In empirical social research in Germany, maternal role models have rarely been examined. An analysis with quantitative and representative data has not yet been carried out. The aim of this article is to identify and describe maternal role models in Germany. Furthermore, it will be investigated which maternal role models exist on an individual and social level and how they are structured in terms of content. The results reflect the high quality demands on mothers, who should pursue both education (“care”) and “self-care” as central goals in life. At the same time, it also becomes clear that the guiding role model on motherhood that is generally perceived as predominant appears overburdened due to the contradiction and complexity of the requirements, especially in western Germany. In the main-component and index-based typing, four models on motherhood emerged which currently exist in Germany among the 20 to 39-year-olds. Two pure types were identified: the work- and child-oriented maternal role model and two mixed types, the moderate and the compatibility-oriented model. There was also a stronger child orientation among people living in West Germany. The most significant aspect is that the child- and work-oriented maternal role models are closely related to the life model of the respondents’ mothers. Among other things, the social systems (old versus new Länder) in which mothers were socialized and which affect the following generation of respondents seems to be the most significant factor.