100+ Unique German Shepherd Dog Names With Meanings

Author:
James Livingood
Updated date:
Apr 12, 2022

James Livingood has been a dog sitter for several years. He has written numerous articles and a book about the topic because he loves dogs.

German Shepherd Dog Being Called by Name
Pixabay

It can be extremely difficult to find a great name for a German Shepherd. Look through this list of over 100+ names (with meanings) and determine the right fit for your new family member. You may want to pick several names and see which one grows on you. Each canine is different, so it may take some time to pick the right name for your dog. We've included tips, tricks, and a video along with all these names.

A–D German Shepherd Dog Names


Name	Meaning
Ada	Nobility.
Addie	Nobility.
Adler	Eagle.
Albern	White
Albert	Noble and bright.
Albrecht	Noble and bright.
Aldo	Intelligent and old.
Alger	Shrewd fighter.
Alphonse	Always ready for a fight: noble.
Alvin	An honorable friend or a companion of the elves.
Amelia	Work.
Annette	Lord's favors upon me.
Arlo	Unidentified.
Armageddon	End of the world.
Arnold	As tough as an eagle/noble.
August	Outstanding and great.
Ava	Life.
Axel	Father of Harmony.
Bach	Resident near the stream.
Baldwin	Courageous friend.
Bavaria	Bavaria is a popular region in Germany as well as an awesome name to associate with your pet dog.
Beatrix	The one to bring joy.
Berlin	The most popular city and the capital of Germany enriched with amazing history and landmarks.
Bernard	Brave and strong like a bear.
Bierkrug	This particular dog name is German for stein or beer mug.
Bock	This bitter-sweet, heavy-bodied lager is darkened due to the high-colored malts present in it.
Bones	TV show and favorite dog treat.
Boris	Famous actor.
Brezel	A soft pretzel made out of yeast and flour water. It is then sprinkled with salt and can be paired perfectly with German beer!
Britta	Power.
Brunhilde	Prepared for battle.
Bruno	Brown.
Claudia	Enclosure.
Cologne	This is a populous city, popular for its fabulous cathedral.
Dieter	Ruler of people.
Dresden	Dresden had undergone huge losses after World War II but after that, care was taken for it to be restored to its normal form.
Duke	Royal title and famous actor.
Dunkel	This is a darkened German lager.
Dusseldorf	An international business hub, Dusseldorf can also be used as a cool name for your pup.

E–L German Shepherd Dog Names


Name	Meaning
Ella	Completely.
Elsa	Sworn to God.
Emma	Entire.
Ernest	Solemn and determined.
Felix	Joyful and lucky.
Fido	General description of dog.
Frankfurt	This is another large city in Germany that makes a cute name for your dog.
Frederik	Peaceful power.
Frederika	Peaceful leader.
Frieda	Beautiful
Fritzi	Peaceful leader.
Goliath	Fabled giant.
Goulash	Stew or soup made up of vegetables, meat and seasonings.
Greta	Pearl.
Gunther	Brave fighter.
Hamburg	Germany's second-biggest city, home to about 2 million residents.
Hefe	Hefe is the name given to the yeast which is popularly used in the fermentation process of beers.
Heidi	Of honorable birth.
HeidiKlum	People have often named their dear dogs after this TV host and supermodel from West Germany.
Heinrich	A king's home.
Hercules	God in Roman and Greek mythology, known for his strength and heroism
Herr	This is the German term for mister.
Hessia	A cute female name for a dog named after another German state, Hessia.
Ida	The hard-working one.
Kaiser	King.
Knodel	German dish created out of bread, flour or potatoes, all of which are then boiled. Also includes dumplings
Kolsch	Another popular dog name that got its name from a pale, extremely fermented beer that is light-bodied and can only be brewed in Cologne according to law.
Krombacher	Second to Oettinger in sales, Krombacher is among the largest breweries in Germany.
Leona	Lioness.
Liesel	Sworn to God.
Lola	Lady of worries.

German Shepherd Puppy Playing with Toys
Pixabay

M–Z German Shepherd Dog Names


Name	Meaning
Maibock	This is a strong, pale lager which is brewed during the spring. Wouldn't this be an adorable name for a dog?
Marta	Woman.
Marzen	Is another type of a beer which is presented at the Oktoberfest in Munich. It is a malty, medium body lager which people greatly enjoy.
Max	The supreme.
Millie	Gentle power.
Mischa	God-like.
Munich	Germany's third biggest city.
Oettinger	This is the dog's name which has been taken from the top-selling German brand for beers.
Oktoberfest	One just can't mention German beers without talking about Oktoberfest! This is basically a traditional festival which happens in Munich, Germany in the month of October every year and features merrymaking and beer-drinking. What a joyful name for your dog!
Pilsner	This is a pale lager, the name of which originated from Pilsen which is a city in Bohemia.
Raymond	Intelligent defender.
Rhine	Named after the Rhine River which passes through Germany, Rhine can work as just te right dog name.
Rolf	Celebrated wolf.
Salzburg	Located to the west of Vienna, Salzburg is another one of the populous cities of Austria which is particularly popular for its scenic views and history.
Sauerkraut	Including finely cut cabbage which has been salted and even allowed to ferment until it becomes the perfect sour, Sauerkraut is a great dish and a great name for your dog as well!
Schnitzel	A popular dish which is made with a thin slice of light meat like veal which has been covered in breadcrumbs and then fried, Schnitzel is quite a popular dog name.
Schwartz	Dark skin tone/black hair.
Siegfried	Triumphant peace.
Sigmund	Triumphant protection.
Sofie	Intelligence.
Spatzle	This is a cute dog name which is actually inspired from a type of a dish famous in southern Germany. It comprises of small dumplings simmered in boiling water.
Stein	Rock.
Stuttgart	Popular for automobile businesses like Porsche and Mercedes Benz, Stuttgart has their headquarters here.
Trudy	Lance of strength.
Ulf	Wolf.
Vienna	A unique name for dogs influenced by the largest and the capital city in Austria.
Walter	Ruler of an army.
Wanda	Traveller/shepherdess.
Wurst	This particular dog name is named after a dish called Wurst which is German for sausage. This dish is offered in 1,500 types.
Zelda	Grey rebellious maid.
Zues	Mythology god.

5 Tips for Naming Your Dog

When it comes to naming your German Shepherd dog, there are a lot of things to take into consideration. Beyond wanting a name that fits, you want a name that will last through the life of your dog. In fact, it might be best to find several names or ask friends/family what they think. In addition, here are five tips and tricks to help you think about the best way to name your canine.

Tip 1: Look for a name that is ageless.

One of the biggest problems with choosing a name is if the dog becomes used to the name. If you want to start a trick, or need to recall your dog to you, that will all start with their name. If you choose a name that doesn’t age well, then you will be frustrated years down the road. Examples of names that are not ageless are ones that are political or are happening in the headlines right now.

Tip 2: Be wary of puns.

This tip is not saying that you should avoid puns. Some dog pun names are well thought out and can really spark a deeper connection. However, some puns are funny once and fade very quickly. Much like the timeless tip above, this is not a good fit. It may make sense to pair a pun with a regular name. That way, if the pun fades, you can simply use the regular name.

Tip 3: Remember that favorites can fade.

Another thing to watch for is naming your dog after a favorite band or TV show. This can be great if you’ve been a fan for a long time. However, if you just recently became a fan, your passion for the name could fade quickly. Perhaps the band breaks up or the TV show is canceled and then starts to fade in popularity. When your dog reaches the middle or late years in their life, that name may no longer make sense. The opposite side of this is that if you’ve had a favorite for many years, naming your dog after the show can make you happy whenever you call them.

Tip 4: Recognize that human names can be tricky.

One of the common problems among naming a dog is when you choose a human name. This can be a problem if you meet a new friend or have a current contact that shares that name. That person may be insulted, or your dog may be confused when you call them the same name. However, choosing a dog name in a foreign language may work well, especially if you don’t have a lot of contact with people of that country.

Tip 5: Don't be afraid of choosing a long name—longer can be better!

Sometimes it may work well to use several names combined. Yes, it may be a little bit harder to call your dog, but there are several distinct benefits. The first is that fewer people will name their dog a longer name. The second benefit is that you can always shorten the longer name into a “nickname.” The third benefit is that you can switch up the nickname over time to reflect your growing relationship with your dog.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.