What are the most popular children's names in Germany?

The most popular first names for babies born in Germany in 2025 were Sophia for girls and Noah for boys. This annual ranking is compiled by Knud Bielefeld, a German name expert who, together with his team, analysed over 260,000 birth reports from registry offices and maternity clinics across 375 cities – representing about 40 percent of all babies born in Germany.

Bielefeld’s methodology involves grouping together names that sound the same, accounting for spelling variations, and drawing on a wide range of sources to ensure accuracy.

The names chosen by German parents reflect personal taste, but they’re also shaped by cultural figures, current events and regional traditions.

Newcomers and perennial favourites

While Noah retained its crown as the most popular boys’ name for another year, the girls’ list saw a change: Sophia overtook Emilia, which had held the top spot since 2022. Emma also climbed to second place, with Emilia slipping to third.

While Bielefeld noted the slow pace of change when it comes to children’s names in Germany, he also pointed to some which have seen a surge in popularity this year.

One notable newcomer to the boys’ top ten is Leo, for example.

“I was very curious about this name because the new pope is called Leo,” Bielefeld told the German Press Agency, though he also noted that Leo has been a fashionable name for years.

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The name Ozzy also saw a marked uptick, possibly linked to the death of musician Ozzy Osbourne in July.

Other trends include the enduring popularity of names beginning with A, L or M. According to Bielefeld, these have been the most popular initial letters for names in Germany for years.

 A number of boys’ names which fit this pattern – such as Adam, Anton, Leano and Maleo – are on a clear upward trend, as are the girls' names Amalia, Ayla, Livia and Luna.

“These names are very melodious and also work in many different languages,” noted Bielefeld.  

Middle names remain remarkably stable in Germany, with Sophie and Marie dominating for girls, and Alexander and Maximilian for boys – unchanged since 2005.

Top five boys’ names in 2025:

Noah, Matteo, Elias, Theo, Leo

Top five girls’ names in 2025:

Sophia, Emma, Emilia, Hannah, Lina

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Just how popular are Sophia and Noah?

Despite their top rankings, the most popular names are not as widespread as one might think. In 2025, only 0.78 percent of boys were named Noah, and just 0.67 percent of girls were named Sophia.

Altogether, the ten most common first names together accounted for just 6.2 percent of all babies born in Germany in 2025, suggesting that while parents tend to remain loyal to perennial favourites, they’re still keen to help their children stand out from the crowd.

Regional differences: A patchwork of preferences

Germany’s federal structure and rich cultural diversity are also reflected in its naming trends.

There are notable deviations in Bavaria, for example, where the list of top boys’ names looks very different from the nationwide list. There, Felix took first place followed by Lukas, Elias, Louis and Maximilian.

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In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, on the other hand, it’s the list of girls’ names which sets the state apart: Frieda, Mathilda, Emma, Ida and Merle.

Germany’s northern states often feature Frisian or Scandinavian names such as Mats, Fiete and Finn.