Forenames
The Vorname (in English forename) is given to a child by the parents shortly after birth but not in all cases. It is common to give a child several Vornamen (forenames). Usually, one of them is meant to be normally used and called the Rufname (call name). This is often underlined on official documents, as it is sometimes the second or third name in a list, even though it is the person's main name.
In Germany, the chosen name must be approved by the local Standesamt (Office of Vital Statistics). The name must indicate the gender of the child and not negatively affect the well being of the child. Last names or the names of objects and products are not acceptable. For example, "Matti" was rejected for a boy's name because it did not indicate gender. However, these types of names are permittable if combined with a second name which clears up the gender, for example: "Matti Oliver" or "Matti Julia".
The decision of the Standesamt may be appealed by the submission of a fee. The Standesamt refers to a book that translates to "the international manual of first names".
Read more about this topic: German Name