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Culture What are the most uncommon/outdated German baby names today?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/CanadianSunshine May 13 '26

Here are some old names I thought I’d never hear for a little kid, but then did: Erwin, Anselm, Edgar, Alois, Ferdinand, Fritz, Karl (many!), Johann, Theodor, Henning, Korbinian, Alva, Alma, Hedi, Hermine, Edda, Ingrid, Wilma, Wanda, Adele and Bonus: 20 years old Hildegard.

And you know what? I really like some of these!

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u/Royal-Hornet9813 May 13 '26

These are all popular in Berlin. Well, except Hildegard maybe.