Top Swiss baby names and meanings

Surfing countless lists of baby names can be draining, right? Wouldn’t it be better if you had the opportunity to rest assured that you made an informed choice? It would certainly be easier to make a clear decision after examining a complete list of the top picks.

That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the top Swiss baby names and their meanings. 

Drawing on Switzerland's diverse cultural landscape we explore the various nationalities and languages that have shaped Swiss baby names.

This exploration reveals a unique blend that reflects Switzerland's rich heritage and linguistic diversity.

Get ready and dive into a rich tapestry of baby names! Discover their different origins and meanings.

In this article:

Popular Swiss names for boys

Popular Swiss names for girls

What are traditional Swiss names?

What is a common Swiss name?

What is the rarest Swiss baby name?

Final thoughts

According to statistics run by the Federal Statistical Office in 2023, the most popular names in every region of Switzerland are: 

Popular Swiss names for boys:

1. Daniel: Of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my judge."

2. Peter: Of Greek origin, meaning "rock" or "stone."

3. Thomas: Of Hebrew origin, meaning "twin."

4. Hans: German form of John, meaning "God is gracious."

5. Christian: Of Latin origin, meaning "follower of Christ."

6. Martin: Of Latin origin, meaning "dedicated to Mars" or "warlike."

7. Michael: Of Hebrew origin, meaning "who is like God?"

8. Andreas: Of Greek origin, meaning "manly" or "brave."

9. Markus: German form of Mark, meaning "dedicated to Mars."

10. David: Of Hebrew origin, meaning "beloved."

11. Marco: Italian and Portuguese form of Mark, meaning "dedicated to Mars."

12. Patrick: Of Latin origin, meaning "noble" or "patrician."

13. Stefan: German form of Stephen, of Greek origin, meaning "crown" or "wreath."

14. Bruno: Of German origin, meaning "brown."

15. Urs: Of Latin origin, short for Ursus, meaning "bear."

16. Marcel: Of Latin origin, a diminutive form of Marcus, meaning "little warrior."

17. Walter: Of German origin, meaning "army ruler."

18. Simon: Of Hebrew origin, meaning "he has heard."

19. René: Of French origin, meaning "reborn."

20. Roland: Of Germanic origin, meaning "famous throughout the land."

Popular Swiss names for girls:

1. Maria: Of Hebrew origin, meaning "bitter" or "beloved."

2. Anna: Of Hebrew origin, meaning "grace" or "favor."

3. Sandra: A short form of Alexandra, meaning "defender of mankind."

4. Ursula: Of Latin origin, meaning "bear."

5. Monika: Meaning "advisor," "solitary," "one," "unique."

6. Elisabeth: Of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my oath."

7. Claudia: Of Latin origin, meaning "lame" or "enclosure."

8. Ruth: Of Hebrew origin, meaning "companion" or "friend."

9. Nicole: French feminine form of Nicolas, meaning "victory of the people."

10. Barbara: Of Greek origin, meaning "foreign."

11. Andrea: Feminine form of Andrew, meaning "manly" or "brave."

12. Verena: Of Latin origin, meaning " true," "revered," "bringing victory. "

13. Silvia: Of Latin origin, meaning "from the forest."

14. Daniela: Feminine form of Daniel, of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my judge."

15. Christine: Of Greek origin, meaning "Christian" or "anointed."

16. Marie: French form of Maria, meaning "bitter" or "beloved."

17. Laura: Of Latin origin, meaning "laurel."

18. Karin: Swedish form of Katherine, meaning "pure."

19. Marianne: A French compound of Maria (bitter, beloved) and Anne (grace, favor).

20. Sarah: Of Hebrew origin, meaning "princess" or "noblewoman."

    
    

Based on the same research, the most popular baby names in each region are:

In German-speaking Switzerland: 

Boy Names

1. Peter

2. Daniel

3. Thomas

4. Hans

5. Andreas

6. Martin

7. Michael

8. Christian

9. Stefan

Girl names:

1. Maria

2. Anna

3. Ursula

4. Monika

5. Ruth

6. Claudia

7. Elisabeth

   
   

In French-speaking Switzerland:

Boy names:

1. Jean

2. Daniel

3. David

4. Nicolas

5. Pierre

6. Philippe

7. Michel

8. José

9. Alexandre

10. Christian

11. Olivier

12. Patrick

13. Christophe

14. Julien

15. Alain

16. Stéphane

17. André

18. Laurent

19. Thomas

20. Marc

Girl names: 

1. Maria

2. Marie

3. Anne

4. Catherine

5. Nathalie

6. Ana

7. Isabelle

8. Christine

9. Sandra

10. Nicole

11. Françoise

12. Monique

13. Laura

14. Sarah

15. Patricia

16. Sophie

17. Valérie

18. Anna

19. Céline

20. Jacqueline

    
    

In Italian-speaking Switzerland: 

Boy names:

1. Marco

2. Andrea

3. Luca

4. Alessandro

5. Francesco

6. Giuseppe

7. Antonio

8. Roberto

9. Stefano

10. Davide

11. Matteo

12. Giovanni

13. Paolo

14. Fabio

15. Michele

16. Claudio

17. Daniele

18. Simone

19. Mattia

20. Nicola

Girl names:  

1. Maria

2. Anna

3. Sara

4. Daniela

5. Laura

6. Elena

7. Francesca

8. Giulia

9. Paola

10. Cristina

11. Claudia

12. Monica

13. Barbara

14. Chiara

15. Valentina

16. Martina

17. Silvia

18. Elisa

19. Sofia

20. Manuela

    
    

In Romansh-speaking Switzerland:

Boy names:

1. Gian

2. Martin

3. Christian

4. Gion

5. Daniel

6. Jon

7. Reto

8. Mario

9. Peter

10. Marco

11. Flurin

12. Thomas

13. Claudio

14. Simon

15. Andri

16. Manuel

17. Sandro

18. Andreas

19. Curdin

20. Werner

21. Roman

Girl names: 

1. Maria

2. Anna

3. Claudia

4. Rita

5. Anita

6. Silvia

7. Elisabeth

8. Daniela

9. Martina

10. Sandra

11. Ursula

12. Andrea

13. Seraina

14. Manuela

15. Monika

16. Ursina

17. Ladina

18. Laura

19. Flurina

20. Selina

    
    

Frequently asked questions

What are traditional Swiss names?

If you've been tirelessly searching for the top traditional Swiss names, you'll find comfort in our well-sought list, which includes the best Swiss names and their meanings. 

In hopes of assuaging your needs, we present you with a treasure trove of Swiss baby names:

Swiss boy names: 

1. Hans: Of German origin, meaning "God is gracious."

2. Werner: Of German origin, meaning "defending warrior."

3. Jürgen: German form of George, meaning "farmer" or "earth-worker."

4. Felix: Of Latin origin, meaning "happy" or "fortunate," widely used in German-speaking countries.

5. Lukas: Of Greek origin, meaning "from Lucania," used in German-speaking areas.

6. Alain: Of Celtic origin, meaning "little rock, "handsome" or "deer."

7. Étienne: French form of Stephen, meaning "crown" or "wreath."

8. Guillaume: French form of William, meaning "resolute protector."

9. Luc: French form of Luke, meaning "light" or "from Lucania."

10. Thierry: Of French origin, meaning "ruler of the people."

11. Marco: Of Italian origin, meaning "dedicated to Mars(The Roman God of War)" 

12. Matteo: Italian form of Matthew, meaning "gift of God."

13. Giovanni: Italian form of John, meaning "God is gracious."

14. Riccardo: Italian form of Richard, meaning "brave ruler."

15. Flurin: A Romansch name, meaning "flower."

16. Andri: Romansh form of Andrew, meaning "manly" or "brave."

17. Gian: Romansh form of Giovanni, meaning "God is gracious."

18. Duri: A common name of Romansh origin, meaning "enduring" or "strong."

Swiss girl names:

1. Heidi: Of German origin, meaning "nobility."

2. Ursula: Of Latin origin, meaning "little female bear."

3. Claudia: Of Latin origin, the feminine form of Claudius, meaning "lame" or "enclosure."

4. Annette: French diminutive of Anna, meaning "grace." Annette is commonly used in German-speaking regions.

5. Geneviève: Of French origin, meaning "tribe woman."

6. Isabelle: French origin, a variant of Elizabeth, meaning "pledged to God."

7. Monique: French form of Monica, meaning "advisor," “one” or "unique."

8. Sylvie: French form of the Latin Silvia, meaning "forest" or "wood."

9. Lucia: Of Italian origin, meaning "light."

10. Giulia: Italian form of Julia, meaning "youthful."

11. Bianca: Of Italian origin, meaning "white."

12. Alessandra: The Italian form of Alexandra, meaning "defender of mankind."

13. Sofia: Of Greek origin, “Sofia” is highly used in Italy and means "wisdom."

14. Annina: Diminutive of Anna in Romansh, meaning "grace."

15. Serafina: Of Hebrew origin, meaning "fiery." The name is common in Romansh-speaking areas.

16. Domenica: Of Italian origin, meaning "belonging to the Lord." 

17. Carina: Of Latin origin, meaning "dear" or "beloved." 

18. Elvira: Of Spanish origin, meaning "white."

What is a common Swiss name?

When various societal backgrounds blend perfectly, a feeling of fraternity and harmony emerges that echoes their people’s lives. This leads to collaboration and interconnectedness among them. 

You see, it’s not only Switzerland’s breathtaking vistas but also its culture that stands out at a whole different level: With a fertile ground for communication, the sublime in cultural development occurs. 

Tap into this astonishing beauty by giving your little bundle of joy a Swiss baby name - share with them the almost alchemically balanced combination of its unique cultural backgrounds.

Swiss names for boys:

1. Bruno: Meaning "brown."

2. Conrad: Meaning "brave."

3. Elias: From the Hebrew Elijah, which means "Jehovah is God."

4. Gerfried: Meaning "the spear of peace."

5. Hans: Related to the Italian Giovanni - "God is gracious."

6. Julian: Of Latin origin, meaning "youthful."

7. Koloman: Meaning "dove."

8. Francisque: A variation of Francis, meaning "Frenchman" or "free one."

9. Frédéric/Frederick: Of Germanic origin, meaning "peaceful ruler."

10. Gabriel: Of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my strength."

11. Lucas: Of Latin origin, from the name Lucius, meaning "light."

12. Luis: Of Germanic origin, meaning "famous warrior."

13. Adrian: Of Latin origin, meaning "man from Hadria."

14. Alessandro: Of Greek origin, meaning "defender or helper of mankind."

15. Desiderio: Of Latin origin, meaning "desired" or "longed for."

16. Enea: The Italian form of Aeneas, meaning "praised."

17. Felix: Of Latin origin, meaning "happy" or "fortunate."

18. Florian: Of Latin origin, meaning "flowering" or "flourishing."

19. Leo: Of Latin origin, meaning "lion."

20. Leonardo: Of Italian origin, meaning "brave lion" or "lion-hearted."

21. Lorenzo: Of Latin origin, meaning "laurel."

22. Luca: Of Latin origin, meaning "light."

23. Lugano: Named after a town in southern Switzerland.

24. Marco: Of Latin origin, meaning "dedicated to Mars (the Roman god of war)"

25. Matteo: Of Hebrew origin, meaning "gift of God."

26. Noël: Of French origin, meaning "Christmas."

27. Valerio: Of Latin origin, meaning "to be strong" or "healthy."

28. Nathan: Of Hebrew origin, meaning "God has given."

29. Andrin: A Romansh form of Henry, meaning "home-ruler."

30. Antonin: A version of Anthony, meaning "priceless" or "beyond praise."

31. Aurel: Related to Aurelius, meaning "golden."

32. Balser: A form of Balthasar, meaning "protected by God."

33. Chasper: Romansh form of Casper, meaning "treasurer."

34. Fadri: Romansh form of Frederick, meaning "peaceful ruler."

35. Jaronas: Meaning "sacred name."

36. Rapoto: Germanic origin, meaning "bold counsel."

37. Rico: A Romansh nickname for Richard, meaning "strong ruler."

38. Uorsin: Romansh, meaning "bear."

39. Renard: French, meaning "fox."

40. Samuel: Of Hebrew origin, meaning "name of God."

41. Theo: Short form of Theodore, meaning "gift of God."

42. Thomas: Of Hebrew origin, meaning "twin."

43. Yves: Of French origin, meaning "yew" 

Swiss names for girls: 

1. Anna: Of Hebrew origin, meaning "grace" or "favor."

2. Ursula: Of Latin origin, meaning "little female bear."

3. Aria/Arya: Of Italian origin, meaning "air" or "melody."

4. Aurora: Of Latin origin, meaning "dawn."

5. Cara/Kara: Of Latin origin, meaning "dear" or "beloved."

6. Emilia: Of Latin origin, meaning "rival" or "industrious."

7. Fiorella: Italian diminutive of Fiore, meaning "little flower."

8. Giulia: Of Latin origin, meaning "youth."

9. Ilaria: Of Latin origin, meaning "cheerful" or "happy."

10. Julie/Juliette: French forms of Julia, meaning "youthful."

11. Luna: Of Latin origin, meaning "moon."

12. Noemi: Of Hebrew origin, meaning "my delight."

13. Valentina: Of Latin origin, meaning "strong" and "healthy."

14. Angiola: Romansh form of Angela, meaning "angel" or "messenger."

15. Beate: German origin, meaning "blessed."

16. Dorina: Related to Dorothea, meaning "gift of God."

17. Grettina: A variant of Margaret, meaning "pearl."

18. Guida: Italian, meaning "guide."

19. Luzia: Romansh form of Lucia, meaning "light."

20. Mattia: Italian form of Matthias or Matthew, meaning "gift of God."

21. Petrica: Diminutive of Petra, meaning "rock" or "stone."

22. Ursina: The feminine form of Ursin, meaning "bear."

23. Amelie: Of German origin, meaning "work" or "industrious."

24. Chantal: Of French origin, meaning "stone."

25. Charlotte: The feminine form of Charles.

26. Chloe/Khloe: Of Greek origin, meaning "blooming" or "fertility."

27. Eva: Of Hebrew origin, meaning "life."

28. Fabienne: French, feminine form of Fabian, meaning "bean grower."

29. Francoise: French, feminine form of François, "meaning from France."

30. Geneva: Named after the Swiss city.

31. Natalie: Of Latin origin, meaning "Christmas Day."

32. Océane: French, meaning "ocean."

33. Veronique: French form of Veronica, meaning "bringing victory."

What are some Swiss girl names?

If you’ve discovered that the name you’re looking for your baby can serve as a stepping stone for a life rich with meaning, the following list can offer great insights into your search. 

With that in mind, our list of Swiss names for girls can be astonishingly interesting: Check it out!

Swiss Female names:

1. Heidi: Of German origin, meaning "noble" or "kind."

2. Isabelle: Of French origin, meaning "pledged to God."

3. Elena: Of Greek origin, meaning "bright, shining light."

4. Lara: Of Latin origin, meaning "cheerful" or "famous."

5. Sophie: Of Greek origin, meaning "wisdom."

6. Nora: Of Latin origin, meaning "honor."

7. Aline: Of German origin, meaning "noble."

8. Selina: Of Greek origin, meaning "moon."

What is the rarest Swiss baby name?

Dealing with thousands of names can sometimes be a bit boring. But what if we told you there’s no need to worry? Our list of the rarest Swiss names is well-chosen and may well end your search. 

Without further ado, meet the least common Swiss names and their meanings - no need to panic anymore: 

Baby boy names:

1. Fadri: Of Romansh origin, meaning "peace ruler."

2. Ursin: Of Romansh origin, related to "Urs," meaning "bear."

3. Bendicht: Of Swiss-German origin, meaning "blessed."

   
   

Baby girl names:

1. Sereina: Of Latin origin, meaning "serene" or "calm."

2. Flurina: A Romansh variant of Florina, meaning "flower."

3. Elvira: Of German origin, meaning "all true" or "trustworthy."

Final thoughts

There you have it! A list of the top Swiss names and their meanings! 

We wholeheartedly hope you’ve found what you were looking for. But, if your search is still governed by indecisiveness, you can tap into the world of other baby names - check out the following:

• Italian baby names and their meanings

• German baby names and their meanings