to baptize / name
Loading your saved state.
to baptize
To admit someone into the Christian community in a religious ceremony, usually by wetting them with water, and give them a name.
Das Baby wurde am Sonntag in der alten Dorfkirche getauft.
The baby was baptized on Sunday in the old village church.
The name that is given is always introduced with the preposition 'auf' and the accusative. The structure is: jemanden/etwas auf den Namen [Name] taufen (to baptize/name someone/something with the name [Name]).
Sie tauften ihre Tochter auf den Namen Anna.
They named their daughter Anna.
The related noun is 'die Taufe' (baptism/christening). It refers both to the religious ceremony and to the act of naming something.
Die ganze Familie war bei der Taufe anwesend.
The whole family was present at the baptism.
You can tell whether the religious or the figurative meaning is meant from the object. If it is a person (baby, child), it usually refers to religious baptism. If it is a thing (ship, product, animal), it refers to naming.
Der Winzer taufte seinen neuen Wein auf einen besonderen Namen.
The winemaker gave his new wine a special name.
In the figurative meaning of naming, 'taufen' (to name) is often used for ships, new products, inventions, baby animals in zoos, or even storms.
Das Sturmtief wurde auf den Namen „Sabine“ getauft.
The storm system was named 'Sabine'.
to call / name
'nennen' and 'taufen' can both mean that someone or something gets a name. 'nennen' is the general word and fits many everyday situations. 'taufen' is used more specifically for a religious ceremony or for a ceremonial naming, for example of a ship or project. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with names. A simple rule is: you can 'Paul nennen' (call/name someone Paul), but in a religious sense the child is 'getauft' (baptized).
Am Sonntag wird das Kind in der Kirche getauft.
On Sunday, the child will be baptized in the church.
Die Eltern nennen ihr Baby Mia.
The parents name their baby Mia.