380+ of the Best German Dog Names for your Wunderhund

Guten Tag, dog lovers! Are you in search of the perfect name for your German dog? Well, look no further! We're here to dive into the wonderful world of German dog names.

Germany, known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and of course, its sausages, has a ton of inspiration when it comes to naming your beloved pup. From famous landmarks like the majestic Neuschwanstein Castle to mouthwatering delights like pretzels and schnitzels, Germany has left an indelible mark on the world. So, why not pay homage to this fascinating country by choosing a German name for your four-legged companion?

In this article, we'll take you on a fun-filled journey through the German language, exploring unique and captivating ideas for dog names that reflect the spirit and charm of Deutschland.

Get ready for a wag-tastic adventure as we discover names that will make your pooch the talk of the Hundepark. Los geht's!

♀️ Female German Dog Names for your Liebliche Dame

Girl dogs everywhere would love one of these authentic German monikers. We adore the name “Babsi”, but if you are looking for a more traditional German dog name, why not try something like “Frieda”?

Ada

Alice

Aloisa

Alwina (German name – means “noble friend”)

Anja

Babsi

Effi

Elke

Elsa

Frederica (feminine form of Frederick – means “peaceful ruler”)

Frieda

Fritzi

Gerda

Gesa

Gisela (popular German girls name)

Gretchen

Gretel

Hedi

Helga

Holda

Ida

Ilse

Irma

Johanna

Karlotta

Kora

Leni

Liese

Lilo

Lorelei

Lotte

Maja

Malu

Mathilde

Meta

Mina

Minka

Mistila

Mitzi

Nele

Nelly

Otti

Pia

Priska

Raika

Resi

Ria

Rike

Romy

Susi

Trixie

Ursula (German name of Latin origin, meaning “little female bear”)

Wanda

Wilma

Zelda

Zilla

Zita

♂️ Male German Dog Names for your Flott Kumpel

These amazing male German dog names are well suited to any dog’s personality – some of them are classic, old fashioned names like “Wolfgang”  and some have a more modern flair like “Axel”.

Which one is your favorite?

Adolphe ( means “noble, majestic or famous wolf”)

Aiko

Albrecht (one of the old Germanic names meaning “noble”

Aldo (German name)

Aleric (means “noble ruler”)

Alger (means “noble spearman” or “clever warrior”)

Alwin (German name – means“noble friend”)

Andre (German version of Andrew)

Anton

Axel (German name)

Azzo (regal name that means “noble birth”)

Basti

Benno

Bernard (means “brave bear”)

Bert

Clovis (name with French and German origins – means “famous warrior”)

Edwin (means “wealthy/prosperous friend”)

Fithuric (old German name meaning “peaceful ruler”)

Frederick (English form of Friedrich – means “peaceful ruler”)

Friedrick (means “peaceful ruler”)

Gion (short form of Johannes, the German form of John)

Gunther (high German name)

Hajo

Hansi

Harbin (means “little shining fighter” or “little bright warrior”)

Harro

Hasko

Hasso

Jesko

Johann (traditional German name)

Jupp

Jürgen (Germanic form of George)

Kuno

Kurt

Ludwig (means “famous warrior”)

Manni

Marko

Nobbi

Poldi

Ralf

Rudi

Rudie (means “famous wolf”)

Rudiger (German name meaning “famous or divine spear”)

Sepp

Sigmund (means “victorious protector”)

Stefan (German version of Stephen)

Theo

Tilo

Titus

Tobi

Utz

Wolfgang (a name that carries Germanic meanings – “wolf” symbolizes strength and “gang” means path or journey)

🐶 Popular Dog Names in Germany for your Furry Friend

When in Germany, do as the Germans do and you would do well to copy some of their most popular dog names. There are some really fantastic choices here. We love the German dog name “Strolch” for a mischievous pup or how about “Bandit” for the dog who loves stealing your sausages!

Bandit	a robber or outlaw
Bendix	means bendy
Brummi	means to hum
Fluse	means fluff
Fussel	means fluff or fuzz
Hibbel	means to shiver
Hummel	means bumblebee
Ikko	means icon
Jojo	means yo-yo
Schnuppi	means to sniff
Schoko	means chocolate
Spatz	means sparrow
Strolch	means scamp
Wupke	means woopee

😁 Funny German Words that Make Fun Dog Names

Foreign language words often make incredible dog names and the German language doesn’t disappoint – just look at these fab names for your pooch. You cannot beat the name “Knuddelbär” for any four-legged companion.

Beamer	for BMW – a famous German car brand
Beetlebug	type of Volkswagen car
Carerra	Porsche Carerra – one of the most classic German cars
Doppelgänger	one of the most world famous germanic words
Fangzahn	means “fang”
Frau	means “lady/woman”
Fräulein	means “Miss”
Harrig	means “hairy”
Herr	means “Mr.”
Jetta	type of Volkswagen car
Käfer	German word for the VW Beetle
Kaiser	means “emperor”
Knuddelbär	means “cuddle bear”
Liebe	means “love or dear” – pronounced lee buh
Liebling	means “favorite”
Mähne	means “mane”
Mercedes	famous German car brand
Ohren	means “ears”
Pelz	means “fur”
Porsche	famous German car brand
Purzelbaum	refers to a head over heels somersault
Schatz	means “treasure”
Schätzchen	German word for “sweetheart”
Schwanz	German word meaning “tail”
Spitze	means “top or peak” – pronounced spitz uh
Spyder	Porsce Spyder – German car brand
Volksie	Volkswagen – German car brand

🦊 German Dog Names Inspired by Animal Words in the German Language

Animal words are often a great opportunity to showcase a specific part of your dog’s personality. We adore the German dog names “Affe” and “Faultier”.

Affe	monkey
Eisbär	polar bear
Elster	magpie
Eule	owl
Faultier	sloth
Frosch	frog
Fuchs	fox
Gans	goose
Hai	shark
Heuschrecke	grasshopper
Hund	dog
Igel	hedgehog
Kaninchen	rabbit
Löwe	lion
Maus	mouse
Muschel	mussel
Papagei	parrot
Pfau	peacock
Qualle	jellyfish
Schildkröte	turtle
Schmetterling	butterfly
Schnecke	snail
Taube	dove
Welpen	puppy
Wolf	wolf

🏙️ Dog Names Inspired by German Places and Landmarks for your Fur Baby

Germany is one of the most popular places for tourists to visit in Europe. And it is easy to see why – exploring these cities and landmarks must be so much fun and such an enriching experience. We love the name “Zwinger” for a dog – fun, feisty and full of spirit.

Bamberg	town
Bastei	bridge
Berlin	German capital and largest city
Bonn	famous German city
Brandenburg	Brandenburg gate – “Brandon” for short
Constance	Lake Constance
Dresden	city
Eltz	castle
Hamburg	second largest city
Hochwanner	mountain
Leipzig	city
Lindau	town
Marienplatz	central square in Munich – “Marien” for short
Moselle	river
Munich	famous German city
Nymphenburg	palace – “Nymph” for short
Oder	river
Reichstag	parliament building
Rhine	major river that flows through much of central Europe
Sanssouci	palace and park
Schwerin	castle
Spree	river
Watzmann	mountain
Zugspitze	highest peak of the German Alps
Zwinger	historical landmark

🍃 Best German Dog Names Inspired by Nature

The natural world is chock-full of inspiration for naming your pooch. We love the German dog names “Sonne” and “Flamme”.

Baum	tree
Blatt	leaf
Blitzschlag	lightning
Blume	flower
Dunkel	dark
Felsen	rock
Feuer	fire
Flamme	flame
Fluss	river
Licht	light
Luft	air
Meer	sea
Mond	moon
Nacht	night
Regen	rain
Regenbogen	rainbow
Schnee	snow
Sonne	sun
Stern	star
Strand	beach
Sturm	storm
Wald	forest
Wasser	water
Wirbelsturm	hurricane
Wolke	cloud

🎨 Dog Names Inspired by the German Words for Colors

We love the trend of naming your dog according to their coat or eye color and the German language gives you some great opportunities for that. We think “Weiss” is a great name for any white puppy.

Blau	blue
Braun	brown
Gelb	yellow
Gold	gold
Grau	gray
Grün	green
Lila	purple
Orange	orange
Rosa	pink
Rot	red
Schwarz	black
Silber	silver
Weiss	white

🌭 German Dog Names Inspired by the Delicious Cuisine of Germany

Oh My! Doesn’t German food look scrumptious? We think the best name on this list is “Pumpernickel” – it’s super cute!

Bratwurst	German sausage made from pork
Brezel	traditional German pretzel popular in southern Germany
Currywurst	classic street food – sausages cut up and served with curry sauce
Döner	Döner kebab – meat cooked on a vertical kebab then sliced and served in pita with salad
Frankfurter	sausage – “Frank” for short
Franzbrötchen	sweet baked pastry
Gummibär	gummy bear – gummy bears were invented by Hans Riegel
Haribo	famous German brand of gummy sweets invented by Hans Riegel
Kuchen	cake
Labskaus	beef, onions, potatoes and pickled beetroot mashed up and served with rollmops and gherkins
Maultaschen	pockets of dough with sweet or savory filling that can be meaty or vegetarian. Like ravioli but bigger
Pumpernickel	pure rye bread
Reibekuchen	fried potato pancakes
Rollmop	pickled herring fillet
Rouladen	bacon, onions, mustard and pickles wrapped in sliced beef or veal
Sauerbraten	literally “sour roast” – pot roast that is one of Germany's national dishes
Sauerkraut	fermented cabbage
Schnitzel	schnitzel refers to breaded and fried meat cutlets – typical German food
Spaghettieis	ice cream dish made to look like spaghetti – popular dessert amongst German children
Spargel	Germans are crazy about white asparagus
Spätzle	type of egg noodle served with layers of cheese – popular dish in beer gardens
Stollen	fruit cake
Streusel	crumbly topping of flour, butter and sugar that is baked on top of pies, cakes, muffins, breads
Wiener	hot dog

🍺 German Dog Names Inspired by Popular Drinks for your New Family Member

Germany is definitely the reason for much drunken debauchery worldwide. As the makers of Jägermeister and Schnapps they are responsible for many hangovers. If you can’t bear to remember the Jäger headache every time you call your dog, then you should opt for a safe option like “Spezi”.

Apfelschorle	apple juice with club soda or sparkling water
Asbach	Asbach Uralt – German brandy
Colaweizen	beer mixed with cola
Doppelbock	German beer
Eierlikör	spiced and spiked eggnog
Eiskaffee	ice cream coffee drink
Gluhwein	mulled wine
Helles	pale lager beer
Himbeergeist	a spirit made from raspberries
Holler	Holler spritz cocktail made from elderberry infused lemon juice, sparkling water and white wine
Hugo	cocktail similar to a mojito but instead of rum it uses sparkling wine
Jägermeister	famous German digestif liqueur
Kerner	German wine
Kiba	smoothie made from bananas cherries and milk – popular drink on warm days in Germany
Killepitsch	herbal liqueur
Kinderpunsch	non-alcoholic hot mulled cider served throughout German christmas markets
Kirsch	brandy made from morello cherries
Kölsch	fermented beer
Pilsner	German beer
Radler	mix of beer and German “Limonade,” which is the term for any fizzy, non-alcoholic, fruit-flavored soda
Riesling	German wine
Schnaps	strong, dry spirit
Sekt	sparkling wine
Spezi	soft drink brand
Weissbier	wheat beer

📜 Names Inspired by German Historical Figures and Famous German People

There are so many famous Germans that can be your dog-naming muse. We love the name “Boss” for any boy dog (but it’s probably better suited to a girl!) 

Bach	Johann Sebastian Bach – composer of the late Baroque period
Beethoven	Ludwig van Beethoven – famous German composer
Benz	Karl Benz – automotive engineer
Bertolt	Bertolt Brecht – playwright
Boss	Hugo Boss – Founder of fashion house Hugo Boss
Butzi	Butzi Porsche – grandson of the founder of the Porsche car brand
Caspar	Caspar Friedrich – famous German painter
Christoph	Christoph Waltz – Austrian-German actor
Danzi	Franz Danzi – German cellist
Diane	Diane Kruger – actress
Einstein	Albert Einstein – famous German physicist
Fritz	Friedrich Heinrich Karl “Fritz” Haarmann – famous wolf serial killer from Germany
Gutenburg	Johannes Gutenburg – inventor responsible for letterpress printing
Heidi	Heidi Klum – famous German model
Henry	Henry IV – king of Germany
Lena	Lena Gercke – model
Marlene	Marlene Dietrich – actress
Marx	Karl Marx – philosopher
Merkel	Angela Merkel – former German chancellor
Nikolaus	Sankt Nikolaus – Santa Claus
Nina	Nina Hagen – singer
Otto	Otto von Bismarck – former chancellor
Schiffer	Claudia Schiffer – famous German model
Wagner	Richard Wagner – opera composer
Wilhelm	Wilhelm II – king of Germany and Prussia

🎬 Names Inspired by German Movies, TV Shows and Books to Make your Pup Stand Out at the Dog Park

German pop culture provides a huge selection of some of the most incredible German dog names thanks to the Brothers Grimm. We however, love the name “Von Talon” for a dog with long claws. 

Aurora	Brothers Grimm	Female
Briar Rose	Brothers Grimm	Female
Captain von Nuisance	Marvel comics	Male
Cinderella	Brothers Grimm	Female
Diddl	Diddl	Male
Doofenshmirtz	Phineas and Ferb	Female
Edna	The Incredibles	Female
Javelin	dc comics	Male
Klaus	American Dad	Male
Magneto	marvel comics	Male
Nemsi	Kara Ben Nemsi – main character in Karl May works	Male
Nick Knatterton	Nick Knatterton comic	Male
Nightcrawler	Kurt Wagner – marvel comics	Male
Old Shatterhand	western novels by German writer Karl May	Male
Onyx von Trollenburg	Trollz	Female
Ottoperotto	Scrooge McDuck comics	Male
Queen Clementianna	Brothers Grimm	Female
Rapunzel	Brothers Grimm	Female
Red Riding Hood	Brothers Grimm	Female
Rumpelstiltskin	Brothers Grimm	Male
Schneewittchen	Snow White	Female
Snow White	Brothers Grimm	Female
Tiana	Brothers Grimm – the princess and the frog	Female
Von Talon	Valiant	Male
Zemo	Helmut Zemo – marvel comics	Male

🧛 German Dog Names Derived from Mythology for all Dog Breeds

You can’t find better German dog names than “Belsnickel” and “Nixie”. And we think “Ekke” is a great name for a water loving pup.

Alp	shape shifting demon – behaves like an incubus
Aufhocker	shapeshifter
Beerwulf	German werewolf
Belsnickel	a crotchety, fur-clad gift bringer figure in German folklore
Changeling	creature that replaces human babies to terrorize parents
Dietrich	Dietrich von Bern – a famous warrior based on Theodoric the Great
Drak	household spirit
Ekke	Ekke Nekkepenn – a merman
Erdhenne	house spirit that prophesizes death
Erlking	malevolent goblin/sinister elf who lingers in the woods and kills children who stay too long with a single touch
Freyja	This name has Germanic meanings – she was the germanic goddess of love, death, magic, fertility, beauty and war
Knecht Ruprecht	a companion of Saint Nicholas
Kobold	mischievous household spirit
Krampus	half goat, half demon monster that scares children into behaving at Christmas
Lindworm	giant serpent monster that lives deep in the forest
Nachtkrapp	bugbear creature that scares children into going to bed
Nachzehrer	sort of a vampire – lives off humans after death
Nixie	germanic shapeshifting water spirits
Perchta	a goddess of Alpine paganism – she drives bad spirits away
Rahn	wife of Ekke Nekkepenn
Rasselbock	mythological animal with the head and body of a rabbit and the antlers of a roe deer
Schrat	moss person that has characteristics of a wood sprite, domestic sprite and a nightmare demon
Weisse Frauen	elven like spirits – literally means “white woman”

⛵ Sporty Dog Names for your German Dog

There are a number of world famous German sports stars to honor when naming your sporty dog. We love all the names on this list – which do you like best?

Alpha	Alpha Female – wrestler
Andrea	Andrea Thomas – athlete
Anke	Anke Huber – tennis
Ballack	Michael Ballack – football
Bernhard	Bernhard Langer – golf
Boris	Boris Becker – tennis
Heike	Heike Drechsler – athlete
Heil	Erik Heil – sailor
Jan	Jan Ullrich – road bicycle racer
Leno	Berndt Leno – football
Leon	Leon Goretzga – football
Marco	Marco Reus – football
Marita	Marita Koch – athlete
Max	Max Schmeling – boxing
Monika	Monika Dannemann – figure skating
Nico	Nico Rosberg – formula one
Oliver	Oliver Kahn – football
Sabine	Sabine Schmitz – motor racing driver
Schumacher	Michael Schumacher – formula one
Sebastian	Sebastian Vettel – Formula one
Steffi	Steffi Graf – tennis
Tatjana	Tatjana Maria – tennis
Tim	Tim Wiese – football
Timo	Timo Werner – football
Ulf	Ulf Herman – wrestler

German Dog Breeds

Take a look at some of these amazing German dog breeds. They would all make fabulous additions to your family.

German Shepherd: This majestic German breed are like the superheroes of the dog world! With their strong and noble appearance, they're the very definition of loyalty and courage. Originally bred as herding dogs, the German Shepherd is intelligent, versatile, and can be trained to do pretty much anything.

Schnauzer: With their adorable bushy eyebrows and stylish mustaches, these pups are like little canine gentlemen with a touch of sophistication and a whole lot of charm. Whether you're talking about the Miniature, Standard, or Giant Schnauzer, one thing is for sure—these furry bundles of joy are playful, lively, and always up for an adventure. Plus, their hypoallergenic fur makes them the perfect German dog breed for those who want a cuddly companion without the sneezy aftermath.

Doberman Pinscher: These pups are sleek, elegant, and oh-so-distinguished! They have a reputation for being protective and loyal, but underneath that tough exterior, they're just big ol' softies. With their shining coats and regal stature, the Doberman Pinscher is the epitome of grace and strength.

Dachshund: These little sausages on legs have won the hearts of dog lovers everywhere. With their long bodies, short legs, and adorable floppy ears, they're a German breed like no other. Whether they're frolicking in the grass or snuggling up on the couch, these fur babies are the perfect companions for both city dwellers and suburban families. And incidentally, the word Dachshund means “badger dog” in German.

Great Dane:  These gentle giants are like real-life horse-dogs, towering over most other breeds with their incredible height. But don't let their size intimidate you because they're the biggest bundles of love and affection you'll ever meet. With their sleek coat and expressive eyes, the Great Dane exudes elegance and grace. These big-hearted goofballs are known to have a playful side, and are always up for a game of fetch or a romp in the yard. 

Final Thoughts

So whether you’re a fan of German culture or have one of the terrific German dog breeds, you’re sure to find the perfect German dog name on this list. Let us know which one you chose in the comments below.