German Renaissance Name Generator

Names from Dürer's Nuremberg and Luther's Wittenberg

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Generate authentic German Renaissance names from the 15th and 16th centuries: patrician merchants, painters and goldsmiths, humanist scholars with Latinized surnames, reformers, printers and noblewomen. Ideal for historical fiction, reenactment personas, and period game characters.

About German Renaissance names

German names of the Renaissance (roughly 1450–1600) follow a recognisable pattern: a short pool of Christian given names paired with a hereditary surname that had only recently become fixed. Men were overwhelmingly Hans, Ulrich, Konrad, Heinrich, Jörg, Veit, Sebald or Wolfgang, often written in spoken forms like Hanns, Cuntz, Endres or Lienhard; women were Anna, Barbara, Margarethe, Ursula, Katharina, Magdalena, Apollonia or Kunigunde, and in documents frequently carried the feminine ending -in (Dürerin, Tucherin). Surnames came from trades (Schmid, Weber, Koberger), places (von Kulmbach, Stromer) or old patrician houses such as Tucher, Imhoff, Fugger and Welser.

Two fashions set the period apart from the Middle Ages. Humanists Latinised or Graecised their names, so Schwarzerdt became Melanchthon, Bauer became Agricola and Hausschein became Oecolampadius; and artists and craftsmen signed with a given name plus a trade or hometown, giving us Hans Holbein, Veit Stoss and Hans Süß von Kulmbach. Nobles kept the territorial 'von' and epithets like der Weise or der Bärtige.

The list below mixes documented figures from Nuremberg, Augsburg, Wittenberg, Basel and the Hanseatic north with invented names built on the same patrician, artisan and humanist conventions, so you can pick one for a novel, a living-history persona or a game set in the Holy Roman Empire.

How to choose German Renaissance names

  • Match the name to social rank: patrician merchants carried house names like Tucher, Welser or Imhoff; craftsmen used trade names (Schmid, Schreiner) or their hometown; nobles kept 'von' plus a castle or territory.
  • Use period spellings for flavour. Hanns, Cuntz, Jörg, Endres, Linhart and Mattes were how people actually wrote Johannes, Konrad, Georg, Andreas, Leonhard and Matthäus in the 1500s.
  • For a scholar, printer or reformer, consider a Latinised surname ending in -us or a Greek calque (Agricola, Camerarius, Melanchthon) while keeping a plain German given name.
  • Women in records often take the feminine -in suffix (Pirckheimerin, Welserin) or appear as 'Ursula, Hans Tuchers Hausfrau'; use the suffix sparingly to signal the era without confusing readers.
  • Avoid post-1600 German names like Friedrich Wilhelm or Karl Heinz double-barrels; single given names were the norm, and doubles like Veit Konrad were rare and mostly patrician.

Frequently asked questions

What were common German names in the 1500s?

The most frequent male names were Hans (Johannes), Konrad, Ulrich, Heinrich, Jörg (Georg), Peter, Michel, Veit, Wolfgang and Sebald; the most frequent female names were Anna, Barbara, Margarethe, Ursula, Katharina, Elisabeth, Magdalena, Agnes, Apollonia and Kunigunde. Saints' names dominated, and local patron saints (Sebald in Nuremberg, Afra and Ulrich in Augsburg) were especially popular in their cities.

Why do so many German Renaissance scholars have Latin or Greek surnames?

Humanists translated their family names into classical languages as a badge of learning. Philipp Schwarzerdt ('black earth') became Melanchthon, Georg Bauer became Agricola, Johannes Müller of Königsberg became Regiomontanus, and Konrad Bickel became Celtis. The given name usually stayed German or was lightly Latinised (Johannes, Conradus).

Are these names suitable for a Landsknecht, reenactment or LARP persona?

Yes. For a soldier or craftsman, pick a short given name plus a trade or place surname (Jörg Seld, Hans Schmid von Ulm). For a merchant or councillor, use a patrician house name such as Tucher, Holzschuher or Rehlinger. For a noble, use 'von' with a real or invented German place name.

Does the generator include real historical people?

It mixes documented 15th- and 16th-century figures (Albrecht Dürer, Katharina von Bora, Jakob Fugger, Caritas Pirckheimer) with invented names that follow the same conventions. All historical names belong to people who lived more than 400 years ago, so they are free to use as inspiration or as cameo characters in fiction.

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All 500 German Renaissance names

This is the complete list the generator above draws its random batches from, sorted A to Z and grouped by first letter.

Plain text, one name per line.

A: 38 names

  • Absolon Stumme
  • Adam Kraft
  • Adam Petri
  • Adelheid Meuting
  • Adolf Daucher
  • Adolf Knoblauch
  • Afra Höchstetter
  • Agnes Dürerin
  • Agnes Muffel
  • Agrippa von Nettesheim
  • Albrecht Altdorfer
  • Albrecht Dürer
  • Albrecht Glockendon
  • Albrecht Jamnitzer
  • Albrecht von Brandenburg
  • Amalia von Kleve
  • Ambrosius Hirschfeld
  • Ambrosius Höchstetter
  • Andreas Cratander
  • Andreas Karlstadt
  • Andreas Osiander
  • Andreas Stiborius
  • Anna Imhoff
  • Anna Tucherin
  • Anna von Kleve
  • Anna Welserin
  • Anton Fugger
  • Anton Koberger
  • Anton Rast
  • Anton Sorg
  • Anton Tucher
  • Anton Woensam
  • Apollonia Nützel
  • Argula von Grumbach
  • Arnolt Schlick
  • Arnt Bruyn
  • Arnt van Tricht
  • Augustin Hirschvogel

B: 23 names

  • Balthasar Brandt
  • Balthasar Hubmaier
  • Barbara Hirschvogelin
  • Barbara Kaufmannin
  • Barbara Paumgartner
  • Barbara von Brandenburg
  • Barthel Beham
  • Barthel Bruyn
  • Bartholomäus Ringwaldt
  • Bartholomäus Welser
  • Bartholomäus Zeitblom
  • Basilius Amerbach
  • Beatus Rhenanus
  • Bernhard Strigel
  • Bernt Notke
  • Berthold Volckamer
  • Berthold von Henneberg
  • Blasius von Holzhausen
  • Bonifacius Amerbach
  • Brigitta Vöhlin
  • Bruno Amerbach
  • Burkhard Kunz
  • Burkhard Waldis

C: 26 names

  • Caritas Pirckheimer
  • Caspar Meckenloher
  • Caspar Othmayr
  • Caspar Peucer
  • Caspar Werner
  • Christian Egenolff
  • Christina Herwart
  • Christina von Lothringen
  • Christoph Amberger
  • Christoph Froschauer
  • Christoph Jamnitzer
  • Christoph Kress
  • Christoph Scheurl
  • Christoph Weiditz
  • Claus Berg
  • Claus Bromm
  • Claus Stalburg
  • Conrad Celtis
  • Conrad Gessner
  • Conrad Laib
  • Conrad Paumann
  • Conrat Meit
  • Crotus Rubeanus
  • Cuntz Hagen
  • Cuntz Schreiner
  • Cyriakus Spangenberg

D: 6 names

  • Daniel Mauch
  • Derick Baegert
  • Dietrich Wernher
  • Doktor Johann Faust
  • Dorothea Rieter
  • Dorothea von Dänemark

E: 21 names

  • Eberhard Heydenreich
  • Eitel Friedrich von Zollern
  • Elias Lencker
  • Elisabeth Cruciger
  • Elisabeth Fugger
  • Elisabeth von Brandenburg
  • Elisabeth von Rochlitz
  • Endres Hagenbach
  • Endres Imhof
  • Endres Tucher
  • Eobanus Hessus
  • Erasmus Alber
  • Erasmus Ebner
  • Erasmus Reinhold
  • Erhard Etzlaub
  • Erhard Ratdolt
  • Erhard Schön
  • Eucharius Cervicornus
  • Euphemia Baumgartner
  • Euricius Cordus
  • Evert van Roden

F: 9 names

  • Felicitas Ebner
  • Felicitas Hessin
  • Felix Manz
  • Franz von Sickingen
  • Friedrich der Weise
  • Friedrich Hagenauer
  • Friedrich Herlin
  • Friedrich Peypus
  • Fritz Schlegel

G: 19 names

  • Gallus Kemli
  • Georg Blaurock
  • Georg der Bärtige
  • Georg Glockendon
  • Georg Hartmann
  • Georg Hörmann
  • Georg Joachim Rheticus
  • Georg Major
  • Georg Pencz
  • Georg Rhau
  • Georg Spalatin
  • Georg Tannstetter
  • Georg Vischer
  • Georgius Agricola
  • Gertrud Peutinger
  • Gottfried Heinzel
  • Götz von Berlichingen
  • Gregor Erhart
  • Günther Zainer

H: 82 names

  • Hamman von Holzhausen
  • Hans Backoffen
  • Hans Baldung Grien
  • Hans Baumgartner
  • Hans Bornemann
  • Hans Brosamer
  • Hans Brüggemann
  • Hans Buchner
  • Hans Bullmann
  • Hans Burgkmair
  • Hans Daucher
  • Hans Denck
  • Hans Ebner
  • Hans Ehemann
  • Hans Folz
  • Hans Gebhart
  • Hans Holbein
  • Hans Hut
  • Hans Imhof
  • Hans Judenkünig
  • Hans Kels
  • Hans Lautensack
  • Hans Leinberger
  • Hans Lencker
  • Hans Leu
  • Hans Lufft
  • Hans Maler
  • Hans Multscher
  • Hans Neusidler
  • Hans Paumgartner
  • Hans Peisser
  • Hans Petzolt
  • Hans Rehlinger
  • Hans Reinhart
  • Hans Sachs
  • Hans Schäufelein
  • Hans Schlenzer
  • Hans Schönsperger
  • Hans Schüchlin
  • Hans Schwarz
  • Hans Seyfer

H, continued

  • Hans Springinklee
  • Hans Talhoffer
  • Hans Tucher
  • Hans Volckamer
  • Hans Welser
  • Hans Wertinger
  • Hans Witten
  • Hans Wydyz
  • Hartmann Lindauer
  • Hartmann Schedel
  • Hedwig Artzt
  • Heinrich Aldegrever
  • Heinrich Bebel
  • Heinrich Brabender
  • Heinrich Finck
  • Heinrich Glarean
  • Heinrich Gran
  • Heinrich Isaac
  • Heinrich Knaust
  • Heinrich Petri
  • Heinrich Quentell
  • Heinrich Steiner
  • Heinrich Topler
  • Heinz Vischer
  • Helena Kottannerin
  • Helena Stromer
  • Henning von der Heide
  • Hermann Bote
  • Hermann Gülfferich
  • Hermann tom Ring
  • Hermann Vischer
  • Hermann von dem Busche
  • Hermen Rode
  • Hieronymus Bock
  • Hieronymus Emser
  • Hieronymus Froben
  • Hieronymus Fugger
  • Hieronymus Holzschuher
  • Hilarius Amerbach
  • Hinrich Douvermann
  • Hinrik Funhof

I: 1 name

  • Ivo Schöffer

J: 74 names

  • Jakob Elsner
  • Jakob Frölich
  • Jakob Fugger
  • Jakob Heller
  • Jakob Herbrot
  • Jakob Hoffmann
  • Jakob Hutter
  • Jakob Muffel
  • Jakob Sturm
  • Jakob Wimpfeling
  • Jan Baegert
  • Jan Polack
  • Joachim Camerarius
  • Joachim Meyer
  • Joachim Nestor
  • Joachim Vadian
  • Jobst Gutknecht
  • Jobst Harrich
  • Jobst Planck
  • Johann Amerbach
  • Johann Arndt
  • Johann Bämler
  • Johann Brabender
  • Johann Carion
  • Johann der Beständige
  • Johann Fischart
  • Johann Froben
  • Johann Grüninger
  • Johann Gutenberg
  • Johann Hartlieb
  • Johann Koerbecke
  • Johann Löffelholz
  • Johann Petreius
  • Johann Rhau-Grunenberg
  • Johann Schöffer
  • Johann Schott
  • Johann Spangenberg

J, continued

  • Johann Tetzel
  • Johann Walter
  • Johann Werner
  • Johann Weyer
  • Johann Zainer
  • Johannes Agricola
  • Johannes Aventinus
  • Johannes Brenz
  • Johannes Bugenhagen
  • Johannes Cochlaeus
  • Johannes Cuspinian
  • Johannes Eck
  • Johannes Herwagen
  • Johannes Mathesius
  • Johannes Murmellius
  • Johannes Oecolampadius
  • Johannes Oporinus
  • Johannes Pfefferkorn
  • Johannes Reuchlin
  • Johannes Sapidus
  • Johannes Schöner
  • Johannes Stabius
  • Johannes Stöffler
  • Johannes Sturm
  • Johannes Trithemius
  • Jörg Breu
  • Jörg Herwart
  • Jörg Muskat
  • Jörg Pfister von Ulm
  • Jörg Seld
  • Jörg Syrlin
  • Jörg Wickram
  • Jörg Wilhalm
  • Jost Amman
  • Juliana Langenmantel
  • Justinian von Holzhausen
  • Justus Jonas

K: 18 names

  • Kaspar Hedio
  • Kaspar Nützel
  • Kaspar Schatzgeyer
  • Kaspar Schwenckfeld
  • Katharina Ravensburger
  • Katharina von Bora
  • Katharina von Mecklenburg
  • Katharina Zell
  • Kilian Leib
  • Klara Volckamer
  • Konrad Grebel
  • Konrad Humbracht
  • Konrad Nützel
  • Konrad Peutinger
  • Konrad Rehlinger
  • Konrad Stolzhirsch
  • Kunigunde Behaim
  • Kunigunde von Österreich

L: 21 names

  • Lazarus Spengler
  • Leonhard Beck
  • Leonhard Pfeffinger
  • Leonhart Fuchs
  • Lienhard Danner
  • Lienhard Groland
  • Lienhard Pruckner
  • Lienhart Gessler
  • Linhart Tucher
  • Lorenz Lemlin
  • Lorenz Staiber
  • Lorenz Tucher
  • Loy Hering
  • Lucas Cranach
  • Ludger tom Ring
  • Ludwig Hätzer
  • Ludwig Krug
  • Ludwig Neufahrer
  • Ludwig Senfl
  • Ludwig von der Pfalz
  • Lukas Rem

M: 39 names

  • Magdalena Heymairin
  • Magdalena Kress
  • Margarete von Anhalt
  • Margarethe Tucher
  • Margret Pfinzing
  • Martha Schwarz
  • Martin Behaim
  • Martin Bucer
  • Martin Luther
  • Martin Pfinzing
  • Martin Schaffner
  • Martin Schongauer
  • Marx Fugger
  • Marx Reichlich
  • Marx Wirsung
  • Mattes Kolb
  • Mattes Zeller
  • Matthäus Schwarz
  • Matthäus Zell
  • Matthes Gebel
  • Matthias Flacius
  • Matthias Grünewald
  • Matthias Manlich
  • Matthias Schürer
  • Maximilian von Habsburg
  • Melchior Baier
  • Melchior Hoffman
  • Melchior Lotter
  • Melchior Manlich
  • Melchior Pfinzing
  • Michael Behaim
  • Michael Hummelberg
  • Michael Isengrin
  • Michael Ostendorfer
  • Michael Sattler
  • Michael Wolgemut
  • Michel Erhart
  • Moritz von Sachsen
  • Mutianus Rufus

N: 10 names

  • Niklas Stoer
  • Niklaus Gerhaert
  • Niklaus Manuel
  • Nikodemus Frischlin
  • Nikolaus Gerbel
  • Nikolaus Glockendon
  • Nikolaus Kratzer
  • Nikolaus Muffel
  • Nikolaus von Amsdorf
  • Nikolaus Wolrab

O: 5 names

  • Ortwin Gratius
  • Oswald Haselmayer
  • Ottilie Welser
  • Ottmar Nachtigall
  • Otto Brunfels

P: 25 names

  • Pangratz Bernhaupt
  • Pankraz Labenwolf
  • Paracelsus
  • Paul Eber
  • Paul Hofhaimer
  • Paul Rebhun
  • Paulus Behaim
  • Paulus Hector Mair
  • Paulus Kal
  • Paulus Vischer
  • Peter Apian
  • Peter Dell
  • Peter Drach
  • Peter Henlein
  • Peter Probst
  • Peter Rieter
  • Peter Schöffer
  • Peter Vischer
  • Philipp Apian
  • Philipp Fürstenberger
  • Philipp Melanchthon
  • Philipp Ruffer
  • Philipp Ulhart
  • Philipp von Hessen
  • Pilgram Marpeck

R: 7 names

  • Raymund Fugger
  • Regina Rehlinger
  • Regiomontanus
  • Regula Amerbach
  • Rueland Frueauf
  • Ruprecht Haller
  • Ruprecht Kreuzer

S: 26 names

  • Sabina Gossembrot
  • Sabina von Bayern
  • Sebald Beham
  • Sebald Hirder
  • Sebald Schreyer
  • Sebald Welser
  • Sebastian Brant
  • Sebastian Franck
  • Sebastian Löffelholz
  • Sebastian Loscher
  • Sebastian Münster
  • Sebastian Virdung
  • Sibylla Haller
  • Sibylle von Kleve
  • Sigmund Feyerabend
  • Sigmund Grimm
  • Sigmund Ringeck
  • Sigmund von Tirol
  • Silvan Otmar
  • Sixt Birck
  • Sixt Dietrich
  • Sixtus Tucher
  • Stefan Lochner
  • Stephan Behaim
  • Stephan Mahu
  • Susanna von Hutten

T: 7 names

  • Thoman Burgkmair
  • Thomas Müntzer
  • Thomas Murner
  • Thomas Naogeorg
  • Thomas Stoltzer
  • Till Eulenspiegel
  • Tilman Riemenschneider

U: 14 names

  • Ulman Stromer
  • Ulrich Apt
  • Ulrich Artzt
  • Ulrich Fugger
  • Ulrich von Hutten
  • Ulrich von Württemberg
  • Ulrich Wyssenbach
  • Ulrich Zwingli
  • Urbanus Rhegius
  • Urs Graf
  • Ursula Holzschuher
  • Ursula Imhoffin
  • Ursula von Münsterberg
  • Ursula Weyda

V: 13 names

  • Valentin Bapst
  • Valentin Ickelsamer
  • Valentin Weigel
  • Valerius Cordus
  • Veit Dietrich
  • Veit Hirsvogel
  • Veit Konrad Schwarz
  • Veit Pfeffer
  • Veit Stoss
  • Veit Wagner
  • Veronika Scheurl
  • Vinzenz Obsopoeus
  • Virgil Solis

W: 16 names

  • Walburga Löffelholz
  • Wendel Roskopf
  • Wenzel Jamnitzer
  • Wenzel Linck
  • Wibrandis Rosenblatt
  • Wilhelm Rem
  • Wilhelm von Bayern
  • Willibald Pirckheimer
  • Wilm Dedeke
  • Wolf Haller
  • Wolf Heckel
  • Wolf Huber
  • Wolf Traut
  • Wolfgang Capito
  • Wolfgang Stromer
  • Wolfhart Spangenberger