Dutch Baby Names for Girls

Bente, pronounced ben-tah, is a popular girls' name in both The Netherlands and Denmark though largely unknown in the English-speaking world. It suffers by being a near-homonym of the English word bent, not the best dictionary equivalent for a first name. Still, if you're looking for a girls' name that equates to Ben or Benjamin or Benedict, this may be one of your best bets.

A Roos by any other name smells as sweet.

This Dutch name derives from the old Germanic name, Farahild. It is quite common in the Netherlands.

If English is your native language, it might be best to go with Fleur.

Cato may have risen to new prominence in the English speaking world as an ancient Roman boys' name, popularized by The Hunger Games. But in the Netherlands, it's most widely used as a short form for Catharina and other forms of Katherine, ranking close to the Top 100, higher than any formal variation of the name. Cato for a girl is a cute idea and a fresh way to shorten the ubiquitous Catherine.

Brisk but rather brittle. Britt Eklund was a Bond Girl in the 1974 The Man with the Golden Gun. Britt is a contracted form of Birgit, but be aware that it does come with the strong possibility of being confused with Bret/Brett—or as a shortening of Brittany.

Jinte has a messy origin story, making it pretty much impossible to discern the true meaning of the name. It originally derives from the (mostly-male) unisex name Jinne. Jinne either comes from Ine, the Dutch variation of Ina (a derivative of any name ending in -ina), or Ene, a Dutch variation of Anne or Henrika.

The use of the Dutch name Nore may be inspired by Nora, of which it is a variation. As a male name, Nore is related to Nori, the founder of Norway in Norse mythology.

In old Norse mythology Lifa/Liva is one of only two people that are destined to survive Ragnarok (Nordic armageddon) and will therefore be the parents of a new race of man.

Jaylinn is a modern feminine name that combines the popular 'Jay' prefix with the trendy '-lynn' suffix. This contemporary creation emerged in the late 20th and early 21st centuries as part of the trend toward blended and invented names. The 'Jay' element might reference the blue jay bird, symbolizing vitality and persistence, while the suffix 'lynn' appears in many names like Katelynn and Brooklynn, often derived from the Welsh word for 'lake' or 'waterfall.' Jaylinn has a melodic, flowing quality with its two syllables and soft ending. While not among the most common names, it appeals to parents seeking something familiar-sounding yet distinctive. The name carries a fresh, modern energy without being completely unconventional.

Courageous sister of Raskolnikov in Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment.

Dutch supermodel Doutzen (pronounced doubt-son) Kroes has introduced us to a name from the Netherlands that might have a hard time in an American classroom and is nowhere near as glamorous as its bearer.

Benthe is a popular Dutch abbreviation of the feminine for Benedict.

Femke is a diminutive version of the Dutch or Frisian name Fem, which in turn is a feminine form of the masculine name Femme (still with us?), which is a diminutive of several Old German names names containing the syllable "frid" which means peace.

Whereas in English, Josephine gets shortened to Jo, in Dutch it gets shortened to 'Fiene" (sounds like Feen). Fiene is now a name in its own right.

A Dutch version of Marie - this is a cute name that has potential.

This Dutch version of Eleanora, related also to the other Dutch name Noor, is one of the more common girls' names in the Netherlands.

Fien is a popular enough girls' name to make the Top 100 in The Netherlands. Dutch parents love nickname-names taken from the last vs. the first syllable of a name, like Sanne for Susanne or Lotte for Charlotte.

Lot is an unusual feminine name with biblical origins. In the Bible, Lot was a male character, the nephew of Abraham who escaped from Sodom before its destruction. As a female name, Lot is exceptionally rare. The name derives from Hebrew, possibly meaning 'covering' or 'veil.' Despite its biblical significance for males, Lot has not gained popularity as a feminine name in modern times. Parents choosing this distinctive name might appreciate its simplicity, biblical connection, or perhaps its unique quality as a conversation starter. The name's brevity gives it a strong, concise sound when spoken.

Zippy and light, Zoete derives from the old Dutch word soete, meaning "sweet". Zoetken is a traditional diminutive of the Medieval name.