Jürgen

Jürgen is a masculine given name widely used in German-speaking countries, and it is the German form of George. The given name ultimately derives from Greek Georgios, from ge meaning earth and ergon meaning work, commonly interpreted as “earth-worker” or “farmer.” The form Jürgen emerged in German contexts through historical phonetic shifts from Georg and has been in regular use since the Middle Ages.

Variants and cognates include Jurgen (without umlaut) and Jørgen in Danish and Norwegian. The name is often paired with common German surnames and has appeared in literature, film, and public life. In pronunciation, Jürgen is typically spoken with a “y” sound at the start and a stressed first syllable; non-German speakers may render it as “YUR-gen” or “yoor-GEN” depending on language.

Usage: Jürgen has been a stable, if not top-ranked, name in German-speaking regions. It enjoyed high popularity in the mid-20th century and remains in occasional use today, though it is less common among younger cohorts than it once was. The name has also been adopted by communities outside Germany due to cultural exchange.

Notable people named Jürgen include the football managers Jürgen Klopp and Jürgen Klinsmann; the philosopher Jürgen Habermas; the actors Jürgen Prochnow and Jürgen Vogel; and the entertainer Jürgen von der Lippe.