Meinhard

What does Meinhard mean?

Meinhard is Old High German and therefore a genuinely native name — most names of this kind were originally compound words and translates as “Strong will”. Name meanings are rarely definitive; where several readings circulate we list the most common first. Treat them as origin stories rather than definitions.

Sound, length and pronunciation

It is pronounced MEIN-hart. The consonant ending gives the name definition. If your surname also starts hard, the say-it-out-loud test is worth doing.

With 8 letters and 2 syllables, Meinhard is a longer name. That gives it resonance, but almost inevitably brings a short form with it — decide which one you like before nursery decides for you.

How popular is the name?

Meinhard sits at rank 212 in the popularity tables — recognisable, but well outside the names you hear daily.

Does Meinhard suit your surname?

Check Meinhard against your surname for three things: the rhythm when spoken, the initials (Anna Sophie Schmidt becomes A.S.S.) and the nickname nursery will inevitably produce.

Sibling names that go with it

Parents who go on to have a second child often want names that work together. Meinhard pairs well with Frieda, Adelheid, Bernadette, Elfriede, Gisela.

Registry offices in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

In Germany the registry office decides whether a first name may be entered. It must be recognisable as a first name and must not harm the child's wellbeing. Austria applies comparable criteria, and in Switzerland the civil registry decides. Meinhard is an established name and entirely unproblematic in all three countries.