German
German was the 1541st most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 112 babies. Its best year was 1991, when it ranked 582nd with 304 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 348 places. More babies were named German in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #1,541 boys, down 112 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 112boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1991304 babies
- Total since 1880
- 10,295babies recorded
German popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 5 since 1993.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,541 | 112 |
| 2020 | #1,429 | 121 |
| 2010 | #1,041 | 187 |
| 2000 | #692 | 255 |
| 1990 | #614 | 269 |
| 1980 | #858 | 107 |
| 1970 | #1,073 | 58 |
| 1960 | #1,499 | 29 |
| 1950 | #2,368 | 11 |
| 1940 | #2,554 | 9 |
| 1930 | #1,778 | 18 |
| 1920 | #2,513 | 12 |
| 1910 | #1,684 | 5 |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is German, counting every spelling?
German is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #1,402 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,541 for German on its own. Together these spellings went to 119 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| German | 112 | #1,541 | 576 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name German?
112 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named German (0.03 per 1,000 births). For a boy named German born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 75 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named German.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named German?
About 9,500 people born in the US named German are alive today, with a median age of 27; half are between 17 and 37. That makes German mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
German by state
How common German was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Arizona (3.9×), Texas (2.1×), California (2.0×). In 41 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with German: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like German, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name German
How popular is the name German?
German was the 1541st most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 112 babies. Its best year was 1991, when it ranked 582nd with 304 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 348 places. More babies were named German in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Is German a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name German in the US.
Where is German most popular?
In 2021–2025, German was most common in Arizona (0.26 per 1,000 boys), followed by Texas and California.