Sophia and Noah Remain the Most Popular Baby Names in Germany

Behind Sophia, Mia, Lina, Ella, and Hanna/Hannah round out the top five. For boys, the name Matteo follows Noah in various spelling variants (with a single t, with and without h), then Theo, Leo, and Emil. Different spelling variants for a name were combined.

Theo and Emil climbed several places upward in the ranking compared to the previous year. The managing director of the Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache, Andrea-Eva Ewels, put the development into context: „Gleichzeitig zeigt der Aufstieg von Theo und Leo, dass kurze, prägnante Namen bei vielen Eltern besonders gefragt sind."

Trends in Short First Names

Ewels described the front-runners as consistent mainstays. „Noah und Sophia sind längst mehr als Modenamen – sie haben sich als moderne Klassiker etabliert," she said. A longer-term view also shows that short and melodious names continue to be highly in demand.

At the state level, the order partly diverges. In Rhineland-Palatinate, Sophia has now moved to the top for girls, displacing Emilia as the most popular girls' name for babies. Emma is in third place among newborn girls (2024: second place). This shows a slight shift at the top in this federal state.

Variations Among the Federal States

For boys, however, Noah remains at the very top as in the previous year, followed by Matheo and Liam. Liam, which climbed from eleventh to third place compared to the previous year, recorded one of the most notable jumps in the entire ranking. Overall, however, the shifts remain modest compared with the nationwide top.

The GfdS evaluates exclusively registry office data for its statistics. Different spelling variants for a name are combined, so that Matteo with a single t, with double t, or with and without h are counted together. Sophia and Sofia are also reported jointly.

Background of the Annual Evaluation

With a coverage of around 91 percent of all first names given in 2025, the list is considered a representative overview of naming practices in Germany. It has been published since 1977 and is regarded by linguists as well as registry offices as an important source for observing long-term trends in first-name choices.

For parents still searching for a name, the evaluation provides indications of which first names are particularly widespread in the current generation. Alongside the front-runners, this includes short forms such as Theo, Leo, and Emil, which are currently being given with above-average frequency.

The next GfdS evaluation is expected for the year 2026 and is likely to show whether the current top group remains stable or whether further short, concise names move into the leading ranks.