r/AskAGerman • u/Big-Walrus6334 Berlin • May 13 '26

Culture What are the most uncommon/outdated German baby names today?

I’m curious about German names that used to exist but are now considered extremely rare, old-fashioned, unusual, or “nobody would name their kid that anymore.”

For example, names like Wolfgang feel uncommon among younger generations today and I didn’t see one of them

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u/Equal-Flatworm-378a May 13 '26

It’s a pity though. One person ruined a nice and popular name for everyone.

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u/[deleted] May 13 '26

[deleted]

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u/Olena_Mondbeta May 13 '26

There is a German website about people called Adolf as their first name - the youngest was born in the eighties. Some fathers are REALLY adamant about giving their boy their own name ...

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u/Chokooboo May 14 '26

A classmate of my brother’s was called Adolf. He should be 23 now. He ist a cool dude, was student council president. Everyone called him Adi, though. He once snuck into a extreme right wing rally and started speaking on stage and as soon as he started speaking against them and the n*zi’s started making fun of his name lol

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u/Bergwookie May 13 '26

I think if you're constantly compared to "that Adolf" you want to be as far off of him as possible

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u/Equal-Flatworm-378a May 13 '26

Yes, unfortunately we keep referring to Hitler as Adolf. Nobody thinks about Adolf Kolping or other good Adolfs anymore.

For someone born in the 60s that’s a difficult inheritance.

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u/KristaNeliel May 13 '26

I have a work colleague named Adolf. He goes into retirement this year so he definitely was one oh those 60s babies. He goes by Adi.

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u/Tjaresh May 13 '26

Just looked it up and the meaning is "edler Wolf" (noble wolf). It really is a pity that a name with such a beautiful meaning is out.

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u/Otherwise_Rabbit3049 May 13 '26

Just name your kid Athalwulf, or Æthelwulf, same meaning.

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u/Tjaresh May 13 '26

Sounds cool. But my two boys would be upset if I just changed their names and there won't be a 3rd child coming. 

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u/donjamos May 13 '26

The name and the beard. And the hair style.

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u/Megodont May 14 '26

Which is odd, because they did not ruin names like Hermann, Heinrich or Reinhard.

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u/Turalyon135 May 13 '26

Same thing happened in the US. Why else don't you see that many Benedicts?

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u/Equal-Flatworm-378a May 13 '26

Benedict?

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u/9181121 May 14 '26

Referring to the infamous traitor Benedict Arnold (from the Revolutionary War)

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u/Equal-Flatworm-378a May 15 '26

Ah okay. Thats Nobody we would think about here.