German

boyLatinChristian

German is a Christian boy name of Latin origin, meaning “Brother; of the same family”.

MeaningBrother; of the same family
GenderBoy
OriginLatin
Pronunciationhehr-MAHN
TraditionChristian
Used inSpain, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico

Meaning and origin of German

Germán comes from the Latin Germanus. As an adjective, germanus meant 'of the same parents, full brother', which gives Spanish hermano; it was also the Roman word for the Germanic peoples, and scholars disagree about which sense the personal name first carried. Saint Germanus of Auxerre and Saint Germain of Paris made it widespread in medieval Europe. In Spanish it is written with an accent on the last syllable.

Is German a Christian name?

Germán is a Christian saint's name, honouring several bishops called Germanus, especially Saint Germain of Paris and Saint Germanus of Auxerre.

How popular is German?

A familiar name across the Spanish-speaking world, steady rather than trendy.

Gifts with the name German

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We may earn a small commission from these links, at no extra cost to you.

Spellings and variants of German

GermainGermanoHermann

Names similar to German

More Christian boy names

Frequently asked questions

What does the name German mean?

German means 'Brother; of the same family'. It is of Latin origin.

Is German a Christian name?

Germán is a Christian saint's name, honouring several bishops called Germanus, especially Saint Germain of Paris and Saint Germanus of Auxerre.

How do you pronounce German?

German is pronounced hehr-MAHN.

Is German a boy or girl name?

German is usually a boy name.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.