and authentic options.

  • Schnitzel – This dish of a thin slice of veal or other light meat, coated in breadcrumbs and fried, is quite popular.
  • Brezel – A soft white pretzel made from flour water and yeast and sprinkled with salt. They go great with German beer!
  • Wurst – German for sausage, wurst is available in 1,500 types.
  • Sauerkraut – Sauerkraut is cabbage that is cut fine, salted and allowed to ferment until sour. It seems like people either love or hate this German food.
  • Spätzle – A dish popular in southern Germany, Spätzle consists of small dumplings poached in boiling water.
  • Knödel – Another German dumpling, the Knödel is made from flour, bread or potatoes and then boiled.
  • Goulash – As in the soup or stew  made up of meat, vegetables and seasonings.
dog with beer bottle

Beer-Inspired German Dog Names

Beer is a major part of the German culture. In fact, Austria is #2 in the world for beer consumption and Germany is right behind it at #3. (The neighboring Czech Republic is at the top of the list.)

Naturally, a list of German dog names has to include monikers inspired by the German beer culture!

  • Oktoberfest – You can’t talk about German beer without mentioning Oktoberfest. This traditional festival is held in Munich, Germany, every October and features beer-drinking and merrymaking.
  • Pilsner – A pale lager that gets its name from Pilsen, a city in Bohemia.
  • Oettinger – The top-selling German beer brand.
  • Maibock – Miabock is a pale, strong lager brewed in the spring. How cute would this be for a dog name?
  • Kölsch – A pale, light-bodied, highly fermented beer, Kölsch can only be brewed in Cologne, per law.
  • Dunkel – A dark german lager.
  • Märzen – These medium body, malty lagers are traditionally served at Oktoberfest in Munich.
  • Bock – This heavy-bodied, bitter-sweet lager is darkened by high-coloured malts.
  • Paulaner – Based out of Munich, Paulaner is one of the six breweries who provide beer for Oktoberfest.
  • Krombacher – One of the largest breweries in Germany, Krombacher is second in sales only to Oettinger.
  • Bierkrug – German for beer mug or stein.
  • Hefe – The yeast that’s used in the beer fermentation process.
  • Hopfen – As in the hops used to create the beer.

For even more food & beer dog names check out this list.

Historical and Famous Individuals

Many bright, talented people who have made a major mark on the world hail from Germany or Austria. Check out these names for even more inspiration.

  • Albert Einstein – This German-born theoretical physicist revolutionized modern science.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven – One of the world’s most influential and famous composers, Beethoven created Symphony 5, Ode to JoyMoonlight Sonata and many other works.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – A prolific composer of the Classical era, Mozart was considered a child prodigy. His best known works include Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Rondo alla turca and The Marriage of Figaro.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach – Bach was a German composer and musician of the Baroque period.
  • Nicolaus Copernicus – This Renaissance mathematician and astronomer formulated a model of the universe that placed the Sun rather than the Earth at the center of the universe.
  • Johannes Guttenberg – Guttenberg’s invention of the printing press ushered in the modern period of human history.
  • Sigmund Freud – Freud was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis.
  • Marlene Dietrich – Born in Berlin, Dietrich is considered one of the greatest classic Hollywood actresses.
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger – Hailing from Austria, Schwarzenegger has had a career as bodybuilder, movie star and politician.
  • Christoph Waltz – This Austrian-German actor is known for his work in Quentin Tarantino films and other modern movies.
  • Heidi Klum – This supermodel and television host hails from West Germany.
dog on bridge

Other Cool German Dog Names

Last but not least is a hodgepodge of other cool ideas for German dog names. These German words make fun and unique ideas for dog names.

  • Frau – Mrs.
  • Fraulein – Miss
  • Herr – Mister
  • Deutsche – German
  • Liebling – a term of endearment that translates to “darling”
  • Liebchen – a person who is dear to you
  • Schnucki – a term of endearment that roughly translates to “sweetie pie”
  • Süße (die) / Süßer (der) – sweet
  • Prost – cheers
  • Schatz – jewel or treasure. Schatz is the most popular term of endearment in Germany. You could also select other forms of the word, Schätzchen or Schnatzi, which both mean “little treasure.”
  • Maus – mouse. Another option is the diminutive form, Mäuschen or Mausi, which both translate to “little mouse.”
  • Hase – bunny. Other forms are Häschen or Hasi.
  • Bärchen – little bear
  • Porsche – the well-known luxury car brand is from Germany
  • Mercedes – Mercedes-Benz is a high-end German car brand
  • Audi – Another German automobile manufacturer, Audi is based in Ingolstadt, Bavaria
  • Rapunzel – The tale of this long-haired princess was first published in Friedrich Schulz’s 1790 book Rapunzel
  • Hansel – As in the story of siblings captured by a witch, which originated in Germany. Hansel was the brother.
  • Gretel – And Gretel was the sister
  • Hund – dog. And last but not least, we end the list with perhaps the ultimate German dog name!

Conclusion: German Dog Names

So what do you think? Are you liking these German dog names?

We love that these names are strong, sophisticated and distinctly German.

Also, if you’re looking for a European dog name of some sort, here are other ideas you could consider:

We hope your search goes well. Auf wiedersehen!

More Dog Name Ideas

Need more dog name inspiration? Don’t worry, there are plenty more ideas on our site.

In fact, our dog name generator is a great place to look. Try it out and see what you think.

To get started, browse through the list of name styles and pick the ones that you like. For example, are you looking for cute names? Tough names? Names that are both cute and tough?

You can also browse through themes that might be of interest. Categories include music, movies, TV shows, history, food, comics, sports and so much more.

With all this inspiration, we’re confident you’ll find the name for your dog.

How Do You Pick the Right Name?

When you have lots of names to choose from, narrowing it down to just the right one can seem daunting. This advice can help.

As you start your search, write down any name that sounds interesting. Don’t overthink it – just write the name down.

The next step is elimination. Once you have a list, go through it one–by–one and remove any name that you don’t completely love.

From here, ask yourself the following for each name:

  • Is it easy to say and can you imagine calling for your dog with this name?
  • Does it fit your dog’s appearance and personality?
  • Does it seem right in your gut?

Once you have a short list of ideas, say the name over and over again and see if it sounds right. Also, if there are others in your home, make sure they agree on the name, too.

How Do You Teach a Dog Their Name?

Once you’ve settled on a name, the next step is to teach it to your dog. Grab your treats and get ready to work!

To start, find a calm and quiet space where your dog can focus. Bring a handful of small treats along for positive reinforcement.

Next, say their name in a clear and confident voice. Always use a positive tone.

When your dog looks at you, say “yes” and reward them with a treat for a job well done.

To reinforce the lesson, practice this over and over again until you feel confident your dog knows their name.

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Check out more articles about: Dog Names

3 Comments

  1. JEFFREY ENOCH

    Just want to send you a correction for this fun site. You list the words Frau and Fräulein as Miss and Mrs respectively when actually it is the other way around. Frau means Mrs,

    • Kyle Larson

      Thanks Jeffrey!

  2. Jynine Strand

    Love this list and the fact that two of our dog names for our Dobermans – Kaiser and Bock – are listed. We also had a Doberman named Jäger (meaning hunter) which might be a good addition to your list.

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