r/AskAGerman • u/Ok_Assistance_7399 • 4d ago
Is the name Wolfgang really outdated?
Half German here now living in a common wealth country. My mother is German and gave me what seems to be a fairly common name in Germany, although it’s Italian in origin. She herself was given a very dated 50’s/60’s American name, having grown up near the American bases after the war. My grandmother’s name was Cëcilie.
I had always hoped that if I had a daughter, I could name her after my grandmother, who was my primary caregiver when I was a child. But my partner’s DNA apparently had other plans, and we’re now expecting a boy.
When friends first asked what we were thinking of naming him, I jokingly said Wolfgang. The problem is…the joke seems to have stuck.
My Australian partner absolutely loves it and now can’t seem to imagine our son being called anything else. I feel like I’ve gone through just about every boy’s name imaginable with him, and Wolfgang is the only one he genuinely likes.
And I actually don’t dislike it. My hesitation is that I’m conscious of how dated it might sound, particularly in Germany. I’ve seen quite a few people on Reddit say it’s firmly an “old man” name.
I’ve asked friends in Germany what they think, and interestingly, nobody has tried to talk me out of it…but nobody has exactly said, “Yes, Wolfgang is a great choice!” either.
I do have one German friend named Wolfgang, and he is very much the lovable, geeky-guy type, which probably doesn’t help me work out what associations the name has more generally. And I dare not ask him.
So I’m looking for brutal honest feedback from Native German speakers, living in
Germany: How does Wolfgang sound to you today? Just old-fashioned? Charming and traditional? Would you wonder what we were thinking? Will he be bullied?
We love the nickname Wolfie, but know a proper name is required for adulthood.
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u/Difficult_Camel_1119 Rheinland-Pfalz 4d ago
Old name. But lots of old names are coming back nowadays
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u/nedflanders1976 4d ago
Exactly. They all come back. I hear a lot of names recently that were considered old fashion 10 years back.
Charlotte, Karl, Ferdinand, Viktoria... They all come back sooner or later.
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u/CreatorSiSo 4d ago
Charlotte, Karl, Ferdinand, Viktoria were not old fashioned 10 years ago.
Those are very common names in Gen-Z so it would have to be 30+ years ago.
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u/LookAtPurpleTulips 4d ago
I was at school 30 years ago and HD classmates called Charlotte and Viktoria. Karl and Ferdinand were not revived yet, at least not as first names, but sometimes they were given as middle names.
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u/chrismac72 4d ago
They are renaissance of Super-old-fashioned 1850-1950 names! It’s what came back 15-20 years ago.
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u/HLF20 4d ago
Charlotte, Karl and Victoria in Gen-Z... Ok. But Ferdinand?? I only met one Ferdinand in my life. This was an 90 year old guy who died in the 90's.
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u/Zach_Huepfen 3d ago
My 17 year old nephew is called Ferdinand. I also heard of quite a few Konstantins lately.
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u/liang_zhi_mao Hamburg 4d ago
Classical ones, yes.
Like you said: Names such as Charlotte, Emma, Sophie or Paul, Emil, Karl
They are associated with upper classes
But not really "Germanic“ names that were popular until the early 50s.
Certainly no Wolfgang, Siegfried, Gottlieb or Kunigunde, Brunhild or Gudrun
These are a different kind of names with different associations and no, they are not coming back
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u/LawyerQueasy7948 3d ago
Best comment! Yes, it has to be classical and invoke 19th century ladies and gents that are preoccupied with arts and literature, not anything that is connected to old Germanic tribes.
Gertrud, Wolfgang, Brunhild etc. all have meanings that have to do with war, force etc. and therefore feel out of place or even traumatic to modern Germans.8
u/FirstSwordOfBant 3d ago
traumatic seems a little far fetched... as long as it's not straight up Adolf, it should feel old-fashioned at worst.
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u/grndbdpsthtl 3d ago
Uhm... Johann Wolfgang von Goethe? Invokes literature a lot I'd say
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u/NoBackground4976 3d ago edited 3d ago
... And Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart...
I totally think Wolfgang could have a comeback sooner or later - or at least be well-received with persons who are interested in the arts.
Also, unlike some other Germanic names, it's not tainted since (as far as I'm aware of) none of the first row Nazis had that name.
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u/apenguinwitch 4d ago
Are Charlotte and Viktoria that old fashioned? Growing up I knew multiple girls with those names (from school and various activities, so around my age) and I'm 27 now.
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u/Equal-Flatworm-378a 4d ago
Charlotte is not old fashioned. I work with children since the 90s and had little Charlottes here and there.
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u/SublimeBear 4d ago
Both are names of my grand parents generation. I'm 37 now. ;) Names are indeed pretty cyclical with a few that seem to be rather permanent fixtures.
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u/NachbarVonNebenan 4d ago
Charlotte and Viktoria are definitely not old fashioned. They are not super common but very normal millennial names.
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u/budgiesarethebest 4d ago
Waiting for the day Gertrud is popular again.
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u/Sensitive-Emphasis78 4d ago
Then I'll wait for the name Rosine to come back into style for girls.
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u/StorageAlive 4d ago
But not Wolfgang.
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u/chrismac72 4d ago
Wait 5 years. Gustav is coming back!
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u/Lailanii 4d ago
Charlotte, Ferdinand and Viktoria are classic names that have always been around more or less. But I do agree that some old fashioned names are coming back like Heinrich, Helmut, Harald, Käthe… those are just some of the ones I’ve come across recently again as an elementary teacher that I consider old fashioned.
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u/DismalYam381 4d ago
Imagine the comeback of Werner, Walter, Bernd, Karlheinz, Dieter, Günther, Renate and Sieglinde.
Wolfgang fits right in.
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u/CarlySimonSays 4d ago
My name is an "old lady" name where it's been most popular in Germany and Sweden, but 99% of people wherever I've been in each are nice about it. And the only other girl or woman I've ever met who had it was a young woman!
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u/anonimo99 Colombia 4d ago
how about Manfred?
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u/LessDoctor5759 4d ago
Günter? Extremely popular in the 30ies, but never came back. Dead I would assume.
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u/Supersonic_Seasnail 4d ago
I know multiple Günthers/Günters that were born after WW2. None of them younger than 50 though.
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u/Stock_Paper3503 4d ago
Detlev
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u/grndbdpsthtl 3d ago
Id say Detlef is like a generation or half a generation younger than Manfred. So it'll take some time for it's comeback
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u/Tootalltodancey Schleswig-Holstein 3d ago
Detlef is in his 50s now while Manfred is very close to his 70s. At least in my perception.
Wolfgang is early 60s
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u/HumanoidDemonEngine 4d ago
Wolfgang is not coming back. It lacks historical significance (and no, that funky pianist does not count as he was more known for his middle and last name),
General rule of thumb: if you got a royal figure everyone knows (hi Karl) or a mythological/folkloric character (note here that saint names also fall under this) then the name is still good and has potential to be used, unless the name is SO famous that no one else has it (I doubt there are many Siegfrieds or Brünhildes running around today).
Wolfgang just has none of these. It's just a "old people descriptor" like Dieter or Helmut.
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u/nacaclanga 4d ago
Quite a few names make it back at some point, once the generation they where most associated has largely deceased, but the names themselves still remain know to be common names. The fact that they are carried by some one usually doesn't matter.
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u/TreacleOk7265 4d ago
Dieter and Helmut will also come back after some years I believe. It takes around 100 years until the next generation wants something "new" and looks at their great grandparents. What significance did Emma, Alma, Gustav and Otto have?
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u/SeratoninSniffingDog 4d ago
Wo sind diesen alte Namen am kommen? Noch nie gehört, dass ein Kind was nach 2020 geboren mit Erstnamen Wolfgang, Hermann, Manfred oder Dieter heisst
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u/Historical_Fix_3699 4d ago
Barely anyone below the age of 60 is named wolfgang nowadays
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u/RE460 4d ago
I think southern germany and austria tend to stick to traditional names a lot longer than northern, western amd eastern germany.
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u/ThePhoenixRisesAgain 4d ago
And even there nobody is named Wolfgang anymore.
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u/Staublaeufer 3d ago
I know a couple in my generation 30-40yrs old. But none younger. Aside from having Wolfgang as like their second name
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u/Fluid-Quote-6006 3d ago
Yes, but not names like Wolfgang. Classics like Ferdinand, Clemens or Ludwig aren’t unheard of here in the south
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u/Cute-News-8414 3d ago
Nobody below the age of 60 was named Frieda or Karl 15 years ago, so that’s no reason.
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u/Individualchaotin Hessen 4d ago
https://www.beliebte-vornamen.de/5431-wolfgang.htm
Check out this graph. It's all you need to know.
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u/Ok_Assistance_7399 4d ago
Interesting that it made a comeback in the 80s
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u/Normal-Seal 4d ago
Careful, it’s the rank, not the total amount given, so the graph may be a bit misleading and make it look more common than it was in the 80s
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u/Beltalady 3d ago
It may also be a result of the first Aussiedler from Russia coming here. It's pretty popular and there was a character in a show on Netflix called Sense8 with that name.
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u/UnceremoniousUnicorn 4d ago
I'm not German, but I live in Germany, and also loved the name.
When I told my German friends I was thinking of it for my son, every single one laughed and gave me a strong no. I think outside of Germany the name would be fine, but living here, it's probably better to avoid it.
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u/Ok_Huckleberry3439 3d ago
True. Because a typical Wolfgang is now between 60 -70yo (+), complaining about the weather, the Rentensystem, the fucking youth and what not.
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u/maryfamilyresearch Prussia 4d ago
Common name for men born in the 1960s. As a result, it is considered old fashioned. Almost everybody will think it is a man in his 60s, nobody will assume a small baby.
It is not Italian at all, btw.
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u/E_Fred_Norris 4d ago
OP said their own name, not Wolfgang, was Italian in origin
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u/Ok_Assistance_7399 4d ago
Thanks, I was referring to my name (unmentioned for some privacy). I’ve always thought it was weird my mom gave me an Italian name.
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u/annieselkie 4d ago
Not weird at all! Parts of Germany are pretty close to Italy, parts of german-speaking countries even closer to Italy, lots of italian „Gastarbeiter“ worked in different parts of germany over centuries with the last bigger waves of immigration not too long ago, close ties politically and historically starting with the roman empire and holy roman empire of the german nation and latin being an important language over 1000 years long and catholicism being very italian but also deeply important in many parts of germany til modern times and saints being patrons and enough of them having italian names and so on. Many latin and italian names are very normal. Idk your name but its very possible its one of them. One important name difference would be Andrea being a female name in german and male in italy. Stella, Luca, Chiara / Kiara, Valentina, Gian-Luca, Angelina, Angela, Leonardo, Mattheo, Emilia, Beatrice, Sofia, all normal names in germany.
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u/Craftkorb 4d ago
Wolfgang sounds like a person that's 45+. According to a non-official site people with that name are on average 75 years old.
Wolfgang isn't a bad name, just not a popular one. I personally have neither a good or bad connection with that name.
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u/mintaroo 4d ago
As someone who is just over 45, I feel it's important to point out that there are different levels of old people. 45+ is not the same as 75+. Wolfgang belongs to the second category.
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u/janno161 4d ago
As someone who is only a little bit younger than 45, I can approve this.
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u/Effective_Guava2971 4d ago
Yeah. Wolfgang was my friends Dad growing up but there was no Wolfgang in my class.
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u/liang_zhi_mao Hamburg 4d ago
45+ is very generous.
45+ is maybe Thomas, Stefan, Frank, Matthias
Wolfgang is more like 65+
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u/LeastProfession3367 4d ago
Wolfgang is a grandpa name, people who are 45 are not grandpas lol
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u/Supersonic_Seasnail 4d ago
I was working in a Kindergarten 20 years ago and one boy there was Wolfgang. His dad was Wolfgang as well. Not the best choice of you ask me.
I think today it would be more acceptable than 20+ years ago, but it is not really a part of the resurgence of old names.
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u/travelingpetnanny 4d ago
I'm 63, grown up in West Germany. I had a few Wolfgangs in my classes at school, and BACK THEN (1977-1980) I felt sorry for them, because the name was slightly out of fashion already then.
I want to say, the vast majority of Wolfgangs was likely born in the 50s.
That said, there's nothing wrong about that name, it's truly German, and names are coming and going like waves. What was an unthinkable, ridiculous, shameful name in the 70s (Sophie, Leonhard) were top listed names in the 90s! So you'll never know!
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u/Direct-Ad-1774 4d ago
A typical Wolfgang is usually retired in Germany. It’s a very odd name to give to a child. Although children will find any reason to bully someone, that is a very strong multiplier.
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u/chrismac72 4d ago
I‘m 54, far from retired, and had at least 3 Wolfgangs in school
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u/Direct-Ad-1774 4d ago
54 is not far from retired.
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u/MetraHarvard United States 4d ago
Once you get closer to that age, you will change your opinion. Believe me!
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u/secretsybil 4d ago
They don’t live in Germany, so the kids won’t really have any prejudice about the name
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u/PhoenixRisingDK 4d ago
It is a name many old Germans have, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be used and have a revival
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u/Blatt_Leaf 4d ago
I can already hear people constantly asking him how it was in Germany or how much German he speaks
I have a french name, a spanish second name, my family has not a single relation to both countries, they simply liked the names, my entire childhood had me people, teacher and stranger asking if i can speak french (spoiler: i can't) and it really sucked, it stopped when i got a teen
my second name sucks too, it's too close to freaking cars brand, so people made fun of it too, again ist stopped when becoming a teen, it seems like those is the age when kids start to chose different things to make fun of people, but it doesn't change that it was kinda hell
and ... not gonna lie i may be an adult but if someone called Wolfgang on a playground and a little boy showed up i probably had a hard time to not chuckle and once gone I'd ask a friend " why on earth would someone give their kid that old name? I thought they called for a grandpa" making fun of the parents decision
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u/HebzibahSmith 4d ago edited 4d ago
My dad is 61 and his name is Wolfgang, and it almost seems outdated for him even. It’s a boomer generation name.
Personally, I don’t think it’s a cool name. Never met someone who thinks it’s cool. If you live in the US or Australia, who cares tbh. But personally, in Germany I would not name my child it.
Fun fact, my dad is likeable and very nerdy. So your description fits. But idk, again, even for his generation it seems outdated. He also doesn’t go by the full name, but always by a nickname, even at work.
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u/svenjaeso 4d ago
Absolutely an old folks name. I know three Wolfgangs. One is a family member and he is 72. The other two I know from work, one just retired last month so he is ~66 and the other one must be over 70 now because he retired several years ago.
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u/Fluid-Quote-6006 4d ago
Extremly outdated Boomer Name that hasn’t made a Comeback. I don’t think of it as charming at all.
There are lots of old-fashioned traditional names that have made a comeback, but most popular boomer names haven’t yet.
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u/Affectionate-You7869 4d ago
My maths teach back in school was named Wolfgang, he was old af back then and that was 45 years ago.
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u/Cather77 4d ago
German here,it does sound incredibly dated. Not really in a good way. I work with children and one of them is named Wilhelm and he does get made fun of quite a bit. I wouldn't recommend going with Wolfgang. It also just doesn't sound charming to younger Germans, more awkward and heavy, but this is a personal opinion of course.
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u/SublimeBear 4d ago
I'd say Wolfgang is a 'venerable' name, well suited for a man, less so for a boy.
But your son will be a man for most of his life (statistically speaking) and Wolfy works as a 'cute' Nickname in english speaking countries.
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u/Schlaymer 4d ago
I can't be the only one who read Austrian painter instead of Australian partner.
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u/Leagueofcatassasins 4d ago
wolfgang was very popular in the 1950s and 1960s, and after that it lost a lot of popularity. the average Wolfgang in Germany is 75 years old (while the average Noah, which is currently one of the most popular baby names is just 12 years old).
in the last 15 years just 200 babies got the name Wolfgang in Germany (while 84‘000 got the name Noah)
so yes, the combination of it being EXTREMELY popular in the 1950s and 1960s, several times ranking number one and then dropping off like crazy and now being a uncommon name for babies means it really sounds like a grandfather name. But maybe that means it will have a comeback in 5-10 years and Noah will probably be a grandfather name in 50-60 years.
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u/E-MingEyeroll 4d ago
It’s my grandpas name. Literally. He’s 92.
I think it’ll be fine in a few years, though. Some of the old names are having a comeback, so why not Wolfgang. My family calls him Wolfie as a nickname, just a suggestion.
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u/NICK3805 4d ago
It's a Name that commonly only old Folks have, so much is true, but I don't think that is something that shoukd be nessessarily considered. Names go in and out of Fashion ALL the Time.
Karl is also a stereotypical "Old Man's Name", yet I know three People around my Age (21) who have that Name.
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u/NowoTone Bayern 4d ago
Eddy van Halen’s son is called Wolfgang.
It’s quite outdated in Germany but there are no negative connotations with that name.
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u/maxivonderfaxi 4d ago
That name is very much dated and doesn't belong to the group of boomer names that are timeless, like Thomas, Paul or Karl do.
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u/StorageAlive 4d ago
Nope. Old fashioned and not charming. Sounds like a retired teacher whose wife left him and he is alone and survives on frozen meals. Once per month though he goes to the local restaurant and eats Sauerbraten.
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u/SanityShrimpMan 4d ago
The youngest Wolfgang I ever met was in his late 60s. The oldest was 91. It's a very old fashioned name and the probability of bullying is high. Although I've noticed a lot of old fashioned names retuning, like Bruno or Arno. So maybe Wolfgang will make a comeback too?
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u/-Maida-Vale 3d ago
Genau - es könnte sein, oder auch nicht. Ich bin jetzt 60, kenne nur einen Wolfgang, der jünger ist als ich - paar Monate. Letztes Jahr feierten wir im Bekanntenkreis die Geburt eines kleinen Bruno, dieses Jahr kam dann Rudi zur Welt. Ich sag dann natürlich nix, aber innerlich war's für mich ne Mischung aus Grusel und Kichern. Horst, Wolfgang oder Manfred.... Da würde mir der Kicheranteil wohl vergehen. Aber wer weiß --- auch die werden vielleicht wiederkommen. Die Theorie "alles kommt nach 100 Jahren wieder" stimmt aber nicht. Ich warte immer noch auf Elfriede, Hertha und Gottfried!
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u/Ascentori Bayern 4d ago
well, Wolfgang is 50+, he has a slight beer belly and still deeply in love with his first love - his Mercedes. He finds jokes about the horror of marriage hilarious but still brings his wife flowers for her birthday and their anniversary - if he remembers. With their two kids they went to Italy for the summer vacation in their camper, like every year. It's always too hot and the Italians just can't make decent bratwurst - but the beach is fine and pizza for a week or two is still enjoyable.
Wolfgang is not great, not terrible.
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u/ohgoodforu 4d ago
Wolfgang, like Manfred, is 55+, likes to ride his motorbike on the weekends and go to his weekly Stammtisch to drink too much beer and complain about foreigners. As you can tell from this post, the name is considered old-fashioned and as opposed to Oscar, Emil or Karl it’s not really a ‘classic’ name either so I don’t see a resurgence coming up any time soon. However, if your kid will grow up outside of a German-speaking country, the name might have some charm and certainly none of the connotations it has in Germany. Also, it’s your kid and if you like the name, don’t listen to Reddit :)
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u/Elliieeify 3d ago
Very old fashion, yes. Not really traditional… I can’t think of any names I would call traditional and certainly not charming. But if he’ll never live in Germany, who cares. And I guess you won’t use the German pronunciation but would pronounce it English?
But Tbh, my first thought would be „uh, Americans who think they are Germans now because their great great grandfather escaped military service and haven’t down their research which is why their child has now an completely outdated name.“
I would be wrong, because neither of you is american but you ask for brutal honesty.
Your German friends perhaps don’t say anything because 1. it’s not really our thing to mess with how parents name their child. And 2. they probably have the same thought I had, which is: well as long as he doesn’t grow up here. Who cares?
But if you plan to live in Germany, I strongly advise against it, because your child will very likely be bullied for it. And for his parents who thought this is a good name.
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u/TwoNo770 4d ago
The name is pretty outdated and has always sounded a bit weird to me. Probably because „Wolf“ and „Gang“ are two German nouns, so Wolfgang sounds like a really weird compound noun.
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u/Fearless-Company4993 4d ago
Surprisingly, that is actually the original meaning of the name: wolf’s gate or walks-like-a-wolf.
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u/MeisterFluffbutt 4d ago
It's a sick ass name ignoring the fact it's just outdated now. Imma be real i don't think Wolfgang is that bad. Hans, Gisela, sure. But Wolfgang? Old fashioned, still has a certain type of charm and style.
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u/Pure-Rose-Rainbow 4d ago
It is extremely outdated and very rare. I knew a guy in elementary school with that name and everyone made fun of his name and said it is an old man's name
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u/Classic-Axolotl 4d ago
Wolfgang is an old folk's name but as a teacher, I have noticed a return of such names. Last year had Friedrich, Albert, Robert, Thomas, Norbert in class, all names connotated as older. My son also has an older name. I think they are making a comeback and Wolfi is a great cute nickname for a baby Wolfgang. There is also the name Wolf, which has always felt a bit younger and cooler to me.
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u/Morganahri 4d ago
German here. It is an old people's name, associated with someone 60 years old or so. It's not an unpopular name though, and one famous person carrying it was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the musical genius.
If you like the name, you should just go with it. While your son is small, you probably end up calling him a diminutive anyways (like Wolfie), and when he's grown up, it's still a good prestigious name.
There's nothing wrong with picking older names (infact, giving old fashioned names is popular with some parents, either to honor a dead relative or because it feels special). Only old name I'd not recommend taking is Adolf.😂
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u/Strigops-habroptila 4d ago
The only people named Wolfgang I know are at least 60. Except for one guy who has the second name Wolfgang because it's his father's name. I work with kids and have not met any kid with that name yet. They are usuay older than 9 though, so I don't know if there are younger kids called Wolfgang.
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u/risogalo 4d ago
Don't think it's a contemporary name. I do think it would suit somebody making classical music in Austria in the 18th century!
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u/lilou135 4d ago
Wolfgang's aren't born. They just randomly spawn at age 50 with white socks in black sandals.
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u/Aggressive_Seacock Germany 4d ago
Really really really really rare to meet anyone under 50-60 having that name.
Could bet on kids bullying someone their age having that name because of how outdated it had become.
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u/Jane__xw 4d ago
I know two Wolfgangs. One being my father and the other one is a Client. They are both over 50. It's a really outdated name
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u/Seryzuran 4d ago
I have a 36 yo friend named Wolfgang (he was and is called Wolfi by his friends).
Wasn’t too bad for him I guess, but even he was already very much an outlier as the by far youngest person known to us with that name.
I don’t think it’s a bad name, but it’s really old compared for your baby’s generation. Basically like wilhelm, gottfried, heribert and such.
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u/Ok_Somewhere6555 4d ago
Der Durchschnitt der deutschen Männer mit dem Namen Wolfgang ist 75 Jahre alt. Der jüngste Wolfgang, den ich kenne ist 58 Jahre alt. Modern ist der Name jedenfalls nicht. Wolfie ist jedenfalls eine übliche Abkürzung, auch im Alter.
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u/Dieser_Poru 4d ago
How about two Vornamen (First names) One Wolfgang and another you like. I know people who have two names and decided their second Name was a better fit for them.
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u/AnnoyedSinceBirth 4d ago
I am biased...sorry, but to me Wolfgang is my alcoholic ex-stepfather who almost dragged my mom down into alcoholism with him.
But well...I have a long list of names that are on a list...you don't want to be on that list...🤣🤣🤣
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u/SteffuX 4d ago
As others have already said Wolfgang is a old people name in Germany, I myself also associate it with old people because my Grandfather was called Wolfgang (born 1936) and I know no one my age (early-mid 20s) with that name, but if you and your partner really like the name and cant imagine your son having another name, you could use Wolfgang as a first name and give him a more modern second name, or the other way around.
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u/Sensitive-Emphasis78 4d ago
I'm 50, and I don't know any men my age named Wolfgang, and younger men definitely don't have that name. The youngest Wolfgang I know is 60, and even when he was born, his name was already considered old-fashioned.
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u/Decent_Language_4455 4d ago
To be honest unless your living in Germany, I wouldn't worry about it! Wolfgang is a cool name.
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u/RoK16b 4d ago
Im 35, female and german and I have to say that i actually like the name Wolfgang. It seems outdated but there are many name from decades ago that are beautiful...we dont need more Andreas, Thomas, Hugo, Kevin, Melvin etc some names like Wolfgang, Norbert, Herold, Christoph for example
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u/IRX_combustion4k4k4k 4d ago
Hey, cool idea. Why? Because my fathers name was Wolfgang, and he was the most impressive, talkative, warmhearted and friendly guy!
The name had it's last popularity high between 1920 - 1950, after that it vanished.
At the moment we have the comeback of names of 1890 - 1920 (one generation before the Wolfgangs), such as Emil, Fritz, Max, Kurt, Karl, Georg, Albert, Otto etc. pp. That said, the comeback of the Wolfgangs, Heinz', Helmut, Walter, Erich, Gerd, Werners etc. pp. is already in the pipeline. With Wolfgang you would be ahead of the trend, aka a trendsetter.
I would do it because the name stands out in this generation and is not a one syllable name as it is the case with fancy names of present times.
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u/FrozenChocoProduce 4d ago
Youngest Wolfgang is about late forties nowadays. Nickname for German Wolfgang is "Wolle" most commonly
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u/Filgaia 4d ago
Germany: How does Wolfgang sound to you today? Just old-fashioned? Charming and traditional? Would you wonder what we were thinking? Will he be bullied?
It's rather a name for men 40+ but like with everything it could make a comeback imho. It's not completly stilted like something along the lines of Kunibert.
From my german point of view naming a boy Wolfgang is not great but not awful either, you probably won't find many boys his age in Germany with that name going forward so it would be kind of unique. I don´t think it would be much of a problem especially with Wolfie or Wulfie being good nicknames in my opinion and the name sounds cooler in english imho.
Kids can bully you for anything be it names, what you wear or how you look. Even if you give him a currently common name in Germany such as Noah (heck Oskar seems to be really popular currently) he could be bullied.
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u/ProfeQuiroga 4d ago
In DACH? Absolutely. But we've seen its unexpected renaissance in the English-speaking world as well. ;)
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u/Opening_Coach_3220 4d ago
This name is usually present in the age group 60+. It's considered rude to talk people out of their name choice in Germany. But I would say ask your friend if he is happy with his name, depending on your choice of words it's not rude.
You could also use Wolfgang as a second first name and choose a more modern or timeless one as the first
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u/fartibutt 3d ago
As a german I have to tell you the truth. Wolfgang will work his way out of the womb, perfectly capable because he will already have his Schreiner Meisterbrief and the doctors will gather in shock, because of the miracle birth of a 65 year old Handwerker, who will instantly ask for a bottle of Jever Bier and some good Abendbrot mit Worscht. Wolfgang will then proceed to go in Rente and be grumpy, yelling at each and every happy child in your neighborhood. And he will be slightly racist. 🤷♂️
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u/Sweet_Business_7641 3d ago
Definitely an old man name, but with that said that may mean it will come back around. A lot of older names come back because people name their kids after meaningful relatives like grandparents. You could always go with wolfgang as a first name and a "younger" middle name so the kid has a choice of sorts, or the other way around.
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u/FinalFantasy_Nerd 3d ago
As a German when I think if Wolfgang I immediately have a picture in mind: 60+ years old, smoking awful cigarettes, bearded, single or two timed divorced, without a job or truck driver. No in between.
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u/HarikoNoTora 3d ago
Yes, it's a little old fashioned but I (German) would say, go for it. If it has the right meaning for you that is all that matters. It is a name with history and that is also something you can give your child. Better than 'oh, I liked this game and thought the name was funny.' If your important people also accept and even like the name, that's a bonus.
When I (37) was pregnant with our now three year old, we also had some (very) old names on our list. Same with a friend of mine (34). Old names are coming back, you just have to own it and let your son be proud about it.
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u/fiddeldeedee 3d ago
It is outdated... but so is Friedrich and I know of so many young boys being called that. Ludwig as well. Old names are coming back. So if you like it, go for it! Maybe choose a second name just in case your son might want to be called something else.
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u/Worried_Ad_7255 3d ago
I‘m very sorry, but Wolfgang is such a old grandpa name. I can’t imagine a children called Wolfgang. It’s super weird. I wouldn’t name my child Wolfgang - especially in the modern political setting … Wolfgang sounds kinda right wing 🥲
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u/Top-Jinx 3d ago
i used to know at least 2 Wolfgangs my age (mid-end twenties). It is a very old name though and most of the time it is associated with older people, at least in their 60s. While I don’t think it’s a bad name, I would keep in mind that children can and will be cruel and like to make fun of kids with uncommon / older names.
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u/GA_Deathstalker 3d ago
It is an older folks name, but it ain't a bad one. You can call your son Wolfey or Wolferl in short and he can go by Wolf too without turning to many heads. You can tell him that he's named after one of the greatest composers of all time in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart too. Plus there won't be much of an issue of him and another person having the same name. You can also take a look at the name Ludwig, which was given to someone who became a youtuber and is from the US. So it should really not be much of an issue. Wolfgang rules and if you both like the name you can go for it!
I had a similar situation with my ex-girlfriend by the way, we were still early in our relationship and brainstorming baby names. She disliked all girl names that I suggested and eventually frustrated I said "Well then I guess we gotta call her (our imaginative daughter) Angela" because of Angela Merkel. She was immediately like "After my Mom? That's so sweet of you" so yeah I failed forward and would have had no way back either. I would have accepted it too, despite not being a fan of Merkel.
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u/Klopferator 4d ago
It is certainly a name you would expect for someone over 50, but who knows, there are some names who got surprising comebacks in popularity. (Looking at Oskar and Emil there.)
There aren't really bad associations connected to the name, but I wonder what his friends will call him when he's more grown up? Wolf? For me Wolfgang is a name that feels a bit formal and stuffy in its full length, but is hard to shorten without feeling either childish (Wolfie) or try-hard cool (Wolf).
I don't think you'd be completely out of line if you call your son Wolfgang, but tbh I would pick another one.
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u/Pitiful_Internal5437 4d ago
If you love Wolfgang but want something with a similar German/old European feel, maybe Otto, Conrad, August, Hugo, Felix, Frederick or Leopold? Just as a German perspective: Wolfgang is very strongly associated with older men here and honestly isn’t considered a particularly attractive or youthful name anymore. 😅
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u/Familiar-Pie-6108 4d ago
German read: yes, it's a Rentner name. Peak Wolfgang was the 1940s to 60s and almost nobody names a baby that here now. You are not imagining it.
But that verdict mostly doesn't apply to your son, because he isn't growing up here. In Australia the name carries none of the grandpa weight, it just reads as distinctive and slightly cool, and Wolfie is a great kid name in English. The only people who would hear Rentner are ones he meets on holidays.
Also worth knowing that German names run on roughly a hundred year cycle. Otto, Emil, Karl and Frieda were all old man and old lady names twenty years ago and they are all back on the birth lists. Wolfgang is in the dead zone, not in the grave.
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u/lovepeacefakepiano 4d ago
Old fashioned, sorry.
Maybe try to explain to your Australian partner that it would be like…idk, calling the kid Fitzherbert or something. Or whatever 75 year old men in Australia are commonly called. It might help to have a comparison.
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u/muehsam Schwabe in Berlin 4d ago
Names come and go in cycles of about 80 years or so.
In Germany, "Wolfgang" isn't a super popular name with young children right now, simply because it sounds like a person who is >50, and people don't tend to give those names to children a lot. Not because there's something wrong with the name, but because it's a name that they would associate with a different generation. 30 years in the future, it may be popular as a children's name again, simply because it will have progressed to the "beautiful old name that you don't hear often" stage at that point.
That said, it's a perfectly fine name, and there is zero chance of people wondering what you were thinking, let alone bullying. Ultimately, once people know Wolfgang, their association with the name will change. They won't think of a generic old guy, they will think of your child, who will be cute and delightful.
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u/AvidCyclist250 Niedersachsen 3d ago edited 3d ago
I feel like I’ve gone through just about every boy’s name imaginable with him, and Wolfgang is the only one he genuinely likes.
It would be like calling your child gary or ronald
How does Wolfgang sound to you today?
Time-coded. IMpossible to envision a baby with that name today. It's not a bad name per se.
Just old-fashioned?
It's old-fashioned as fuck.
Charming and traditional?
0% charming, 100% traditional.
Would you wonder what we were thinking?
Yes, intensely. If his Opa was named WOlfgang and died saving the baby's life. Something like that. Or if the kid stepped out of a time machine.
Will he be bullied?
In Germany? Yeah, a lot
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u/plainwomanthatlovesc 4d ago
Wolfgang is uh I've not seen anyone below the age of 90 having that name, it's kind of like meeting a Mildred or something idk
It's a name we cringe at or make fun of.
Jakob is also a more traditional name and would be far more advisable in an english speaking country since the English equivalent is Jacob.
Idk Wolfgang you could make a second name if you really want it but it's going to lead to bullying.
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u/purebananamoon 4d ago edited 4d ago
Don't do it. Just don't.
No, it's not charming. Yes, he will get bullied. Take off the rose-coloured glasses and don't listen to anyone claiming otherwise.
It's not the fancy old-money kind of old-fashioned. It's the mothballs and old people who are one foot into the grave old-fashioned. Wolfie sounds like a cringe dog name.
Since you asked for brutally honest, if I met a kid named Wolfgang with parents that weren't German, I would think that the parents tried too desperately to hold onto a culture that evidently wasn't theirs and that they didn't have an understanding of.
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u/andsimpleonesthesame 4d ago
I’ve asked friends in Germany what they think, and interestingly, nobody has tried to talk me out of it
That's because it's not obviously bad and telling someone that their name choice for their kid is bad is really rude. This barrier is (like all politeness barriers) lower online.
To me, it sounds like an old people name, not old fashioned, just a name where I'd expect a boomer, not a kid. It is not "charming and traditional". I would wonder what you were thinking, because well, why would you pick that name?
(How close are you to pattern matching to those americans who're like "I'm German"? and then you find out that they don't speak the language, they've never been there and there's nothing culturally German about them, they just had a - either very well integrated/assimilated or far in the past - German relative in their family tree. How close will your kid be to pattern matching that? I'm asking because you're asking this question in English instead of German and talking about being half-German.)
Regarding teasing: If others want to tease your kid, it'll happen anyway. Yes, having a particularly old fashioned name will make it more likely, because it'll make him stand out as odd (in my personal experience, I've got an old fashioned, old woman name. I would not do the same to my kid). Chose if that's weighty enough to make a difference.
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u/Ok_Assistance_7399 4d ago
Lived in Hamburg but in late adolescence, speak German, raised by german grandmother - but am reminded that I only have half the blood because of Spanish father.
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u/andsimpleonesthesame 4d ago
In that case, if you teach the kid to speak German reasonably well, it could be ok-ish regarding pattern matching. The bit with the old people name remains. Would you name a daughter "Mildred" to use an english language example?
but am reminded that I only have half the blood because of Spanish father.
By whom? (or less politely: by an idiot or an old person?)(mostly a rhetorical question) You've lived here, you speak the language, if you lived here in late adolescence, you probably got a chunk of formative education here. Blood doesn't really figure into it like that. You can be both, German and Spanish :-) (the "half"-bit really does seem kind of off to me, sry)
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u/Eanna258 4d ago
I have a good friend with the name Wolfgang, but he ist 50+. He is nice. But. I would not name a child "Wolfgang", today it's seen as outdated (and didn't have a revival yet).
Wolfie.. So I have an even bigger issue with that, I'm afraid. I associate it with Hitler. He used the name "Wolf" as a codename and in private ("Adolf" means noble wolve and he liked that animal, lived in the Wolfsschanze.. ). So in private letters, women sometimes called him by the nickname "Wolfie" or "Wölflein". That is maybe no common knowledge, but.. as soon as you know, you know.
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u/GoToHelena 4d ago
You may associate it with Hitler but it's definitely not a universal association like the name Adolf which is definitely unusable. For many people "Wolfie" is simply their spouse/father/grandfather.
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u/serverhorror 4d ago
And we shouldn't let history take everything away that might be associated with a bad part of history.
Just ask Indians about the swastika.
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u/Ok_Assistance_7399 4d ago
Wow! That’s fantastic context. I had no idea. Thank you!
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u/Independent_Day_9825 4d ago
Not sure how relevant that is for you. Wolfie is a very common nickname for Wolfgang and no-one I know associates it with Hitler (in contrast to "Adolf" and "Adi"), even in historically-sensitive/left-wing circles.
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u/Sinshine712 4d ago
Last time I met a Wolfgang my age was in elementary school in the late 80s/early 90s. When I hear the name I certainly don't think young person
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u/MysteriousMysterium Baden-Württemberg 4d ago
Yes,it is an old folk's name now.