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Dutch Names for Boys

Nameberry
By Nameberry
Updated Tue Jun 09 2020
Dutch baby names on Nameberry are mostly variations long used in The Netherlands of names rooted in other languages. Many of the most popular Dutch names for boys are short forms of other names, including Bas for Sebastian, Bram for Abraham, and Mees for Bartholomeus. Contemporary Dutch parents prefer shot names, especially for boys, with such brisk one-syllable choices as Teun, Mats, and Sem topping the list.

Here is our full complement of Dutch names for boys. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.
  1. Ivo

    • Origin:

      Germanic, Slavic

    • Meaning:

      "yew wood, archer; God is gracious"

    • Description:

      Succinct, stylish, and catchy, Ivo has the energetic impact of other names ending in -o. It is a multicultural choice with two distinct origins, and, as such, is familiar across a variety of countries, ranging from the Netherlands to Brazil, from Portugal to Czechia.
  2. Bram

    • Origin:

      Dutch variation of Abraham, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "father of multitudes"

    • Description:

      Bram has an unusual measure of character and charm for a one-syllable name; it started as a hipper-than-Abe diminutive of the biblical Abraham, but is also an independent Irish and Dutch name, made famous by Irish-born Dracula creator Bram (nee Abraham) Stoker. Bram is currently Number 16 in the Netherlands; Bram Howard was a character on The West Wing.
  3. Rhett

    • Origin:

      English from Dutch

    • Meaning:

      "advice"

    • Description:

      Rhett has been more tied to Gone with the Wind than even Scarlett, but now we're hearing rumblings of its finding new and independent favor among parents, perhaps emboldened by the growing popularity of Scarlett.
  4. Rem

    • Origin:

      Dutch, diminutive of Remment, Remmert, or Remmelt

    • Description:

      The Dutch are fond of short nickname names, and this one is tied to influential and provocative architect Koolhaas, born Remment. Could also be short for Remington or Remy.
  5. Van

    • Origin:

      Dutch

    • Meaning:

      "of"

    • Description:

      Whether it's used as a short form or on its own, this jazzy midcentury name is poised for a comeback along with brothers Ray and Walt.
  6. Kyler

    • Origin:

      Dutch

    • Meaning:

      "victory of the people"

    • Description:

      Kyler was once a creative solution for 90s parents who enjoyed the sounds of Kyle and Tyler but didn't want to use anything so popular. Now a well-established name on the US charts, it is given to more than 1000 babies every year.
  7. Edmond

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "wealthy protector"

    • Description:

      The sophisticated Edmond and its nearly-identical twin Edmund are coming out of mothballs now that Edward, inspired by Twilight, is once again a hot name. Parents looking for an alternative might gravitate to Edmond, a handsome classic that has both class and style.
  8. Arjan

    • Origin:

      Dutch, Punjabi, Albanian

    • Meaning:

      "from Hadria; gaining; golden life"

    • Description:

      There's something particularly attractive about names with an interior "j" and Arjan is a prime example. The Punjabi version is pronounced with a conventional j as in jar; the Dutch Arjan, which is a variation of Adrien, pronounces the 'j' like a 'y', while the Albanian pronunciation has three syllables and is a variant of Arian. A multicultural choice, Arjan is in the Top 1000 in England and Wales.
  9. Holland

    • Origin:

      Dutch place-name

    • Meaning:

      "wooded land"

    • Description:

      Holland, like most place names, is intrinsically gender neutral, but in practice today it's mostly female. There's about one boy Holland born in the US these days for every five girl Hollands. That's a reversal of the last century, when Holland peaked as a boys' name in 1893, falling off the Top 1000 completely in 1913.
  10. Roosevelt

    • Origin:

      Dutch

    • Meaning:

      "rose field"

    • Description:

      Presidential surname adopted as a first by numbers of midcentury African-American parents.
  11. Rasmus

    • Origin:

      Finnish and Scandinavian variation of Erasmus

    • Meaning:

      "beloved, desired"

    • Description:

      A form of ancient name newly popular in Eastern Europe, Rasmus is rugged and distinctive - and on trend in Estonia and Finland. Virtually unknown in the U.S. but with its philosophical roots and uplifting meaning, Rasmus seems prime for use. The Rasmus is a Finnish rock band.
  12. Cas

    • Origin:

      Short form of Casper, Persian

    • Meaning:

      "Imperial"

    • Description:

      This short-but-strong name is popular for boys in The Netherlands. While Cass is usually a female name in the U.S., it feels just as right for boys.
  13. Skylar

    • Origin:

      Variation of Schuyler, Dutch "scholar"

    • Meaning:

      "scholar"

    • Description:

      This Americanized spelling of the Dutch name is now used nearly exclusively for girls in the US.
  14. Rembrandt

    • Origin:

      Dutch artist name

    • Description:

      The name of the most renowned of the Old Masters is a potential option for families who put an emphasis on the creative. Rembrandt Peale was a member of the Peale family of painters, all named for famous artists.
  15. Sander

    • Origin:

      Dutch and Scandinavian, diminutive of Alexander

    • Meaning:

      "defending men"

    • Description:

      Sander is a more conventional form of Zander or Xander, heard frequently on its own in Europe. It is now a Top 20 name in Norway, and is also popular in Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands.
  16. Gijs

    • Origin:

      Dutch short form of Gilbert or Gijsbert, Germanic

    • Meaning:

      "bright pledge"

    • Description:

      Currently in the Top 30 in the Netherland, Gijs is s short form of Gijsbert, itself the Dutch form of the Germanic Gisbert and Gilbert. Said to rhyme with nice, the G is pronounced like the end sound of the Scottish Loch.
  17. Justus

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "just"

    • Description:

      More unusual than Justin, less word-like than Justice, this New Testament name could make an intriguing choice. After being off the popularity lists from 1904 to 1993, it is now being used in steady numbers.
  18. Schuyler

    • Origin:

      Dutch

    • Meaning:

      "scholar"

    • Description:

      This worthy name, imported by the early Dutch colonists, has been all but overpowered by the phonetic spellings -- Skyler for boys and Skylar for girls. With the surnames-as-first-names trend, however, and the popularity of the Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical Hamilton, which features the Schuyler sisters, perhaps Schuyler might receive some more interest in the coming years.
  19. Floris

    • Origin:

      Dutch variation of Florence, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "flowering"

    • Description:

      This Dutch favorite was the name of five Counts of Holland and many notable Renaissance artists, including still life painter Floris van Dijck. It is a variation of Florence, which was historically a unisex name.
  20. Heinrich

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "estate ruler"

    • Description:

      Traditional German names of this ilk have had a difficult time emigrating into the American name pool, mostly because anti-German sentiment during the two world wars of the 20th century drove German names out of fashion. One of Heinrich's nicknames, Harro, might do better.