der
Name
📖 What exactly is a 'Name'?
Der Name (plural: die Namen) is a German noun and refers to the individual designation for a person, place, thing, or concept. It serves for identification and distinction.
- Persons: First name (Vorname), Last name (Nachname) (e.g., Peter Müller)
- Places: City names (Städtenamen), Country names (Ländernamen) (e.g., Berlin, Deutschland)
- Things: Brand names (Markennamen), Product names (Produktnamen) (e.g., Volkswagen)
- Abstract concepts: Reputation (Ruf) (e.g., einen guten Namen haben - to have a good name/reputation)
⚠️ Important: The word "Name" itself is always masculine, so it's der Name.
🧐 Grammar of 'der Name' in Detail
"Name" is a masculine noun and usually follows the strong declension pattern (with -(e)s in the genitive singular and -n in the dative plural).
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Name | ein Name |
| Genitive | des Namens | eines Namens |
| Dative | dem Namen | einem Namen |
| Accusative | den Namen | einen Namen |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Namen | keine Namen (no names) |
| Genitive | der Namen | keiner Namen (of no names) |
| Dative | den Namen | keinen Namen (to/for no names) |
| Accusative | die Namen | keine Namen (no names) |
📝 Example Sentences
- Wie ist Ihr Name? (What is your name?)
- Der Name des Buches ist sehr interessant. (The name of the book is very interesting. - Genitive)
- Ich habe meinem Kind einen schönen Namen gegeben. (I gave my child a beautiful name. - Dative)
- Können Sie mir Ihren Namen nennen? (Can you tell me your name? - Accusative)
- Die Namen der Gewinner wurden verlesen. (The names of the winners were read out. - Plural)
💡 How 'der Name' is Used
- Identification: The most common use is for naming people, places, or things. "Mein Name ist Hase, ich weiß von nichts." (German idiom, literally 'My name is Rabbit, I know nothing about it', meaning 'I plead ignorance.')
- Reputation: Often, "Name" is used figuratively for the reputation or standing of a person or company. "Diese Marke hat sich einen Namen gemacht." (This brand has made a name for itself.)
- On behalf of: The phrase "im Namen von" means speaking or acting representatively for someone. "Ich spreche im Namen aller Kollegen." (I am speaking on behalf of all colleagues.)
- Terms & Concepts: Abstract ideas or scientific terms also bear names. "Der Name dieses Theorems ist schwer auszusprechen." (The name of this theorem is hard to pronounce.)
Compared to Bezeichnung (designation, term), der Name is more personal and specific, while Titel (title) often implies an official or hierarchical rank.
🧠 Mnemonics for 'der Name'
For the article 'der': Think: Der dude has a Name. Many personal identifiers in German are masculine (der Pass - the passport, der Ausweis - the ID card, der Vorname - the first name, der Nachname - the last name...). So is der Name.
For the meaning: A Name helps you Naim (sounds similar!) something or someone, to target it specifically. It gives it an identity.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms of Name
Synonyms (Similar meaning):
- Bezeichnung: A more general term for a word that identifies something (designation, term).
- Benennung: Similar to Bezeichnung, emphasizes the act of naming.
- Titel: Often used for books, films, pieces of music, or an official designation/rank (title).
- Ruf: Refers to standing or reputation (e.g., "ein guter Name" - a good name/reputation).
- Eigenname: Specific linguistic term for proper nouns (names of people, places, brands).
Antonyms (Opposite meaning):
- Anonymität: The state of being nameless or unrecognized (anonymity).
- Unbekanntheit: When something or someone doesn't have a known name (obscurity, unknownness).
- Nummer: In some contexts (e.g., prisoners), used as an opposite to an individual name (number).
Related Terms:
😄 A Little Joke about Names
DE: Fragt der Lehrer: "Wie ist dein Name?" Schüler: "Mein Name ist Wikipedia." Lehrer: "Ein ungewöhnlicher Name!" Schüler: "Ja, aber ich weiß alles!"
EN: The teacher asks: "What's your name?" Student: "My name is Wikipedia." Teacher: "That's an unusual name!" Student: "Yes, but I know everything!"
✒️ Poem about Names
DE:
Ein Name, kurz, ein langes Wort,
trägt dich von Ort zu Ort.
Er sagt, wer du bist, wer du warst,
ohne ihn wär alles fast
nur grau und ohne Klang,
drum pflege deinen Namen lang!
EN:
A name, short, a long word too,
Carries you from place to place, it's true.
It tells who you are, who you were before,
Without it, all would be almost poor,
Just grey and soundless in the game,
So cherish long your own good name!
❓ Riddle Time
DE: Ich gehöre dir, doch andere benutzen mich öfter als du. Man gibt ihn, man trägt ihn, man macht ihn sich gut und ruft ihn laut. Was bin ich?
EN: I belong to you, but others use me more often than you do. It is given, it is carried, one makes it good for oneself, and calls it out loud. What am I?
Solution: der Name (the name)
💡 Other Interesting Facts
- Etymology: The word "Name" derives from the Old High German "namo" and has Indo-European roots related to "to know" or "to name".
- Word Formation: There are many compound words with "-name" in German, e.g., Benutzername (username), Markenname (brand name), Mädchenname (maiden name), Dateiname (filename), Künstlername (stage name).
- Idioms: "Sich einen Namen machen" (to make a name for oneself, become famous/respected), "Im Namen des Gesetzes" (In the name of the law), "Beim Namen nennen" (to call something by its name, address something directly).
- Naming Law (Namensrecht): Germany has legal regulations concerning the giving and changing of names.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Name?
The German word "Name" is always masculine, so the correct article is der Name.