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Popular Dutch Names that Travel Well - Boys

love4yeojin
By love4yeojin
Updated Mon May 22 2023
Some of these names may not be Dutch in origin, but all of them are very popular, in the top 100, in the Netherlands. Names like Noah and Liam are equally popular in the English-speaking world as they are in the Netherlands, so they will be omitted. Just the most unique and interesting, but the ones that work well in English too, are included here!
  1. Luca

    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Luke and Lucas

    • Meaning:

      "man from Lucania"

    • Description:

      The related Lucas and Luke are both hugely popular boy names in the US and internationally, and now Luca has joined them on boys' popularity lists around the world.
  2. Otis

    • Origin:

      Variation of Otto, German

    • Meaning:

      "wealthy"

    • Description:

      Otis has real appeal for parents attracted to its catchy O initial and combination of strength and spunk. The appealing hero of the British TV show Sex Education has done much to propel Otis into the forefront of cool names.
  3. Tobias

    • Origin:

      Greek from Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God is good"

    • Description:

      Tobias is one of a number of s-ending boys' names that are riding a wave of popularity. With its Old Testament-Dickensian feel, it's a name with a distinguished pedigree.
  4. Milan

    • Origin:

      Italian place name, Slavic, Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "middle of the plain; gracious, dear; union"

    • Description:

      Effortlessly stylish with an international feel, Milan re-entered the US charts back in 2013 after a 55 year hiatus. It has been powering up the charts ever since, following in the footsteps of sweet sound-alike Mila, and spotlighted by singer Shakira, who chose it for her son.
  5. Jace

    • Origin:

      Hebrew, diminutive of Jason

    • Meaning:

      "the Lord is salvation"

    • Description:

      Jace may sound like only half a name -- it's usually pronounced like the first half of Jason though some may consider it a spelling-out of the initials J. C. -- but it's a popular choice for baby boys. Jace has been heard on such TV shows as Teen Mom 2 and Duck Dynasty.
  6. 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.
  7. Roan

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Rowan, Irish, Frisian, English word name

    • Meaning:

      "little redhead; rowan tree; raven; animal with a coat of two interspersed colors"

    • Description:

      This sleek, warm-hued spelling spin on Rowan was chosen by Sharon Stone for one of her three sons back in the 2000s and it has since risen in popularity in the US. While it remains a long way behind its sometimes sound-alike Rowan, it was still given to more than 140 babies in a recent year.
  8. Cato

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "all-knowing"

    • Description:

      Cato conjures up images of ancient Roman statesmen and southern antebellum retainers; it could have revival potential, with its 'O' ending and the current interest in the names of Greek and Roman antiquity.
  9. Zayn

    • Origin:

      Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "beauty, grace"

    • Description:

      Zayn zoomed up the popularity charts thanks to former One Direction member Zayn Malik; it was one of the fastest-rising names of 2016. The name can also be spelled Zain; the feminine version is Zayna or Zaina.
  10. Boaz

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "swiftness"

    • Description:

      Now that such Old Testament patriarchs as Elijah and Moses fill the playground, Boaz seems downright baby-friendly, having more pizzazz than many of the others, perhaps as a successor to Noah.
  11. Lars

    • Origin:

      Scandinavian from Latin Laurentius

    • Meaning:

      "crowned with laurel"

    • Description:

      Lars is a perfect candidate for a cross-cultural passport: it has been heard often enough here to sound familiar and friendly, yet retains the charisma of a charming foreigner.
  12. Sven

    • Origin:

      Scandinavian

    • Meaning:

      "youth"

    • Description:

      Especially for parents of Scandinavian descent, Sven is an accessible and attractive name with an appealing mix of strength and swagger. It comes from the ancient Swedish tribe, the Sviars, who gave their name to Svealand, which later morphed into Sweden.
  13. Ruben

    • Origin:

      Dutch; German; French; Italian, Polish; Swedish; Norwegian; Danish; Armenian, from Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "behold, a son"

    • Description:

      The streamlined Ruben is much more popular than the original Biblical Hebrew version in the US.
  14. Morris

    • Origin:

      English variation of Maurice

    • Meaning:

      "dark-skinned"

    • Description:

      Morris is as quiet and comfortable as a Morris chair, and has the same vintage feel. Once a Top 100 name in the early 1900s, Morris fell completely off the roster in 1995, probably due to lingering fallout from his identification with Morris the cat's ("the world's most finicky cat") 9 Lives cat food commercials.
  15. 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.
  16. Vince

    • Origin:

      Short form of Vincent, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "conquering"

    • Description:

      Vince is not a short form that often stands alone on the birth certificate, the way Jack or even Joe does, but it has certain credibility as the name always used for football great Vince Lombardi. And as a diminutive for Vincent, it's a far sight better than Vinnie or Vinny or even Vin.
  17. Boris

    • Origin:

      Slavic

    • Meaning:

      "to fight"

    • Description:

      Boris is one of the old Russian names being revived by chic Europeans; it hasn't quite made a comeback yet in the U.S., but it does have potential.
  18. Pim

    • Origin:

      Dutch diminutive of Willem or William

    • Meaning:

      "resolute protection"

    • Description:

      The short, cute Pim is a Top 100 boys' name in The Netherlands though little-known outside that country. But in a family overrun with Williams, Pim could make an original nickname setting a modern child apart from father Will and grandpa Bill.
  19. Johannes

    • Origin:

      German, Dutch, Scandinavian, and Estonian variation of John

    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"

    • Description:

      An Old World name that might have a chance to rise again with other ancient and worldly forms. Be sure to say yo-HAHN-es.
  20. Mick

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Michael

    • Description:

      Most often associated with Rolling Stone Jagger, Mick is also used as a generic, and derogatory, term for an Irishman.