I’m still deciding on a boy’s name, the only thing we’re liking is [name]Matthias[/name] [name]Wolfgang[/name] H. [name]Wolfgang[/name] is set (its a family name)…first name is iffy still. We are in [name]America[/name] but there is a strong possibility of us moving to Germany or [name]England[/name] within the next 5 years. DH’s family is almost entirely [name]German[/name], mine is mostly [name]German[/name] with little Irish and British mixed in.
We want a name to honor the [name]German[/name] heritage, a strong classic name with tradition spelling that will also still fit in [name]America[/name] if we end up not moving. Older sisters are Eva Marguerite (Eh-fa) and Anna Rosalie (Ah-nah)
What are your opinions on [name]Matthias[/name] [name]Wolfgang[/name]?
I absolutely [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Matthias[/name] [name]Wolfgang[/name], and it is perfect for moving between the US or UK and Germany. This is such a great name!
I think that is why I can’t come up with any alternates (I like have 2 or 3 names picked so we can see what the new baby looks like)…I figure in the US it can be shortened to [name]Matt[/name] or [name]Wolf[/name] (pending his teenage years lol).
I’ve been finding conflicting info on [name]Matthias[/name]–if it is a traditional [name]German[/name] name or not…that is my hold up right.
It is not [name]German[/name] in origin (as [name]Wolfgang[/name] is), but it is a name that traditionally has been used MUCH more in Germany (and to a lesser extent Europe in general) then in the Anglosphere (where [name]Matthew[/name] took over from the same root).
So I mean, it’s not [name]Otto[/name], but, I think it counts as a “[name]German[/name] name” in that regard.
The [name]Matthias[/name]'s I’ve known and heard of have been [name]German[/name] or Swedish.
[name]Tobias[/name] is another name that is like this. Heard of in English but more familiar (and with different prn) in [name]German[/name].
Behindthename.com is great for stuff like this: here [name]German[/name] is listed as the second most frequent language of use (after Greek):
and here the origin is explained on the page for [name]Matthew[/name] (just how BTN chooses to organize it):
Hebrew Mattiyahu > Biblical Greek [name]Matthaios[/name] > modern Greek/[name]German[/name]/etc [name]Matthias[/name] + modern English [name]Matthew[/name].
I [name]LOVE[/name] behind the name–that is where I found [name]Matthias[/name]—just as long as its used in Germany its ok with me–much the same as [name]Eva[/name] and [name]Anna[/name]–might not [name]German[/name], but they aren’t going to look out of place there and they are pronounceable to [name]German[/name] speakers, unlike Paytynn/Zaydian would be.
[name]Ah[/name] good, well then I hope it helps you to hear I knew two [name]Matthias[/name]'s while I lived in Germany. They were both adults, I have no idea if the name rings old/young/trendy/dated in Germany (but see below), but people will know how to say it : D.
It is pronounced differently in [name]German[/name] - Mah-TEE-ahs, but I think you must know that? Not sure if husband’s [name]German[/name] family meant [name]German[/name] speaking or heritage. But yes, it will “make sense” in [name]German[/name] (unlike Peytynn).
OOhh I don’t know about that, Thank you so much–definitely saving that page…our family histories are very [name]German[/name] heavy. DH spent much of his childhood (army brat) in Germany, went on to serve most of his military career in Germany…he speaks [name]German[/name], I am learning it.