German Nickname Generator
Spitznamen and Kosenamen from every German-speaking region
Browse 500 German nicknames of both kinds: Spitznamen such as Hansi (Johannes), Basti (Sebastian), Steffi (Stefanie) and Sepp (Josef) with the full name in parentheses, and Kosenamen such as Schatz, Mausi, Bärchen and Krümel with an English gloss.
About this generator
German has two words for a nickname, and this list has both kinds. A Spitzname is what people make of your given name. The usual recipe is to clip the name and add -i, so Sebastian becomes Basti, Stefanie becomes Steffi and Ulrich becomes Uli. Older short forms are so well worn that they turned into names of their own: Hans from Johannes, Klaus from Nikolaus, Heinz from Heinrich, Grete from Margarete. A Kosename is a term of endearment for a partner, a child or a friend, and German likes animals for the job: Maus, Hase, Spatz and Bärchen, next to Schatz, the one you will hear most.
Region changes the ending. Standard German makes things small with -chen (Schätzchen, Mäuschen), Bavaria and Austria use -l and -erl (Hansl, Liesl, Spatzl, Mauserl), Switzerland uses -li and, around Bern, a final -u (Rösli, Bethli, Schätzli, Tinu), Swabia uses -le, and the north keeps Low German forms such as Fiete, Hinnerk, Antje and Deern. Cologne has its own set, with Tünnes for Anton and Köbes for Jakob.
Every short form shows its full name in parentheses, and endearments carry a short English gloss. Nouns are capitalized as German requires, and umlauts and ß are kept.
Tips for choosing a name
- For an entry with parentheses, use the part before them. The full name only shows where a short form comes from, and the English gloss explains an endearment; neither is said aloud.
- Mind the gendered endings. A woman is Süße, Liebste or Kleine, a man is Süßer, Liebster or Kleiner, and mixing them up sounds wrong to a German ear at once.
- Match the region. Sepp, Resi and Spatzl place a character in Bavaria or Austria, Ruedi and Vreni in Switzerland, Fiete and Antje on the northern coast, and Jupp and Tünnes in Cologne.
- Keep Kosenamen for close relationships. Schatz and Mausi belong to partners and family, while colleagues stay with first names, so a pet name used at the office tells the reader something.
- Many short forms are given names in their own right today. A Hannes, Lena or Max may have exactly that on the birth certificate, so do not assume a longer name behind it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a Spitzname and a Kosename?
A Spitzname is a nickname in the wider sense, usually a short or playful form of someone's name such as Basti (Sebastian) or Uschi (Ursula). A Kosename is a term of endearment for a partner, a child or a close friend, such as Schatz, Mausi or Krümel. The list has both, and the endearments make up a little under a third of it.
What do Germans call their partner?
Schatz is the classic, with Schatzi and Schätzchen close behind. Animal names are just as common: Maus, Hase, Bärchen and Spatz. Süße and Süßer, Liebling and Engel are everyday choices too, and regional forms such as Spatzl in Bavaria or Schätzli in Switzerland do the same job.
How are German names shortened?
Most often the name is cut to its first syllable or two and given an -i: Andi (Andreas), Tobi (Tobias), Gabi (Gabriele). Some keep the end instead, as Bine does for Sabine and Achim for Joachim, and -chen makes a name small, as in Gretchen and Hänschen. The old regional forms can look far from the full name, which is why Sepp (Josef) and Schorsch (Georg) show it in parentheses.
Can I use these nicknames with German speakers?
The short forms are ordinary and friendly, though it is polite to let people tell you which one they go by. Endearments depend on closeness: what is warm between partners is odd from a stranger. The list was screened for offensive terms, and it leaves out insults and names that mock how someone looks.
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All 500 names
A: 16 names
- Achim (Joachim)
- Alex (Alexander)
- Alter (dude, literally old one)
- Anderl (Andreas)
- Andi (Andreas)
- Ändu (Andreas)
- Anke (Anna)
- Annamirl (Anna Maria)
- Ännchen (Anna)
- Annele (Anna)
- Anneli (Anna)
- Anni (Anna)
- Antje (Anna)
- Arni (Arnold)
- Atze (buddy, Berlin)
- Augenstern (apple of my eye)
B: 37 names
- Babsi (Barbara)
- Bänz (Benedikt)
- Bär (bear)
- Bärbel (Barbara)
- Bärbele (Barbara)
- Bärchen (little bear)
- Bärli (bear, Austria)
- Bartl (Bartholomäus)
- Basti (Sebastian)
- Bea (Beate)
- Bene (Benedikt)
- Bengel (rascal, for a boy)
- Benni (Benjamin)
- Benno (Bernhard)
- Bernd (Bernhard)
- Berni (Bernhard)
- Berti (Berthold)
- Bertl (Hubert)
- Bessere Hälfte (better half)
- Beste (bestie, to a woman)
- Bester (bestie, to a man)
- Bethli (Elisabeth)
- Betti (Elisabeth)
- Bienchen (little bee)
- Biggi (Birgit)
- Billa (Sibylle)
- Bille (Sibylle)
- Bine (Sabine)
- Bruderherz (brother dear)
- Brudi (bro)
- Brummbär (grumbly bear)
- Bua (boy, Bavaria)
- Bueb (boy, Swiss)
- Burgi (Walburga)
- Burgl (Notburga)
- Büsi (kitty, Swiss)
- Butzerl (tot, Bavaria)
C: 12 names
- Caro (Carolin)
- Chäferli (beetle, Swiss)
- Charly (Karl)
- Chef (boss)
- Chlöisu (Niklaus)
- Chrigu (Christian)
- Chris (Christian)
- Chrissi (Christine)
- Christel (Christine)
- Christl (Christine)
- Cilli (Cäcilie)
- Conny (Cornelia)
D: 16 names
- Daggi (Dagmar)
- Dani (Daniel)
- Dänu (Daniel)
- Deern (girl, northern)
- Didi (Dieter)
- Digga (dude, Hamburg slang)
- Dirk (Dietrich)
- Dirndl (girl, Bavaria and Austria)
- Dora (Dorothea)
- Döres (Theodor)
- Dorli (Dorothea)
- Doro (Dorothea)
- Dörte (Dorothea)
- Dreckspatz (mucky pup, literally dirt sparrow)
- Dreikäsehoch (three cheeses high, a tiny kid)
- Drickes (Heinrich)
E: 13 names
- Ebbe (Eberhard)
- Ecki (Eckhard)
- Ede (Eduard)
- Edi (Eduard)
- Elfi (Elfriede)
- Elke (Adelheid)
- Elli (Elisabeth)
- Else (Elisabeth)
- Emmi (Emilie)
- Engel (angel)
- Engelchen (cherub)
- Evchen (Eva)
- Evi (Eva)
F: 24 names
- Fabi (Fabian)
- Fanny (Franziska)
- Feli (Felicitas)
- Ferdi (Ferdinand)
- Ferdl (Ferdinand)
- Fieke (Sophie)
- Fiete (Friedrich)
- Finchen (Josefine)
- Fine (Josefine)
- Fini (Josefine)
- Flo (Florian)
- Floh (flea, for a small child)
- Flori (Florian)
- Franzi (Franziska)
- Fränzi (Franziska)
- Franzl (Franz)
- Frechdachs (cheeky badger)
- Fred (Alfred)
- Fredi (Alfred)
- Fredl (Alfred)
- Frieda (Friederike)
- Friedel (Friedrich)
- Frieder (Friedrich)
- Fritzi (Friederike)
G: 27 names
- Gabi (Gabriele)
- Geert (Gerhard)
- Geli (Angelika)
- Gerd (Gerhard)
- Gerti (Gertrud)
- Gesche (Gertrud)
- Girgl (Georg)
- Gisi (Gisela)
- Gitte (Brigitte)
- Gitti (Brigitte)
- Glückspilz (lucky one, literally lucky mushroom)
- Godi (Gottfried)
- Goldschatz (golden treasure)
- Goldstück (piece of gold)
- Göttergatte (jocular for one's husband)
- Götz (Gottfried)
- Gretchen (Margarete)
- Grete (Margarete)
- Gretel (Margarete)
- Griet (Margarete)
- Gritli (Margrit)
- Großer (big guy)
- Gundi (Kunigunde)
- Günni (Günther)
- Guste (Auguste)
- Gustel (Gustav)
- Gustl (August)
H: 45 names
- Hajo (Hans-Joachim)
- Hanna (Johanna)
- Hanne (Johanna)
- Hannele (Johanna)
- Hannerl (Johanna)
- Hannes (Johannes)
- Hanni (Johanna)
- Hans (Johannes)
- Hänschen (Hans)
- Hansi (Johannes)
- Hansl (Johann)
- Hansueli (Hans Ulrich)
- Harm (Hermann)
- Harry (Harald)
- Häschen (bunny rabbit)
- Hase (bunny)
- Haserl (bunny, Austria)
- Hasi (bunny)
- Hedi (Hedwig)
- Heidi (Adelheid)
- Heike (Heinrike)
- Heiko (Heinrich)
H, continued
- Hein (Heinrich)
- Heiner (Heinrich)
- Heini (Heinrich)
- Heinz (Heinrich)
- Heiri (Heinrich)
- Hennes (Johannes)
- Henni (Henriette)
- Henning (Johannes)
- Herbie (Herbert)
- Herzallerliebste (dearest of all, to a woman)
- Herzallerliebster (dearest of all, to a man)
- Herzblatt (sweetheart)
- Herzchen (little heart)
- Herzensmensch (person of my heart)
- Herzerl (heart, Austria)
- Hias (Matthias)
- Hilde (Hildegard)
- Hinnerk (Heinrich)
- Holgi (Holger)
- Hotte (Horst)
- Housi (Hans)
- Hubi (Hubert)
- Hummelchen (little bumblebee)
I: 5 names
- Ilse (Elisabeth)
- Imke (Irmgard)
- Inge (Ingeborg)
- Irmi (Irmgard)
- Isa (Isabella)
J: 11 names
- Jackl (Jakob)
- Jan (Johannes)
- Jasper (Kaspar)
- Jenny (Jennifer)
- Jens (Johannes)
- Jette (Henriette)
- Jochen (Joachim)
- Jockel (Jakob)
- Josi (Josefine)
- Jule (Julia)
- Jupp (Josef)
K: 36 names
- Kalle (Karl)
- Käpsele (clever one, Swabian)
- Kari (Karl)
- Karle (Karl)
- Kasperl (Kaspar)
- Käthe (Katharina)
- Kathi (Katharina)
- Käthi (Katharina)
- Kati (Katharina)
- Kätzchen (kitten)
- Keks (cookie)
- Kerlchen (little fellow)
- Keule (buddy, Berlin)
- Klaas (Nikolaus)
- Klärchen (Klara)
- Klaus (Nikolaus)
- Kleene (little one, Berlin, to a woman)
- Kleener (little one, Berlin, to a man)
- Kleine (little one, to a woman)
- Kleiner (little one, to a man)
- Knirps (nipper)
- Knuddelbär (cuddle bear)
- Köbes (Jakob)
- Köbi (Jakob)
- Konni (Konrad)
- Konsti (Konstantin)
- Korbi (Korbinian)
- Krischan (Christian)
- Krümel (crumb)
- Krümelchen (little crumb)
- Kuddel (Kurt)
- Küken (chick, the youngest)
- Kumpel (buddy)
- Kurt (Konrad)
- Kuschelbär (snuggle bear)
- Küsu (Markus)
L: 30 names
- Lausbub (scamp, southern)
- Lena (Magdalena)
- Lenchen (Helene)
- Lene (Helene)
- Leni (Helene)
- Lenz (Lorenz)
- Leo (Leonhard)
- Leseratte (bookworm, literally reading rat)
- Liebchen (sweetheart, old-fashioned)
- Liebes (dear)
- Liebling (darling)
- Lieblingsmensch (favorite person)
- Liebste (dearest, to a woman)
- Liebster (dearest, to a man)
- Lieschen (Elisabeth)
- Liesl (Elisabeth)
- Lilo (Lieselotte)
- Lina (Karoline)
- Linde (Sieglinde)
- Lisa (Elisabeth)
- Lisi (Elisabeth)
- Loisl (Alois)
- Loni (Apollonia)
- Lore (Eleonore)
- Lotte (Charlotte)
- Lotti (Charlotte)
- Luki (Lukas)
- Lulu (Luise)
- Lütte (little one, northern, to a girl)
- Lutz (Ludwig)
M: 54 names
- Mäderl (young girl, Austria)
- Madl (girl, Bavaria)
- Mädle (girl, Swabian)
- Mami (mommy)
- Manni (Manfred)
- Manu (Manuela)
- Mariechen (Maria)
- Mariele (Maria)
- Martl (Martin)
- Matthes (Matthias)
- Matze (Matthias)
- Maus (mouse)
- Mäuschen (little mouse)
- Mausebär (mouse bear)
- Mauserl (mouse, Austria)
- Mausi (mousie)
- Mäusle (mouse, Swabian)
- Max (Maximilian)
- Maxe (Max)
- Maxi (Maximilian)
- Maxl (Maximilian)
- Mein Ein und Alles (my everything)
- Mein Engel (my angel)
- Mein Herz (my heart)
- Mein Lieber (my dear, to a man)
- Mein Schatz (my treasure)
- Meine Liebe (my dear, to a woman)
M, continued
- Meitli (girl, Swiss)
- Meta (Margarete)
- Mia (Maria)
- Micha (Michael)
- Michel (Michael)
- Michi (Michael)
- Michl (Michael)
- Mieke (Maria)
- Mien Deern (my girl, Low German)
- Mien Jung (my boy, Low German)
- Mieze (Marie)
- Miezekatze (kitty cat)
- Migg (Emil)
- Mimi (Maria)
- Minchen (Wilhelmine)
- Minna (Wilhelmine)
- Mirl (Maria)
- Mitzi (Maria)
- Mo (Moritz)
- Moidl (Maria)
- Mone (Simone)
- Moni (Monika)
- Motte (moth, for a young girl)
- Muck (Nepomuk)
- Mundl (Edmund)
- Müsli (mouse, Swiss)
- Mutti (mom)
N: 11 names
- Nane (Christiane)
- Nannerl (Anna)
- Naschkatze (sweet tooth, literally nibbling cat)
- Nele (Cornelia)
- Nessi (Vanessa)
- Nesthäkchen (the baby of the family)
- Nicki (Nicole)
- Niko (Nikolaus)
- Nobbi (Norbert)
- Noldi (Arnold)
- Nöll (Arnold)
O: 4 names
- Olli (Oliver)
- Omi (granny)
- Opi (grandpa)
- Orje (Georg)
P: 18 names
- Paddy (Patrick)
- Papi (daddy)
- Paulchen (Paul)
- Paule (Paul)
- Pepi (Josef)
- Perle (pearl)
- Pesche (Peter)
- Peterle (Peter)
- Pfiffikus (smart cookie)
- Phil (Philipp)
- Piet (Peter)
- Pit (Peter)
- Pitter (Peter)
- Plappermaul (chatterbox)
- Poldi (Leopold)
- Prinz (prince)
- Prinzessin (princess)
- Püppchen (little doll)
R: 20 names
- Racker (rascal)
- Raffi (Raphael)
- Reini (Reinhard)
- Reni (Renate)
- Resi (Theresia)
- Richi (Richard)
- Rieke (Friederike)
- Robbi (Robert)
- Röbi (Robert)
- Rolf (Rudolf)
- Rolli (Roland)
- Romy (Rosemarie)
- Ronny (Ronald)
- Röschen (Rosa)
- Rosi (Rosemarie)
- Rosl (Rosa)
- Rösli (Rosa)
- Rüdi (Rüdiger)
- Rudi (Rudolf)
- Ruedi (Rudolf)
S: 58 names
- Sämi (Samuel)
- Sanne (Susanne)
- Sascha (Alexander)
- Schäng (Johann)
- Schani (Johann)
- Schatz (treasure)
- Schätzchen (little treasure)
- Schätzeken (treasure, Ruhr)
- Schätzelein (treasure, Rhineland)
- Schatzi (honey)
- Schatzilein (dear little treasure)
- Schatzl (treasure, Bavaria and Austria)
- Schätzle (treasure, Swabian)
- Schätzli (treasure, Swiss)
- Scherzkeks (joker, literally joke cookie)
- Schlafmütze (sleepyhead)
- Schlingel (scamp)
- Schmetterling (butterfly)
- Schnäggli (snail, Swiss)
- Schneckchen (little snail)
- Schnecke (snail)
- Schnuckelchen (little cutie)
- Schnucki (cutie)
- Schnuckiputzi (cutie pie)
- Schnuffel (snuffles)
- Schnüggel (cutie, Swiss)
- Schorsch (Georg)
- Schwesterherz (sister dear)
- Sefa (Josefa)
S, continued
- Sepp (Josef)
- Seppi (Josef)
- Seppl (Josef)
- Siggi (Siegfried)
- Silke (Cäcilie)
- Simmerl (Simon)
- Simu (Simon)
- Sonnenschein (sunshine)
- Sopherl (Sophie)
- Spaßvogel (joker, literally fun bird)
- Spatz (sparrow)
- Spätzchen (little sparrow)
- Spatzi (sparrow, pet form)
- Spatzl (sparrow, Bavaria)
- Spätzle (sparrow, Swabian)
- Spätzli (sparrow, Swiss)
- Spezi (pal, Bavaria and Austria)
- Steff (Stefan)
- Steffi (Stefanie)
- Steppke (small kid, Berlin)
- Stern (star)
- Sternchen (little star)
- Stine (Christine)
- Stoffl (Christoph)
- Stöffu (Christoph)
- Suse (Susanne)
- Susi (Susanne)
- Süße (sweetie, to a woman)
- Süßer (sweetie, to a man)
T: 25 names
- Täubchen (little dove)
- Thea (Dorothea)
- Theo (Theodor)
- Thies (Matthias)
- Tiger (tiger)
- Till (Dietrich)
- Tilli (Mathilde)
- Tina (Christina)
- Tinu (Martin)
- Tobi (Tobias)
- Tom (Thomas)
- Tömu (Thomas)
- Tonerl (Anton)
- Toni (Anton)
- Traudel (Edeltraud)
- Traudl (Waltraud)
- Träumerchen (daydreamer)
- Traumfrau (dream woman)
- Traummann (dream man)
- Trine (Katharina)
- Tring (Katharina)
- Trixi (Beatrix)
- Trude (Gertrud)
- Trudi (Gertrud)
- Tünnes (Anton)
U: 7 names
- Ueli (Ulrich)
- Uli (Ulrich)
- Ulla (Ursula)
- Ulli (Ulrike)
- Ursel (Ursula)
- Ursi (Ursula)
- Uschi (Ursula)
V: 6 names
- Vati (dad)
- Vevi (Genoveva)
- Vicky (Viktoria)
- Vinz (Vinzenz)
- Vreni (Verena)
- Vroni (Veronika)
W: 19 names
- Waldi (Waldemar)
- Walli (Waltraud)
- Wally (Walburga)
- Walti (Walter)
- Wasserratte (keen swimmer, literally water rat)
- Wastl (Sebastian)
- Wellem (Wilhelm)
- Wenzel (Wenzeslaus)
- Werni (Werner)
- Wiggerl (Ludwig)
- Willi (Wilhelm)
- Wim (Wilhelm)
- Winni (Winfried)
- Wirbelwind (whirlwind)
- Wolferl (Wolfgang)
- Wolfi (Wolfgang)
- Wolle (Wolfgang)
- Wonneproppen (bundle of joy)
- Wuschelkopf (tousle-head)
X: 1 name
- Xaverl (Xaver)