The first name of the child is often after a parent or ancestor to show respect. However, the children are rarely called by that name, but by either their second name, or their Christian name (their third name). Caroline Auguste Amalie Jahn was given a first name after her mother, a second name probably after a male relative "August"; but she was called by her Christian name Amalie. 3 of the 6 Jahn children were called by their third name (Mathilde, Clara and Amalie). We can assume the remaining children were also named using the same pattern. Therefore the six Jahn children in birth order were Emalie, Mathilde, Theodor, Pauline, Clara and Amalie.
Often adults drop the names they don't use, or use them as initials.
Amalies mother may have gone by the name Caroline. Wilhelmine may have been after a male relative, Souife is unknown, and Hilmann was the name of her parents.
In order to "anglify" a German name, people chose names where the new spelling "sounded" German, rather than giving the German spelling a new pronunciation.
According to family legend "Alma" was an anglified name of her mother, therefore "Amalie" may have been pronounced "oú-ma-lee."
Frieden meaning "peace", frieder meaning of peace (as in the place named Peace) or the place named Fried. "ich" meaning "I" or "myself." (Place of "peace, myself" would be a protective name for a monarch). Fried also an abbreviation of Friedrich, therefore "Frieder" is "of Friedrich" as in children of Friedrich. Friederike, Friederika are feminine names for Friederich, meaning lover or mistress (Friedel). Friedericus is Latin for Friederich. The suffix "eike" meaning "oak" or "ice" meaning "mighty" and "cki" are all derivatives of slavic origins (as in place names). A loose interpretation of Friederici might be "a (slavic) feminine place - lovers, or children of Friederich." Frederick I ruled under the Hohenstaufen dynasty and was called "The Great Frederick Barbarossa" (after his red beard) 1152-1190.
"The greatest of Frederick's 'overmighty subjects' was his cousin Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony, on whom the duchy of Bavaria was conferred, and who also gained territories in northern and north eastern Germany."
Even though this dynasty soon dwindled under his care, Frederick is associated with the civilized courtly chivalry, and "a golden age of imperial greatness." The solidity of the 12th c. cultural and economic successes in Saxony, could be the origins of the "mighty lovers of Frederick ", who migrated to the new northeast territories. The long line of Friederici's of Gera Saxony, still live there today.
Friedrich III was a German ruler from 1440-1493.
Ferdinands Christian name literally translates to a "horse in France." However, Catholic Hapsburg rulers were Ferdinand I 1531-1564; Ferdinand II 1619-1637; Ferdinand III 1636-1657; and Ferdinand IV 1653-1654.
The Friederici's tended to choose more traditional Christian names for their children. They also selected names from a smaller selection. Repeating a small group of names was a custom of lower classes and Catholics, in order to solidify their identities and strengthen social positions. (Indo-Europeans would celebrate July 1 as a day of fertility. Large healthy families indicated future prosperity, strength in family social legacies because of their community interconnectedness, as well as more farm hands bringing larger crops and wealth.) Names such as Christian, Gottlieb (God Loving), Ernst, Carl (a popular Catholic name) and Wilhelm are repeated frequently in the double names of Friederici's throughout Germany. The most popular of these combinations are from Gera Saxony where the famous piano e forte designer, Christian Ernst Friederici, is from.
Oddly, Christian was considered a non-biblical name, but popular in Protestant families.
Popular 19th c. Catholic names include Carl and Johann.
Johann and Hans are both endearment names from Johannes.
Gottlieb means God loving.
During the 18th and 19th c. out of German males approximately:
11% of the were named Johann
10% were named Christian
9% were named Gottfried
10% were named George
Popular double names during this time period including
Carl Gottfried
Christian Friederich
Christian Gottlob
Julius Ernst
The lower social classes selected names from a smaller range of names than upper classes.