# Lists (or suggestions) of Traditional or classical female German (or Bavarian region) names? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 22, 2019, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-suggestions-of-traditional-or-classical-female-german-or-bavarian-region-names/842116 "2019-10-22T01:57:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dr.Colossus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.colossus/32/9423_2.png) [@Dr.Colossus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Colossus)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-suggestions-of-traditional-or-classical-female-german-or-bavarian-region-names/842116/21 "2019-10-24T19:30:00Z")
I’m stumping on Frankie (short for Frankenstein) but I’m not gaining much traction. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Colossus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.colossus/32/9423_2.png) [@Dr.Colossus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Colossus)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-suggestions-of-traditional-or-classical-female-german-or-bavarian-region-names/842116/22 "2019-10-24T19:32:25Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Check out [this](https://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/german_names.php), and [this](https://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/german-renaissance-names.php). Feel free to mix and match. This is great. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-suggestions-of-traditional-or-classical-female-german-or-bavarian-region-names/842116/23 "2019-10-24T19:55:34Z")
[Moderating] This looks more like IMHO than CS. Moving. ---
**Author:** ![Sandwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@Sandwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandwood)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-suggestions-of-traditional-or-classical-female-german-or-bavarian-region-names/842116/24 "2019-10-25T05:28:22Z")
Oh. It’s for a four-legged being. Now the only thing that springs to mind is “Zamperl”. It’s the Bavarian word for a small (and usually energetic) dog. [https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zamperl](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zamperl) (German only) ---
**Author:** ![Sandwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@Sandwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandwood)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-suggestions-of-traditional-or-classical-female-german-or-bavarian-region-names/842116/25 "2019-10-25T05:49:55Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > There is a [Saint Brigit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigid_of_Kildare), patron saint of Ireland and a [Saint Bridget of Sweden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridget_of_Sweden), patron saint of Europe; both are called Brigida in Latin. I expect Birgit could have passed as the German version (if it doesn’t even actually happen to be), if any of the people in attendance had thought about them. There are theories linking Birgit to the nordic name Birger, so who knows. It honestly depends on the priest as well. Birgit’s younger sister Astrid (now that’s definitely not a Catholic name since As- means something related to the Æsir) was baptised by a different Catholic priest, a fairly liberal guy who also happened to be her grandmother’s cousin. He solved the whole problem by invoking “Saint Astrid, if she exists”. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-suggestions-of-traditional-or-classical-female-german-or-bavarian-region-names/842116/26 "2019-10-25T08:22:25Z")
> [@Dr.Colossus](#): > > This is great. Thanks. The Fantasy Name Generator is an incredibly useful site if you’re even slightly creative. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-suggestions-of-traditional-or-classical-female-german-or-bavarian-region-names/842116/27 "2019-10-25T08:40:03Z")
How about Hannelore? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/uIYkvm5V7Wk/hqdefault.jpg "Claire Waldoff - Hannelore") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIYkvm5V7Wk) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-suggestions-of-traditional-or-classical-female-german-or-bavarian-region-names/842116/28 "2019-10-25T14:03:57Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > How about Hannelore? > > [https://youtu.be/uIYkvm5V7Wk](https://youtu.be/uIYkvm5V7Wk) [Hannelores Tag ist grau, denn Helmut Kohl schlägt seine Frau](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Qpn5Q0rgRo) (Hannelore’s day is grey, cause Helmut Kohl beats his wife) ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-suggestions-of-traditional-or-classical-female-german-or-bavarian-region-names/842116/29 "2019-10-25T23:42:38Z")
> [@Sandwood](#): > > There are theories linking Birgit to the nordic name Birger, so who knows. > > It honestly depends on the priest as well. Birgit’s younger sister Astrid (now that’s definitely not a Catholic name since As- means something related to the Æsir) was baptised by a different Catholic priest, a fairly liberal guy who also happened to be her grandmother’s cousin. He solved the whole problem by invoking “Saint Astrid, if she exists”. Mother of Saint Olaf, king of Norway 😃 In general the whole “must be a saint’s name” thing was an enormous bout of stupidity anyway; after all, someone’s got to be the first saint of their name, and it’s not as if Jesse, Simon, Jacob, the other Jacob, Andrew, John, Luke et al had been raised Catholic. ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-suggestions-of-traditional-or-classical-female-german-or-bavarian-region-names/842116/30 "2019-10-26T19:45:48Z")
Liebkuchen Ok, not really a name. A type of cookie. But fun to say. Sounds like it might fit your pup. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-suggestions-of-traditional-or-classical-female-german-or-bavarian-region-names/842116/31 "2019-10-26T21:06:35Z")
“Marzipan” ia a GREAT name for a little dog, and “Marzipants” is a great nickname. My son’s nickname/common name is Mars, and I call him “Marzipants” all the time. The dog, Phobos, is of course called “FauxButt”. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-suggestions-of-traditional-or-classical-female-german-or-bavarian-region-names/842116/32 "2019-10-26T21:21:15Z")
> [@Toxgoddess](#): > > Liebkuchen > > Ok, not really a name. A type of cookie. But fun to say. Sounds like it might fit your pup. Sorry, it’s Lebkuchen, which doesn’t sound quite as nice as Liebkuchen ;). But it’s very tasty! ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-suggestions-of-traditional-or-classical-female-german-or-bavarian-region-names/842116/33 "2019-10-26T21:54:59Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Ok, though it’s not a human female name, but a typical dog name (unisex, especially for small dogs), I propose “Lumpi”. Picasso’s dachshund was called Lump. I knew someone who had a Bichon called Phobos, Manda JO. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-suggestions-of-traditional-or-classical-female-german-or-bavarian-region-names/842116/34 "2019-10-26T22:02:47Z")
> [@Toxgoddess](#): > > Liebkuchen > > Ok, not really a name. A type of cookie. But fun to say. Sounds like it might fit your pup. Better than Anschluss, which sounds like a dog that would appropriate all your soft, comfy furniture. Barbarossa would be a swell name for a female Chihuahua. ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-suggestions-of-traditional-or-classical-female-german-or-bavarian-region-names/842116/35 "2019-10-26T22:54:21Z")
Anschluss has certain connotations. For the same reason, don’t go with Blondi (Hitler’s dog) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-suggestions-of-traditional-or-classical-female-german-or-bavarian-region-names/842116/36 "2019-10-26T23:21:44Z")
More a term of endearment than a proper name: Liebchen. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-suggestions-of-traditional-or-classical-female-german-or-bavarian-region-names/842116/37 "2019-10-27T02:28:12Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Picasso’s dachshund was called Lump. > > I knew someone who had a Bichon called Phobos, Manda JO. Is it me? Our Phobos is a Bichon-Poodle mix ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-suggestions-of-traditional-or-classical-female-german-or-bavarian-region-names/842116/38 "2019-10-27T02:53:21Z")
Sigrid ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Colossus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.colossus/32/9423_2.png) [@Dr.Colossus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Colossus)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2019, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-suggestions-of-traditional-or-classical-female-german-or-bavarian-region-names/842116/39 "2019-11-03T03:11:20Z")
Well, I feel some obligation to explain where we landed, since I asked for your advice. [This is Greta](https://uce24a356d8487ccb1be9a50ec13.previews.dropboxusercontent.com/p/thumb/AAnk8CmDuKaR8hSVOG2o2wiZoZYXk11zu6EiV3Aru3TQocgrwuQhOzNtVKR0LRVgviP35J1wLnOR8jLuA0ZwyeTQEoFyVMtswjAUj0UJ-GcS1UYjysjBEYl86cS2lFpISKAhCHmo4-9xeE2Ym1_PY5aypMM2navDLxWu1AGvqktXfS1xfop7HXsbr4KdPli8eXc8btil2-TteGpBRoV-hVlPv89i5FMG9gtnFxmF3nDMpJe8miI4vT5gaiiKRfxtmaJ9rrNzR-zE8Nd9ahKMfF1I6ayiia_DH25LIMd9j5Uhhg5V-H8fe9Bw4KGo0J5oDl0WatWtX6QEz5Ids2qR5AgNfIi0yFhGY_paO2ytkKRR3DEeFNCO1PhlZQAzfNbnI3cmmA1yPoOm0LiAQimVY3FdibLYIAvmDnb_3da943lqBg/p.jpeg?fv_content=true&size_mode=5). Because we “reGreta getting her.” Just kidding. I floated Greta but I knew a schnauzer named Greta from a different relationship. I liked Bridget but it fell flat. I came up with Marzipan, but we couldn’t come up with a cute way to shorten it. (Marz? Marzy? Panny? ugh). Then I came up with Penelope. It was an instant hit and the GF loved it. Until, she took the stupid little fang-tornado to her folks house and they said it wasn’t German enough. Like it \*HAS \*to be German. But also, there’s no cute way to shorten “Penelope,” and I believe a dog’s name needs to be as few syllables as possible (_my_ dog is named Doug, because it’s literally the best dog name. You just add a “u.”) Liebchen took a big lead after that, because for whatever reason the Mrs. loved the idea of calling her Libby. It didn’t feel right, and after a lot of frustration I admitted "when I call to her I keep defaulting to “Greta.” It’s short and sweet, it fits, and I just feel like she IS a Greta. Plus, her conservative parents won’t like that she’s named after Greta Thunberg. And so, we just decided it was so. So meet Greta. She’s far, far smaller than you think she is: She’s roughly the size of a grown squirrel. She’s about 3 months old. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-suggestions-of-traditional-or-classical-female-german-or-bavarian-region-names/842116.md?page=1)