Dutch Names

Poetic and whimsical but with touch of valor about it, Roselotte is a rare compound name, blending two classics together. It would likely be pronounced with four syllables ("RO-zuh-law-tuh") in German, three in Dutch ("ROZ-law-tuh") and two or three in English ("ROZ-loht" or ROZ-uh-loht").

Roselotte

An Afrikaans variation of Charles, likely adapted other forms such as Carel and Charl, Sarel is also used occasionally among Dutch speakers. A historic bearer is Sarel Cilliers, a 19th-century preacher and leader, who led the Boers to victory at the Battle of Blood River in 1838. A noteworthy(and spiritual) figure in South Africa, he likely helped to popularize this variation as there are schools, museums, streets, and roads named after him.
 
Other bearers include kickboxer Sarel de Jong, cricketer Sarel Erwee, and rugby players Sarel Petrus Marais Sarel Pretorius.

Sarel

A Dutch spelling of the stylish, international, unisex name, ultimately borrowed from the Russian diminutive of Aleksandr and Aleksandra. Less common than Sacha, Sascha, and Sasha, it is used predominantly in the Netherlands and occasionally in Denmark.



Sasja

Adapted from the Russian nickname for Alexander and Alexandra, Sasja is a Dutch spelling of Sasha, Sacha, and Sascha. It was notably borne by the 19th-century Dutch Noble, Prince Alexander of the Netherlands. 

Suze can be a diminutive of Susan or Susanne.' Suze also exists as an independent Dutch name, pronounced SHU-sha, 

While Suze is one of the fastest-rising girl names in the Netherlands, no baby girls were named Suze in the US in the US last year, perhaps because it's too close to the dated Susie or because of pronunciation confusion. The best-known person with the name in the US, financial columnist Suze Orman, pronounces her name like Susie.

Suze

A feminine form of the popular Dutch name, Teun, Teuntje ultimately derives from the Latin Antonius, making this a Dutch equivalent of Antonia or Tonya. Occasionally used as a masculine pet name, Teuntje made the Top 500 in The Netherlands in the late 2000s, but has not featured again since. Teuna is an alternative feminization. 


Teuntje

Typically used as a short form of Martinus — or occasionally for Constantinus — Tinus is heard in the Netherlands and South Africa. While the long form may appear on the birth-certificate, Tinus could be used on a day-to-day basis. 
 
Notable bearers include rugby player Tinus de Beer and Olympic sprinter Tinus Osendarp.

Tinus

Borne by the protagonist of the popular Dutch children's novel, The Letter for the King (De brief voor de koning), Tiuri was invented by the writer Tonke Dragt. The novel (and its sequels) are a medieval fantasy books, following the journeys and adventures of Tuiri, a young squire, soon to be knighted.
 
As an invented name, the exact etymology is unknown, but given the Arthurian elements noted in the books, it might have been inspired by Tuur, a Dutch diminutive of Arthur. Alternative theories are that it come an Old Germanic word tiuri meaning "dear, expensive"; from tiur, the Norwegian name for the wood grouse or capercaillie bird; or from the Finnish Tuire or tuiretuinen meaning "darling" or "unwise, silly, unhappy". Other meanings and sources are possible, however.
 
Due to the popularity of the book and its more recent Netflix adaptation, released in 2020, Tiuri has seen some real life usage in the Netherlands.

Tiuri

A modern Dutch name that features in the Top 500 in the Netherlands, Vajèn is a spin on either Cheyenne or Vivian. First appearing in the Dutch charts in 2012, it shot into the Top 100, peaking at #91 the same year. Singer and actress Vajèn van den Bosch is a notable bearer. 

Vajèn

Zippy and energetic in sound with an spirited meaning, Wiebe likely started out as a diminutive of the Old English and Old Germanic names Wigberht and Wigbrand. Meaning "war bright", "war torch", it ranked in the Top 500 in the Netherlands during the 2000s and early 2010s, it has been used as a given name since at least the 20th-century. 
 
Notable bearers of the name include strongman Wiebe Nijenhuis, translator Wiebe Buddingh', painter Wiebe van der Zee, and footballer Wiebe Kooistra.

Wiebe

An equivalent to Wilhelmina, Willemijn is a strong, bright feminine form of the Dutch Willem. Dropping in and out of the Dutch Top 500 since at least the 2000s (when records began), it may be pronounced as vih-luh-MIEN, wih-luh-MIEN, or vih-luh-MAYN depending on region. 
 
A notable bearer is actress and singer Willemijn Verkaik, famous for being the voice of Elsa in the German and Dutch versions of Disney's Frozen and for playing Elphaba in the musicalWicked in the Netherlands, Germany, on Broadway, and on the West End. Another is peace activist Willemijn Verloop, the founder of War Child.

Willemijn

Pronounced as VILL-mee or WILL-mee depending on where you are, this clunky-cute nickname might interest those who enjoy the likes of Florrie, Mamie, Femke, Willa, Billie, Maudie, Emmy, Wendy, and Romi.  Used as a diminutive of Wilma, Wilhelmina, and Willemijn, it is a relation of William. 



Wilmie

Wisse is a Dutch diminutive of a variety of Old Germanic names ranging from Wizo, Altwidus, and Witold, to Wisamar, Wissebert, Alawis, and Wisgard. It has been used for names that contain the elements: wîsan) ("to rule"), wîso ("leader"), wîs ("wise"), witu ("forest, woods"), wit("wide", and wigbattle, giving it a plethora of meanings.
 
A name dating back to at least the 1790s, if not earlier, it is still used as a given name in The Netherlands today, albeit quietly. Ten boys were given the name in the most recent year, placing it just outside the Top 1000 names. 
 
The name can be pronounced as WIS-uh or VIS-uh, depending on location and language.

Wisse

Derived from Yuriy, the Russian and Ukrainian form of George, Youri is a Dutch and French equivalent of the name. Gentle yet hardy, it has an international feel and was saw some popularity in France and the Netherlands during the 2000s. Pronounced as yoo-ree, in France, both syllables would be emphasized, while in Dutch, only the first would be.
 
Alternative Dutch forms include Joeri and Yoeri, along with Joris and Jurriaan, while in France, the alternative would be Georges.

Youri

Familiar-but-new, Zealand has a lot going for it with its spunky Z initial and globe-trotting vibes. Sparingly used for boys since the 2000s and even more occasionally used for girls since 2010, YouTube family The Labrants brought this name into the spotlight when they called their son Zealand in 2019.
 
Since then, the number of boys called Zealand has greatly increased, while for girls, it has seen a very modest increase in use. Givento 6 girls in a recent year (along with 110 boys), it remains a <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/210/place-names-off-the-map">a rare place name for babies</a>. 
 
In terms of etymology, Zealand is the English translation of the Dutch province, Zeeland (originally called Seelant), though it's more commonly associated with New Zealand, the Oceanic country named by the Dutch. The name translates to "sea land", making this <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/641/names-that-mean-ocean">an ocean inspired choice</a>.
 
Similar in style to Holland and close in sound to Zaylee, perhaps Zealand will see more use in the future.

Zealand

Dutch, Limburgish and Afrikaans diminutive of Anne.

Anneke

Anouk, made famous by French actress Anouk Aimée, is a singular name with a lovely sound and a Bohemian feel. Anouk Aimée was born as Francoise, but adopted the first name of the character she played in her debut film.
 Anouk, which is quite popular in The Netherlands, was the name of the young daughter in the French film Chocolat. (some other interesting character names in that movie are Vianne, Roux and Dedou.) The Belgian supermodel spells her name Anouck Lepére.
 Anouk is one of the most appealing of the An-starting names.

Anouk

Dael is cooler than Dale -- but why?  Vowel switch gives an old nature name a hipper look. 

Dael

Yes, though it seems so extreme, girls were actually sometimes given this name a century ago; now it is so uncommon it would make a strong springtime statement. Biggest obstacle: the nickname Daffy. 
 The daffodil is the national flower of Wales, and in the language of flowers it symbolizes both respect and unrequited love.
 But if this all seems too much, you could just go with Daisy.

Daffodil

Doortje is a feminine Dutch name that functions as a diminutive form of Dorothea, meaning 'gift of God' in Greek. Common in the Netherlands and occasionally found in other Dutch-speaking regions, this name combines traditional roots with a distinctive cultural identity. The characteristic Dutch '-tje' ending adds a sense of endearment and affection. Pronunciation may challenge non-Dutch speakers, as the 'oo' is pronounced more like 'oh' and the 'tj' has a specific Dutch sound. Though rare outside its cultural context, Doortje carries a quaint charm and authentic connection to Dutch heritage that might appeal to parents with Dutch ancestry or those seeking a truly distinctive international name.

Doortje

Dutch baby names on Nameberry are mostly variations long used in The Netherlands of names rooted in other languages. But there are also some distinctly Dutch names, often diminutives used mostly in Holland such as Bas for Sebastian and Sanne for Susanne. 

Dutch names also draw influence from surrounding countries, including France, Belgium, Germany, and Scandinavia. Baby names popular in The Netherlands have roots in Hebrew, Latin, Irish, Italian, and English, among other national or cultural origins.

Dutch baby names for girls and boys include the following choices, ordered according to their current popularity on Nameberry.

Dutch baby names for boys and girls with meanings and popularity, including names originating in the Netherlands and names popular in Holland (Page 10)