"Name" is masculine in German — the correct article is der. The plural is die Namen. In English, Name means "name"."Der Name" is a basic A1 vocabulary word that every German learner needs from day one — it appears in nearly every introduction and on every form. What makes it tricky is that it's masculine despite ending in -e (most -e nouns are feminine), and it follows a special form of the N-Deklination with an unusual genitive. Below you'll find the full declension, example sentences, and a quiz.
Gender rule: "Name" is masculine despite ending in -e — this is an exception to the tendency that nouns ending in -e are feminine. It also follows a special form of the N-Deklination with -ns in the genitive (des Namens). See all gender patterns in the German Article Rules.
Name — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Name | die Namen |
| Genitive | des Namens | der Namen |
| Dative | dem Namen | den Namen |
| Accusative | den Namen | die Namen |
Example Sentences with Name
Der Name ist sehr ungewöhnlich.
(The name is very unusual.) — Nominative
Können Sie bitte den Namen buchstabieren?
(Can you spell the name, please?) — Accusative
Ich erinnere mich nicht an dem Namen.
(I don't remember the name.) — Dative
Die Bedeutung des Namens ist interessant.
(The meaning of the name is interesting.) — Genitive
Die Namen der Schüler stehen auf der Liste.
(The names of the students are on the list.) — Nominative Plural
Ich kann mir die Namen nicht merken.
(I can't remember the names.) — Accusative Plural
Related Words & Compounds
Word family (Wortfamilie): benennen (to name — verb), die Benennung (the naming), namentlich (by name — adverb), namens (named/by the name of), namhaft (notable — adjective), nämlich (namely — adverb)
Common compounds (Komposita): der Vorname (first name), der Nachname (last name/surname), der Familienname (family name), der Spitzname (nickname), der Mädchenname (maiden name), der Benutzername (username)
Common Mistake with Name
❌ Common mistake: Die Bedeutung des Namen ist schön.
✅ Correct: Die Bedeutung des Namens ist schön.
💡 Why: "Name" has a special N-Deklination genitive. Unlike regular N-Deklination nouns that only add -n (des Kollegen, des Jungen), "Name" adds -ns in the genitive: des Namens. This -ns pattern is rare but must be memorized for this group of nouns.
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Can you get all three right? Apply what you've learned above.
1. ___ Name klingt schön.
- A) Die
- B) Das
- C) Der
Check Answer
"Der Name" — Despite ending in -e (which is usually feminine), "Name" is masculine. In the nominative, the article is der.
2. Ich habe ___ Name___ vergessen.
- A) den Name
- B) den Namen
- C) dem Namen
Check Answer
"Vergessen" takes an accusative object (what?). Masculine accusative = den, and because "Name" follows the N-Deklination, the noun adds -n: den Namen.
3. Die Herkunft ___ Namens ist unklar.
- A) des Namen
- B) des Namens
- C) dem Namen
Check Answer
The genitive of "Name" is the special form des Namens — with -ns, not just -n. This is the key difference from regular N-Deklination nouns like der Kollege (des Kollegen) or der Junge (des Jungen).
Want to practice more nouns like this? The Article Trainer has 600+ nouns — including N-Deklination words and common exceptions.
More Everyday Nouns
- der Junge — the boy (also N-Deklination)
- der Kollege — the colleague (also N-Deklination)
- der Gedanke — the thought (also -ns genitive)
- der Buchstabe — the letter (also -ns genitive)
- der Wille — the will (also -ns genitive)
- der Glaube — the belief (also -ns genitive)
- der Friede — the peace (also -ns genitive)
For more vocabulary, explore the full vocabulary overview or test yourself with the vocabulary quizzes.
Is it der, die, or das Name? Practice makes perfect.
The Article Trainer gives you 600+ nouns to drill — including N-Deklination words and tricky exceptions. Pick the article, get instant feedback, and stop guessing.
Practice German Articles →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Name masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Name is masculine — the correct article is der. This surprises many learners because most German nouns ending in -e are feminine (die Lampe, die Straße). But "Name" is one of several masculine exceptions alongside der Junge, der Löwe, and der Kollege.
What is the plural of Name?
The plural is die Namen. It looks identical to the accusative and dative singular (den/dem Namen), so only the article and context tell you whether it's singular or plural.
Why is the genitive "des Namens" and not "des Namen"?
"Name" belongs to a small group of N-Deklination nouns that add -ns (not just -n) in the genitive. This is called the Sonderform (special form) of the N-Deklination. Other nouns in this group: der Gedanke (des Gedankens), der Buchstabe (des Buchstabens), der Glaube (des Glaubens), der Wille (des Willens).
What is the difference between Vorname and Nachname?
Der Vorname is your first name (given name) — "vor" means "before." Der Nachname is your last name (surname) — "nach" means "after." Both are masculine and both follow the same -ns genitive pattern as "Name": des Vornamens, des Nachnamens. You'll see these on every German form: "Vorname: _____ Nachname: _____."
