German Names, Nicknames, and Origins
German Naming Customs
German Names, Nicknames & Origins
Riepe Surname
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Name Origins
There are so
many reference materials for names and their
origins, that I will not attempt to discuss
this in detail. Generally speaking, most
German names are attribute names often
characterizing prowess in battle. Below you
will find a table with some of the more
prevalent German names in Riepe lines, along
with their American versions, origins,
meanings and nicknames.
Nicknames
I
have attempted to list some of the nicknames
commonly used by the Germans pre 1900, but the
list is by no means complete. If you have any
additional nicknames you are aware of and
would like to see added, please let me know.
Be aware that
nicknames commonly used today are not always
the same ones people used a century or more
ago.
Nicknames change, evolve, and go in and out of
fashion as do given names. Many nicknames
such as "Bert" and "Bertie", were used for
Albert, Adelbert, Bernhard, Herbert, Norbert,
and Robert, as well as for women's names such
as Alberta.
Too, some nicknames were used for very
different given names. For example, "Mollie"
was a nickname for Amalie and also for
Margaret (and its variations). "Belle" was
used for Isabelle, Isabella, Elizabeth, etc.
If
you are unsure of an ancestor's given name,
but know his/her nickname, I suggest using
your browser's "find" function on this page to
locate various possibilities of given names.
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|
German |
English |
Origin |
Meaning/
Notes |
Nicknames |
|
Adam |
(same) |
Hebrew |
"red earth" |
|
|
Adelbert,
Adalbert, Albert, Elbert |
Albert |
Old English |
"highborn"
or brilliant", from adal meaning noble
and beraht meaning bright. All these
given names are variations of Albert |
Al, Bert,
Bertie |
|
Agnes |
(same) |
Greek |
"chaste",
from Greek adjective hagnos |
Aggie |
|
Alberta,
Elberta |
Alberta |
Old English |
feminine of
"Albert" (see above) |
Bert, Bertie |
|
Alfred |
(same) |
Old English |
"counsel of
the elves" |
Al, Fred,
Freddie |
|
Alma |
(same) |
Latin |
"nourishing" |
|
|
Alpha |
(same) |
Greek |
first letter
of the alphabet, "A", often used for a
first born daughter |
|
|
Amalie,
Emilie, Amalia |
Emily,
Amelia |
Old German |
"industrious" or "work" |
Molly,
Mollie |
|
Anna |
Anna, Ann |
Latin |
form of
Hannah |
Ann, Annie,
Nancy, Nannie |
|
Anton |
Anthony |
Latin |
"invaluable"
or "beyond price" |
Tony |
|
Arthur |
(same) |
Celtic |
poss. "bear"
or "rock" |
|
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Asa, Ase |
(same) |
Hebrew |
"doctor" |
|
|
Atlee, Atley |
(same) |
Old English |
"the meadow" |
|
|
August,
Augustus |
(same) |
Latin |
"worthy of
respect" |
Gus |
|
Benjamin |
(same) |
Hebrew |
"son of the
right hand" |
Ben |
|
Bernhard,
Bernhardt |
Bernard |
Old German |
"bear brave" |
Bert, Barney |
|
Catherina,
Katherina |
Catherine,
Katherine |
Greek |
"pure" |
Kate, Katie |
|
Caroline |
(same) |
Old German |
feminine of
Charles, Karl and Carl |
Carol,
Carrie, Lina |
|
Casper,
Caspar |
(same) |
not clear,
poss. Persian |
"he who
guards the treasure" |
Christ |
|
Christian |
(same) |
Greek |
"anointed"
or "Christian" |
|
|
Christianna,
Christine |
(same) |
Greek |
"anointed"
or "Christian" (feminine of Christian) |
Anna, Tina |
|
Christoph |
Christopher |
Greek |
"carrier of
Christ" or "bearer" of Christ" |
Chris |
|
Clara |
(same) |
Latin |
"clear" or
"bright" |
|
|
Cruzon |
(same) |
Spanish |
"cross",
from the Spanish word cruz |
|
|
David |
(same) |
Hebrew |
"friend" or
"beloved" |
Dave |
|
Dewey |
(same) |
Welsh |
Welsh form
of David |
|
|
Diedrich,
Diederich |
Dedrick |
Low German
form of Theodoric |
"ruler of
the people" |
|
|
Dora |
(same) |
Greek |
short form
of Dorothy, Dorothea, or Theodora |
|
|
Dorothea,
Dorothy |
(same) |
Greek |
"gift of
God". note: Dorothea and Theodora are
variations of each other, with the
syllables reversed |
Dora, Dolly |
|
Edna |
(same) |
Hebrew |
"pleasure" |
Inez |
|
Edward |
(same) |
Old English |
"wealthy
defender" |
Ed, Eddie |
|
Elisabeth,
Ilsabein |
Elizabeth |
Hebrew |
"pledged to
God" |
Elsbeth,
Else, Elsie, Elise, Lise, Lisbeth,
Lizbeth, Liz, Lizzy, Lizzie, Belle,
Bette, Betty |
|
Elmer |
(same) |
Old English |
"noble /
famous / highborn / renowned" |
|
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Emil |
(same) |
Latin |
"eager to
please" |
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Emma,
Emeline, Emmaline, Emmalda |
(same) |
Old German |
"embracing
everything" |
Em, Emma,
Emmie, Emmy |
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Engel |
Angel |
|
"ruler
forever", feminine of Eric |
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Erika |
Erica |
Scandinavian |
"ruler
forever", feminine of Eric |
|
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Ernest |
(same) |
Old English |
"sincere" |
Ernie,
Ernst, Earnest |
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Esther |
(same) |
Persian |
"star" |
Hester,
Ettie |
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Ewald |
(same) |
Old English |
"law"
"powerful" |
|
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Florence |
(same) |
Latin |
"prosperous", from Roman masculine name
Florentius |
Flo, Floss,
Flossie |
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Franklin |
(same) |
English |
"free
landholder" |
Frank |
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Franz |
(same) |
Latin |
"Frenchman",
form of Francis |
|
|
Friedrich,
Friedrick |
Frederick |
Old German |
"peaceful
ruler" |
Fred, Fritz |
|
George |
(same) |
Greek |
"farmer",
from Greek word georges meaning "earth
worker" |
|
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Gerhard,
Gerhardt |
Gerard |
Old English |
"spear
brave" |
Gerard,
George |
|
Gertrude |
(same) |
Old German |
"spear
strength" |
Gert, Gertie,
Trude, Trude |
|
Gustavus |
(same) |
Latin |
"worthy of
respect" |
Gus, Guss |
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Guy |
(same) |
Old German |
"wood" or
"wide" |
Harry |
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Hannah,
Hanna |
(same) |
Hebrew |
"grace" or "favour" |
Anna, Ann,
Johanna, Jane |
|
Harriet |
(same) |
Old German |
feminine of
Harry or Henry |
Hattie,
Nettie |
|
Harry |
(same) |
Old English |
form of
Henry or Heinrich |
|
|
Heinrich |
Henry |
Old German |
"ruler of
the home or estate" |
Harry |
|
Helene |
Helen |
Old German |
"sun"or
"light", from the Greek word helios,
Helene is the German form of Helen which
is originally Greek |
Nellie |
|
Henrietta |
(same) |
Old German |
feminine
form of Henry or Heinrich |
Hennie |
|
Herbert |
(same) |
Old German |
"army
bright" |
Herb, Herbie,
Bert, Bertie |
|
Herman,
Hermann, Herrmann Harmon |
Herman |
Old German |
"army man" |
Herm, Hermie,
Hemy |
|
Hilda |
(same) |
Old German |
short form
of names containing hilde, which means
"battle", e.g., Hildegard means "battle
guard" |
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Hugo |
(same) |
Old German |
"mind,
intellect", form of Hugh |
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Ida |
(same) |
Old German |
"work" |
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Ignatz,
Ignatius |
(same) |
Old German |
poss. "fire"
or "burning", German form of Latin name,
Ignatius |
Natz |
|
Inez |
(same) |
Latin |
"pure",
Spanish variation of Agnes |
Agnes |
|
Jacob |
(same) |
Hebrew |
"he who
supplants" |
Jake |
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James |
(same) |
English |
form of
Jacob |
Jim, Jimmy |
|
Janet |
(same) |
Hebrew |
feminine of
John |
Jan, Jane,
Nettie |
|
Johanna |
(same) |
Old German |
German form
of feminine of John |
Hanna,
Hannah, Anna |
|
Johann |
John |
Hebrew |
"the Lord is
gracious" |
Hans |
|
Joseph |
(same) |
Hebrew |
"Jehovah
increases" |
Joe |
|
Julianna |
(same) |
Latin |
feminine
form of Julius or Julian |
Julie, Julia |
|
Julius,
Julian |
(same) |
Latin |
"youthful" |
Jule, Jules,
Julio |
|
Karl, Carl |
Charles |
Old German |
"man" |
|
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Lavinia,
Lavina |
(same) |
Latin |
from
Lavinium, an ancient Etruscan city |
|
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Lawrence |
(same) |
Latin |
from the
city of Laurentium, near Rome, known for
its laurel trees |
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Lelah |
(same) |
Arab |
"night" |
|
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Leonhard |
Leonard |
Old German |
"lion brave" |
Leon, Lee,
Leo, Leonard |
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Lothair,
Lothar |
Luther |
Old German |
"famous
army" |
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Louisa |
(same) |
Old German |
"renowned in
battle", feminine of Louis |
Louise |
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Lydia |
(same) |
Greek |
from an area
in Asia called Lydia |
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Mabel |
(same) |
Latin |
"lovable"
(short form of Amabel) |
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Madge |
(same) |
Greek |
"pearl"
(short form of Magarete, and Margaretha) |
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Magdelene.
Magdelena |
(same) |
Aramaic |
from the
town of Magdala on the Sea of Galilee |
Lena,
Maggie, Molly |
|
Margarete,
Margaretha |
Margaret |
Greek |
"pearl" |
Maggie,
Peggy, Molly, Mollie, Polly |
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Maria |
Mary |
Latin |
Maria is the
Latin form of Mary. Mary is a Hebrew
name, though the meaning is disputed -
some say "rebellious", while other say
"bitter" |
Marie, Ria |
|
Marjorie |
(same) |
French |
short form
of Margaret |
Marge,
Margie, Patty |
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Martha |
(same) |
Aramaic |
"lady" |
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Martin |
(same) |
Latin |
"warlike" |
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Matilda,
Matilde, Mathilda |
Matilda |
Old German |
"battle
mighty" |
Mattie,
Tilde, Tilda, Tillie |
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Norbert |
(same) |
Old German |
"renowned
northerner" |
Bert |
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Norma |
(same) |
Latin |
"normal" |
Normie, Norm |
|
Oliver,
Olliver |
Oliver |
Latin |
"olive tree" |
Ollie |
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Oscar |
(same) |
Scandinavian |
"divine
spear" |
|
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Otto |
(same) |
Old German |
"prosperous" |
Ott, Ottie |
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Peter |
(same) |
Greek |
"rock" |
Pete, Petie |
|
Richard |
(same) |
Old German |
"dominant
ruler" |
|
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Robert |
(same) |
Old English |
"bright
fame" |
Bob, Bert |
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Rosa |
(same) |
Latin |
"rose" |
Rose, Rosie |
|
Ruth |
(same) |
Hebrew |
"friend " or
"companion" |
Ruthie |
|
Sarah |
(same) |
Hebrew |
"princess" |
Sara, Sadie,
Sally |
|
Selma |
(same) |
Old German |
"godly
helmet" |
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Sophia |
(same) |
Greek |
"wisdom" |
Sophie |
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Theresa,
Theresia, Therese |
(same) |
Greek |
"harvest" |
Tess, Tessie,
Tessa |
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Theodore |
(same) |
Greek |
"gift of
God" |
Theo |
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Walter |
(same) |
Old German |
"ruler of
the army or people" |
Walt |
|
Wilhelm |
William |
Old German |
"will
helmet" |
Will, Willy,
Bill, Billy, Helm |
|
Wilhelmina,
Wilhelminia, Wilhelmine |
(same) |
Old German |
"will
helmet", feminine form of Wilhelm |
Wilma, Mina,
Minnie |
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![John Fred William Riepe & Anna Wilhelmina [Luetger] Riepe](../../bannerpics/william.jpg)
![Bertha Fredericka [Riepe] Lord](../../bannerpics/bertha.jpg)
![Sophia [Peine] Riepe](../../bannerpics/sophie.jpg)
![Josephine Catherine [Riepe] Ernst](../../bannerpics/josie1.png)
