75 Traditional Amish First Names & Last Names

Naming expert Natalie Mulholland shares insights into popular Amish names

Co-authored by Natalie Mulholland and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: December 11, 2025 Fact Checked

Boy Names

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Girl Names

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Surnames

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When you think of Amish names, you probably think of vintage, religious names, and for good reason—many Amish people give their children Biblical names. If you want to learn more about Amish naming traditions, keep reading. We’ve compiled a list of the most popular Amish boys’ and girls’ names, as well as some of the most common Amish surnames.

Common Names in Amish Communities

Naming expert Natalie Mulholland says that Amish names are often German-inspired, but they also like traditional classics like Sarah. Other options include:

Boys: Amos, Benjamin, Eli, Isaiah, Samuel
Girls: Agatha, Barbara, Elizabeth, Mary, Miriam
Last names: Beiler, Graber, Hochstetler, Miller, Yoder

Section 1 of 3:

Popular Amish Boy Names

Choose a traditional name for a baby boy. In general, the Amish are known for giving their children traditional Hebrew and Christian names. These names are often passed down for generations, so they typically have a vintage sound. Mulholland says Amish names also tend to be German-inspired.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Natalie Mulholland
Naming Expert

Expert Interview} Here are some examples:
- Abner (Hebrew for “father of light”)
- Abraham (Hebrew for “high father, father of a nation”)^{[2]
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- Amos (Hebrew for “to carry, borne by God”)
- Benjamin (Hebrew for “son of the right hand”)^{[3]
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- Christian (Latin for “follower of Christ”)
- Daniel (Hebrew for “God is my judge”)^{[4]
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- David (Hebrew for “beloved”)
- Edwin (English for “rich friend”)
- Elam (Hebrew for “eternity, hidden, highlands”)
- Eli (Hebrew for “height, ascended”)
- Elmer (English for “noble, famous”)
- Emmanuel (Hebrew for “God is with us”)
- Ezra (Hebrew for “help, helper”)
- Gideon (Hebrew for “hewer, feller”)
- Henry (German for “house ruler”)
- Isaac (Hebrew for “one who laughs or rejoices”)
- Isaiah (Hebrew for “salvation of the Lord”)
- John (Hebrew for “God is gracious”)^{[5]
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  Maddy Ferguson
  Baby Name Consultant
  
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- Joshua (Hebrew for “Yahweh is salvation”)
- Josiah (Hebrew for “Yahweh supports”)
- Leroy (French for “the king”)
- Levi (Hebrew for “joined”)^{[6]
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- Melvin (Irish and Scottish for “gentle chieftain, armored chief”)
- Reuben (Hebrew for “Behold, a son!”)
- Samuel (Hebrew for “God has heard, name of God”)

Section 2 of 3:

Popular Amish Girl Names

Pick a girl’s name with religious origins. In some Amish communities, there’s a bit more variety when it comes to girls’ names. Amish girls’ names are still typically Hebrew or Biblical, but some names fall out of fashion more quickly than boys’ names. Here are some popular examples:
- Abigail (Hebrew for “father’s joy”)^{[7]
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- Agatha (Greek for “good, virtuous, honorable”)
- Amanda (Latin for “worthy of love”)
- Anna (Hebrew for “grace, God has favored me”)
- Barbara (Greek for “stranger, foreign”)^{[8]
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- Deborah (Hebrew for “bee”)
- Elizabeth (Hebrew for “God’s promise, God is my oath”)
- Emily (Latin for “rival, laborious, eager”)
- Emma (German for “whole, universal”)^{[9]
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- Esther (Hebrew for “hide”)
- Hannah (Hebrew for “favor, grace”)
- Katie (Greek and English for “pure, clean”)
- Laura (Latin for “laurel plant”)
- Lena (Hebrew for “tower, dwelling”)
- Lovina (Latin for “famous in battle, beloved”)
- Martha (Aramaic for “lady, mistress of the house”)
- Mary (Hebrew for “beloved, wished-for child, bitter”)^{[10]
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- Melissa (Greek for “honeybee”)
- Miriam (Hebrew for “wished-for child, beloved, bitter”)^{[12]
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- Naomi (Hebrew for “pleasant, gentle”)
- Rachel (Hebrew for “ewe, female sheep”)
- Rebekah (Hebrew for “to tie firmly, to bind”)
- Ruth (Hebrew for “friend”)
- Sarah^{[13]
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  Natalie Mulholland
  Naming Expert
  
  Expert Interview} (Hebrew for “princess”)
- Wilma (German for “will helmet”)

Section 3 of 3:

Common Amish Last Names

Most Amish last names are Swiss or German. The Amish church began in Switzerland, and the majority of Amish communities in America have Swiss or German origins. While Amish surnames vary from community to community, here are some of the most common:^{[14]
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- Beiler (German for “measuring stick”)
- Bontrager (German for “water carrier”)
- Coblentz (German for “confluence of rivers”)
- Eicher (German for “someone who lives by an oak tree”)
- Garber (German for “tanner, leather worker”)
- Gingerich (Swiss German for “battle, power”)
- Graber (Swiss German for “to dig, gravedigger”)
- Hershberger (German for “deer, hart”)
- Hochstetler (Swiss German for “one who lives high on a mountainside”)
- Kauffman (German for “merchant, tradesman”)
- King (English for “monarch, ruler”)
- Kuhns (German for “bold, brave”)
- Lantz (German and Swedish for “land, spear, lance”)
- Lapp (German for “dim, naive, simpleton”)
- Mast (Dutch for “tall, lanky man”)
- Miller (English and German for “one who operates a mill”)
- Riehl (German for “rich, powerful, living in Riehl”)
- Schmucker (German for “adornment, jewel”)
- Schwartz (German for “black, dark”)
- Stoll (German for “prop, support, frame”)
- Stoltzfus (German for “proud foot”)
- Troyer (German for “one who lives by a cattle track”)
- Weaver (English for “one who weaves”)
- Yoder (Swiss German for “gift of God”)
- Zook (Swiss German for “to pull, to draw”)