So my husband’s grandparents are [name_m]German[/name_m] immigrants, and his heritage means a lot to him. I like the idea of giving our children meaningful names, so I’m trying to look into [name_m]German[/name_m] girl’s names. So far we both really like:
but we were looking and we came across [name_f]Liesl[/name_f] (LEEZ-el). Yes like the girl in the Sound of [name_f]Music[/name_f]. I know its a little odd spelling wise (can also be spelled [name_f]Liesel[/name_f]). What do you think? Any middle names you can think of? Any names it would be a good middle for?
Also, just generally, any [name_m]German[/name_m] girls names you can suggest? Thanks!!!
I love the name liesle, and also the other 2 names you have, [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] is our number 1 fab. Liesle isn’t that difficult to pronounce and it just so pretty and unique too.
Well, as a [name_m]German[/name_m] living in Germany I much prefer your other two name picks as they’re of [name_m]German[/name_m] origin and honor his grandparents but are not as “unfashionable” as [name_f]Liesl[/name_f] here.
But I might be the wrong person to answer this question as people in the US seem to like [name_f]Heidi[/name_f] or [name_f]Gretel[/name_f], names that if you’d compare their [name_m]German[/name_m] usage to English counterparts, would be like [name_f]Sharon[/name_f] and [name_f]Carol[/name_f] to Americans. I think as a modern-day [name_m]German[/name_m] I feel like those names belong to a very different time and don’t reflect the [name_m]German[/name_m] culture anymore.
Oh, and may I ask where his grandparents came from as [name_f]Liesl[/name_f] is a very Bavarian name (to me)?
Names that have been used 100 years ago in [name_m]German[/name_m] and are still being used:
I have loved this name since I first saw The Sound of [name_f]Music[/name_f]! I adore [name_f]Liesl[/name_f], and that original spelling. I also love the two other names…if you wanted to use [name_f]Liesl[/name_f], how about;
I like [name_f]Liesl[/name_f], but I feel it’s to close to diesel to be usable. I love [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] and [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] is very pretty also. [name_f]Liesl[/name_f] could easily be a nickname for [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f], then you get the best of both worlds
I like all three names, including [name_f]Liesl[/name_f], but The Sound of [name_f]Music[/name_f] was my favorite movie growing up, so that’s probably why.
I think [name_f]Liesl[/name_f] is adorable. I’m in the US and would love to meet a little Liesl! I can’t speak for how Germans are using it currently but it would definitely reflect German heritage. Such a lovely character in The Sound of [name_f]Music[/name_f], too. [name_m]German[/name_m] names are what my husband and I can agree upon so you may also like some of our favorites: [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] ([name_f]Willa[/name_f] or [name_f]Minnie[/name_f]), [name_f]Frieda[/name_f], [name_f]Hilda[/name_f] ([name_f]Hildie[/name_f]), [name_f]Marta[/name_f], [name_f]Heidi[/name_f], [name_f]Inga[/name_f], [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f] ([name_f]Gertie[/name_f] or [name_f]Trudie[/name_f]), [name_f]Louisa[/name_f], [name_f]Josefine[/name_f] or [name_f]Augusta[/name_f]. [name_u]Love[/name_u] the suggestion of [name_f]Ada[/name_f]!
I also really like [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] of your options!
I don’t care for [name_f]Liesl[/name_f], it’s such a stereotypical [name_m]German[/name_m] name —*it’s like when Europeans name their kids [name_m]Bill[/name_m] and [name_f]Sheila[/name_f] and think they are being super fashionable.
If you want to use a [name_m]German[/name_m] name, either go with something historical/classic ([name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Amalia[/name_f], [name_f]Anna[/name_f], [name_f]Adele[/name_f], [name_f]Katharina[/name_f]) or a currently popular choice ([name_f]Leonie[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Ida[/name_f], [name_f]Clara[/name_f], [name_f]Emilie[/name_f]) so your child won’t have a name that is seen as ridiculous or dated by people who are actually [name_m]German[/name_m].
From your combos my favourite is [name_f]Liesl[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]. I much prefer [name_f]Amelie[/name_f] or [name_f]Amalia[/name_f] is the first name spot as to me they make [name_f]Liesl[/name_f] look even shorter, less complete (I generally prefer the [name_f]Liesel[/name_f] spelling).
[name_u]Avery[/name_u] is just not a name I like.
I absolutely love the idea of giving her the first name [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] with the nickname [name_f]Liesel[/name_f]. [name_f]Liesl[/name_f] is one of those ultimate “german german” names to me and depending on how frequently you’re visiting Germany, she might not identify with the country a lot. I think of [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] as a bit more universal, it’s not a name where everyone would ask: “Oh, are you from Germany?”.
Lol thanks for that! Yeah I’m not sure how much I care about current popularity, but I do like the idea of [name_f]Liesl[/name_f] as a nickname for [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f]. That way if she thought it was too out there she could always opt out when she was older but using the nickname alone would differentiate her from other [name_f]Anna[/name_f]'s or [name_u]Lisa[/name_u]'s who might be more numerous. Thanks!
Agreed. Are you going to be pronouncing [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] the [name_m]German[/name_m] way? [name_f]Liesl[/name_f] sounds Bavarian to me as well, and a bit country/outdated (at least according to my older [name_m]German[/name_m] relatives – I asked). I’m starting to like [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] now, especially pronounced in [name_m]German[/name_m] (ahn-neh-[name_u]LEE[/name_u]-seh). Beautiful!
