Dutch Princesses

Sophie

French variation of Sophia, Greek

"wisdom"

Sophie is the French form of the Greek Sophia, for which it is also commonly used as a nickname. Given Sophia's long standing among the Top 10 girl names in the US, Sophie may feel more popular than…

Juliana

Latin

"youthful or sky father"

Long common in Europe, the elegant and regal Juliana, also spelled with two n's, has invaded these shores, in tandem with the more classic Julia. Together with Julian, the name derives from Julius, a…

Irene

Greek

"peace"

Serene Irene, the name of the Greek goddess of peace and one of the most familiar Greek goddess names , was hugely popular in ancient Rome and again in the United States a hundred years ago. One of…

Christina

Latin, Greek

"a Christian"

Christina, a pretty and feminine, crystal clear classic, may be trending downward, but it's never out of style and its extra syllable does keep it fresher feeling than Christine. Christina's short…

Alexia

Diminutive of Alexandria, Greek

"defending men"

This diminutive, similar to Alex or Alexis, has been yo-yoing in popularity since the turn of the 21st century.

Ariane

Ariane is a feminine name of Greek origin, representing the French form of Ariadne. In Greek mythology, Ariadne was the daughter of King Minos who helped Theseus escape the Labyrinth. The name…

Pauline

French, feminine variation of Paul

"small"

Pauline had its moment of glory a century ago, when movie audiences were thrilling to the silent serial The Perils of Pauline , released in 1914. A Top 50 name in the US between 1908 and 1930, it…

Beatrix

Latin

"she who brings happiness; blessed"

Beatrix has a solid history of its own apart from Beatrice, with that final x adding a playful, animated note to the name's imposing history and stately vibe. In the earliest sources it is recorded…

Wilhelmina

German and Dutch, feminine variation of Wilhelm

"resolute protection"

Wilhelmina might once have been condemned as a clunky relic best left in the past, but a steadily increasing number of parents are dusting it off for their 21st century babies. A reasonably popular…

Marianne

French combination of Marie and Anne

"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + grace"

A midcentury Catholic classic that's not chosen by many parents today. Leonard Cohen fans might think of the beautiful song So Long, Marianne , named for his lover and muse Marianne Ihlen. The…

Margriet

Margriet is a Dutch feminine name derived from the Latin 'margarita' meaning 'pearl.' It's the Dutch variant of Margaret, a name with centuries of history throughout Europe. In the Netherlands, the…

Catharina

Catharina is a feminine name with deep European roots, particularly common in Germanic, Scandinavian, and Dutch-speaking regions. It derives from the Greek name Aikaterine, later Latinized to…