So, you’re looking at a German passport or a wedding invite and you see three or four names listed before the surname. Naturally, you think, "Oh, they have middle names just like we do."
Well, not exactly.
If you ask a German if they have a middle name, they’ll probably give you a look that says "Jein"—that classic German "yes and no" combo. To an American or Brit, any name between the first and the last is a middle name. It’s the place where we hide embarrassing family names or honor a random uncle. But in Germany, the legal and cultural reality is a bit more rigid, and honestly, way more interesting.
The Truth About the "Middle Name" Concept
Strictly speaking, do germans have middle names? No. Not in the way the English-speaking world defines them.
In Germany, the law only recognizes two things: your Vornamen (first names) and your Nachname (surname). If you have three names—say, Johann Friedrich Konrad—all three are technically your first names. They are legally "co-equal." There isn’t a special slot for a middle name in the German civil registry (Standesamt).
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This creates some hilarious friction when Germans move abroad. I've seen expats get totally stuck on U.S. visa forms because the system demands a "Middle Name," but their German ID just lists a string of four "First Names." They don't have a middle initial because, in their mind, they just have a very long first name.
The "Rufname" vs. Everything Else
Since all those names are technically first names, how do people know what to actually call you?
Enter the Rufname.
This is your "call name." It is the name you actually use in daily life. Historically, parents would underline the Rufname on official documents. If your name was Karl Friedrich Müller, you were Friedrich to your friends, even though Karl came first.
Kinda weird, right? You could have five names, and the fourth one could be the one you actually use.
- Legal Equality: Since 2015, the law has become even more flexible. You can actually reorder your first names if you want to.
- Official Documents: Your passport will show all of them, usually without any indication of which one you actually use.
- Daily Life: Most Germans only use their Rufname. The others just sit there on the birth certificate gathering dust.
How Many Names Can You Actually Have?
Germany is famous for its bureaucracy, and naming a child is no exception. You can't just name your kid "Table" or "Batman." The Standesamt (registry office) has to approve the choice.
When it comes to the number of first names, there isn't a hard "law" that says "Thou shalt not have more than X names." However, courts have stepped in to keep things from getting ridiculous. Generally, you can have up to five first names without much trouble.
If you try to go for six, seven, or twelve, the registry office might block it, arguing it "adversely affects the welfare of the child." Basically, they don't want the kid to spend forty minutes filling out their name on a Scantron test. There was a famous court case where parents tried to give their child 12 names, and the court basically said, "Absolutely not, stop it."
The "Maria" Exception
Here is a fun bit of trivia. German naming law used to be very strict about gender. A boy had to have a masculine name, and a girl had to have a feminine one.
The only major exception? Maria.
It is perfectly legal (and historically quite common in Catholic regions like Bavaria) for a man to have "Maria" as one of his names, provided it isn't his only name. You’ll see names like Klaus Maria Brandauer. It’s a way of honoring the Virgin Mary. However, you won't see a girl named Hans—the law doesn't go both ways.
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Why Do They Even Bother With Multiple Names?
If they don't really use them, why do so many Germans have two or three Vornamen?
It usually comes down to tradition and "the godparent rule."
In many German families, it’s tradition to give the child the name of their godparents (Paten). If little Lukas has two godparents named Stefan and Andreas, his full name might end up being Lukas Stefan Andreas Schmidt.
Honestly, it's a social insurance policy. It keeps the grandparents happy and honors the family tree without forcing the kid to actually go by "Gottfried" in middle school.
Hyphenated Names: A Different Beast
Don't confuse multiple first names with double-barrelled names (those with a hyphen).
If a name is hyphenated, like Anne-Marie, it is legally considered one single name.
- Anne Marie: Two separate names. She can choose to be called Anne or Marie.
- Anne-Marie: One name. On official forms, she must write the whole thing.
Changes Coming in 2025 and 2026
If you’re reading this and thinking about German surnames, things just got a major shake-up. For a long time, German law was incredibly restrictive about "Doppelnamen" (double-barrelled last names). Usually, only one spouse could take a double name, and the kids couldn't inherit it.
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As of May 1, 2025, a new law has kicked in. Now, both spouses can take a joint double surname, and—finally—the kids can have it too.
This is a massive shift. For decades, Germany was the outlier in Europe, forcing families to pick one "tribe" name. Now, we're seeing a surge of Müller-Schmidts hitting the playgrounds. It doesn't change the "middle name" situation, but it adds another layer to the German naming identity.
Practical Takeaways for Non-Germans
If you’re dealing with German paperwork or naming a child in Germany, keep these bits in mind:
- Don't assume the first name is the "real" one. Always ask what their Rufname is.
- Middle initials aren't a thing. If you’re filling out a form for a German friend, they probably won't have a middle initial "J." for "Johann" unless they’ve lived in the U.S. long enough to adopt the habit.
- The order matters (sort of). While you can reorder names legally now, the order on the birth certificate is what will appear on every flight ticket and bank card for the rest of their life.
- Gender ambiguity is tricky. If you pick a gender-neutral name like "Kai" or "Kim," the registry office might still suggest (or require) a second name that clearly indicates the child's gender, though this rule has softened recently.
Basically, Germans don't have middle names; they have a "first name collection." Some they use, some they don't, and some are just there to keep Great-Uncle Friedrich's memory alive.
If you are currently navigating the German civil registry for a new baby, your best move is to check with your local Standesamt early. They have a surprising amount of discretionary power. What flies in Berlin might get a raised eyebrow in a small village in Saxony. Always have a backup name ready, just in case they decide your first choice is a bit too "creative" for German standards.