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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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Thank you for warning me about Heidi and Engel in case we ever move there. Heidi is occasionally used as a full name by here Americans and is pronounced the same way. Angel is actually rarely given as an English name too and does seem a bit feminine. The name you see on the charts is usually given by hispanic parents, in which I think it's charming. I was tempted by it because it has a musical connection for us and I thought it was a legitimate German name.
I do see how Analise is a wierd spelling to German people. It may actually be Analiese, but I think this was changed for three main reasons: So that her nickname Ana would be more apparent to Americans, so that she and Americans would have an easier time spelling it, and possibly because her last name was just so long. (I know from experience that it can be tiring having to write out a long full name.) The first reason was probably biggest. I personally think I would have used Anneliese had I named my daughter that, but I also considered Analise as I was inspired by the Spanish Analisa.
The thing about Falk is interesting. I usually try to stay away from hippie names, but it is unheard of in America, so I'm not too worried about that. To my ears it actually sounds kind of dark and punkish.
Reading over your pronunciations, it looks like I'm in good shape. I'm just starting out learning German, though X is nearly fluent. Thanks for all your help! It was really interesting and greatly appreciated.
I do see how Analise is a wierd spelling to German people. It may actually be Analiese, but I think this was changed for three main reasons: So that her nickname Ana would be more apparent to Americans, so that she and Americans would have an easier time spelling it, and possibly because her last name was just so long. (I know from experience that it can be tiring having to write out a long full name.) The first reason was probably biggest. I personally think I would have used Anneliese had I named my daughter that, but I also considered Analise as I was inspired by the Spanish Analisa.
The thing about Falk is interesting. I usually try to stay away from hippie names, but it is unheard of in America, so I'm not too worried about that. To my ears it actually sounds kind of dark and punkish.
Reading over your pronunciations, it looks like I'm in good shape. I'm just starting out learning German, though X is nearly fluent. Thanks for all your help! It was really interesting and greatly appreciated.
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