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HelpRe: German Names
in reply to a message by LuzDeTuVida
I live in Germany and Adelheid and Anneliese are both really dated here so I wouldn't use them. Adelheid is less dated than Anneliese because it hasn't been used for some time but it isn't fashionable either. You could compare it to Mildred. Anneliese was popular from the 20s or 30s till the 60s so it is really dated, you could compare it to Carol or Barbara. Anne, Anna and Lisa are very common in Germany, though.
Anneliese is pronounced AHN-neh-lee-zeh. Anneliese is the most common spelling. I've never seen Annelise/Anelise or Aneliese. I've never met anyone named Annalise/Annaliese/Analise/Analiese and it would be pronounced differently. It would be AHN-nah-lee-ze as opposed to AHN-neh-lee-ze. It's quite a difference an "eh"/"ay" sound in Anneliese and an "ah" sound in Annaliese. I guess most people in Germany would use Anneliese or Annalisa (without the extra e in "lisa").
Heidi is also not fashionable in Germany at all. There was one at my high school (the only one I ever met) and she was made fun of (people would sing the Heidi song). When I first heard her name I thought she was kidding, it seemed so weird on a real person. It was her full name. Oh and there's a popular TV series (animated) based on the Heidi books that the episodes all the time so the name Heidi is really attached to the character. Then there's Heidi Klum but the name is really not used often in Germany it is very rare. It is pronounced HY-dee. Leni, the name of Heidi Klum's daughter, is quite trendy here now.
I prefer Adelheid over Heidi. I think Heidi is a bit too cute on its own so it would be good for her to have a longer more mature full name.
I like Anneliese with the English pronunciation but I dislike the German one. Maybe because the English pronunciation is quite refreshing and AHN-neh-lee-zeh seems so dated.
Annegret is my cousin's name! Pronounced AHN-neh-grayt. Her mom is Annelie (AHN-neh-lee). She is the only one I've ever met. It sounds a bit dated because it's close to Anneliese but I like it.
Annika is a typical 80s name. I know many girls named Annika and Anika (this spelling is also quite common). It is not dated yet but not really fashionable either. You could compare it to Amanda. All Anikas/Annikas I've met pronounced their name AHN-nee-ka. Annika is a bit more common than Anika. I've also seen Anica but it was pronounced ah-NEE-tsha.
Elias is nice. It is getting really popular here. Pronounced EH-lee-us.
Jonas was very very popular here in the 80s and it is still being used quite a bit. Pronounced YO-nus.
Engel...I will be honest. If you lived in Germany (naming laws) you'd never be allowed to use it. He would be teased! It's not like naming a boy Angel in the USA. In Germany we don't give our children word names. We also don't use last names as first names etc So this name on a boy would be very very weird as it is also a nickname some boys use for their girlfriends. Even though it is "der Engel" (male) it seems more feminine.
Falk is used here quite a bit but it's not very common. A "Falke" is a bird, by the way. It is a bit of a stereotypical name, though. Many "hippies" used it which is not a bad thing, just thought you might want to know.
If you have any questions feel free to ask them. I speak German so I think I can help you :)
Anneliese is pronounced AHN-neh-lee-zeh. Anneliese is the most common spelling. I've never seen Annelise/Anelise or Aneliese. I've never met anyone named Annalise/Annaliese/Analise/Analiese and it would be pronounced differently. It would be AHN-nah-lee-ze as opposed to AHN-neh-lee-ze. It's quite a difference an "eh"/"ay" sound in Anneliese and an "ah" sound in Annaliese. I guess most people in Germany would use Anneliese or Annalisa (without the extra e in "lisa").
Heidi is also not fashionable in Germany at all. There was one at my high school (the only one I ever met) and she was made fun of (people would sing the Heidi song). When I first heard her name I thought she was kidding, it seemed so weird on a real person. It was her full name. Oh and there's a popular TV series (animated) based on the Heidi books that the episodes all the time so the name Heidi is really attached to the character. Then there's Heidi Klum but the name is really not used often in Germany it is very rare. It is pronounced HY-dee. Leni, the name of Heidi Klum's daughter, is quite trendy here now.
I prefer Adelheid over Heidi. I think Heidi is a bit too cute on its own so it would be good for her to have a longer more mature full name.
I like Anneliese with the English pronunciation but I dislike the German one. Maybe because the English pronunciation is quite refreshing and AHN-neh-lee-zeh seems so dated.
Annegret is my cousin's name! Pronounced AHN-neh-grayt. Her mom is Annelie (AHN-neh-lee). She is the only one I've ever met. It sounds a bit dated because it's close to Anneliese but I like it.
Annika is a typical 80s name. I know many girls named Annika and Anika (this spelling is also quite common). It is not dated yet but not really fashionable either. You could compare it to Amanda. All Anikas/Annikas I've met pronounced their name AHN-nee-ka. Annika is a bit more common than Anika. I've also seen Anica but it was pronounced ah-NEE-tsha.
Elias is nice. It is getting really popular here. Pronounced EH-lee-us.
Jonas was very very popular here in the 80s and it is still being used quite a bit. Pronounced YO-nus.
Engel...I will be honest. If you lived in Germany (naming laws) you'd never be allowed to use it. He would be teased! It's not like naming a boy Angel in the USA. In Germany we don't give our children word names. We also don't use last names as first names etc So this name on a boy would be very very weird as it is also a nickname some boys use for their girlfriends. Even though it is "der Engel" (male) it seems more feminine.
Falk is used here quite a bit but it's not very common. A "Falke" is a bird, by the way. It is a bit of a stereotypical name, though. Many "hippies" used it which is not a bad thing, just thought you might want to know.
If you have any questions feel free to ask them. I speak German so I think I can help you :)
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