591 Sophisticated Dutch Baby Names To Explore

Beyond windmills and canals, unveil the hidden treasures of the Netherlands.

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Last Updated on Aug 2, 2024

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Dutch baby names capture the essence of the Netherlands’ beauty, vibrant culture, picturesque landscapes, and historical significance. The country has a great variation of given names, known as ‘voornaam’ in Dutch, and is placed before ‘achternaam,’ meaning ‘family name.’ But, people often call each other by their calling name, known as ‘roepnaam,’ which is different from their given name. Just like in other cultures and countries, the given or personal name in the Netherlands is chosen by the family; however, it should be approved by the civil registry (1).

The Dutch have a tradition of naming their newborns after family members, especially those no longer alive. Topographic and habitational names are a popular traditional choice among them. People also used to name their babies after their farms or use the word ‘Van’ meaning ‘from’ or ‘of,’ before their place of origin (2). These practices, although less common now, are still observed in the Netherlands. The country follows the Dutch naming conventions that allow any name, including surname, to be used as a given name unless it is too similar to an existing family name or has inappropriate connotations. The Dutch have adopted several Christian names as well. For example, Pier is the Dutch variant of the Biblical name Peter.

Additionally, the country has several names of Germanic origin, such as Lodewijk, which is the Dutch form of the German name Ludwig. The Dutch names of German roots suggest the history of German migration in the Netherlands (3). So, whether you want a name that honors your heritage, a unique name, or a simple name with a beautiful meaning, Dutch names have it all. The following list of Dutch baby names provides a wide range of names with great meanings and aesthetic appeal for you to consider.

Name	Gender	Meaning
Olivia	Girl	Peace; Olive tree
Charlotte	Girl	Free person; Petite
Benjamin	Boy	Son of the right hand; Son of the south
Alexander	Boy	Defender of mankind
Hannah	Girl	Grace; Favor; God has favored me
Brooklyn	Girl	Broken land; Marsh; One who lives near a brook
Axel	Boy	Father is peace
Beau	Boy	Beautiful; Handsome
Jasper	Boy	One who brings treasure; Treasurer
Cecilia	Girl	Blind

Rhett	Boy	Advice; Counsel
Adriel	Boy	Flock of God
Arthur	Boy	Bear king; Bear
Alexandra	Girl	Defender or helper of the people
Ariella	Girl	Lioness of God
Juliette	Girl	Youthful; Jove's child; Downy-bearded; Devoted to Jove
Kevin	Boy	Handsome by birth; Gentle; Lovable; Fair; Peace
Finn	Boy	White; Blessed; Sámi people from Finland
Gemma	Girl	Jewel; Precious stone; Gem
Felix	Boy	Blessed with good fortune; Succesful

Jesse	Boy	God exists; Gift
Juliana	Girl	Downy-bearded; Devoted to Jove; Youthful; Juvenile
Richard	Boy	Brave ruler; Mighty king; Firm ruler
Rachel	Girl	Ewe; Female sheep
Mark	Boy	Mars; God of war; Male; Warlike; Hammer; Defender
Daphne	Girl	Laurel; Victory; Achievement
Brooklynn	Girl	Broken land; Marsh; One who lives near a brook
Arielle	Girl	Lioness of God
Marshall	Boy	Horse-keeper; Master of horses; Stable boy; Keeper; Servant; Military chief commander
Hank	Boy	Home ruler; God is gracious

Hugo	Boy	Mind; Spirit; Thought
Frank	Boy	Free person; Open-hearted; Germanic tribe
Augustus	Boy	Exalted; Venerable; Majestic
Helena	Girl	Torch; Shining light
Emmy	Girl	Whole; Universal; Rival
Danny	Boy	God is my judge
Hanna	Girl	Favor; Grace; God has favored me
Ariel	Boy	Lion of God
Boone	Boy	One who grows beans; Good
Julien	Boy	Jove's child; Youthful; Downy-bearded; Devoted to Jove

Christina	Girl	Anointed; Follower of Jesus Christ
Holland	Girl	Woodland; Point of land; Heel; Land
Ander	Boy	Manly; Male; Virility; Brave; Defender of mankind
Chris	Boy	Follower of Christ; Bearer of Christ
Dani	Girl	God is my judge
Ben	Boy	Son
Livia	Girl	Envious; Blue; To envy; Olive
Jakob	Boy	Holder of the heel; Supplanter; May God protect
Barbara	Girl	Stranger; Foreigner
Harlem	Boy	A vibrant neighborhood in New York city; Home on a forested dune

Bowie	Boy	Yellow; Fair-haired
Judith	Girl	Woman from Judea; Jewish woman; Praised
Jaylee	Girl	Blue jay meadow
Koen	Boy	Brave counsel
Coen	Boy	Brave counsel; Advice
Elisabeth	Girl	My God is an oath; God's promise
Lisa	Girl	My God is an oath
Claudia	Girl	Lame; Differently abled; Crippled; Closed
Beatrix	Girl	Voyager; Blessed
Casper	Boy	Treasurer

Christine	Girl	Follower of Jesus Christ; Anointed
Agnes	Girl	Chaste; Pure
Bernadette	Girl	Brave bear
Jet	Boy	Home ruler; Beloved; Love
Bernard	Boy	Brave bear; Strong
Carlee	Girl	Free man
Freddy	Boy	Peaceful ruler
Agatha	Girl	Good
Julietta	Girl	Youthful; Jove's child; Downy-bearded; Devoted to Jove
Arnold	Boy	Eagle power; Eagle authority

Linden	Boy	Linden tree; Lime
Wilmer	Boy	Resolute and famous
Aris	Boy	Best purpose; Ruin; Man; From Hadria; Best; Rainbow; Straightforward
Alek	Boy	Defender of men; Black and white cow
Wilhelmina	Unisex	Resolute, strong-willed
Leopold	Boy	Brave and bold people; Lion
Marin	Girl	Of the sea
Fred	Boy	Peaceful ruler
Meyer	Boy	Bringing Light; Leader; Mayor; Farmer; Landlord
Anabella	Girl	Lovable; Graceful and beautiful

Alita	Girl	Noble; Honorable; Truth
Carleigh	Girl	Free man
Vander	Unisex	Powerful, noble, leader
Hendrick	Boy	Rules his household
Bruin	Boy	A person with brown hair or skin; The brown; Brown bear; Armor
Kasper	Boy	Treasurer; Holder of treasure
Holt	Boy	Forest; A small wood or grove of trees; Forested land
Markell	Boy	Mars; The god of war; Warlike; Male; Horse border; Wolf border
Willem	Unisex	Strong, determined, resolute
Evalina	Girl	To breathe; Life; Bird

Lani	Girl	Sky; Heaven; Royal; Hope; Wool; Lion
Lindy	Girl	Tender; Soft; Flexible; Beautiful
Hendrixx	Boy	Variation of Henry; Estate ruler
Maryn	Girl	Of the sea; The god of war; Mars; Dedicated to Mars; Warlike
Stryker	Unisex	Tester; Challenger
Filip	Boy	Friend of horses
Jan	Boy	God is gracious
Caia	Girl	Pure; To rejoice; Each of the two; Far off
Marius	Boy	Manly; Dedicated to Mars
Deen	Boy	A certain way of life; Faith

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Dutch baby names provide an array of unique names with beautiful meanings. You can come across distinct Dutchified variations of popular English names like Richerd, Schylar, and Hendrixx. The origin of some Dutch names from Germanic roots like Koen and Landbert to Christianity-related names like Jakoba and Liesbet provide a glimpse of the country’s historical and religious aspects. Additionally, names like Nanno, Pim, Arie, Argo, and Cuyle represent aesthetically appealing Dutch names with meanings as magnificent as the country. So, explore and unveil the mysteries and beauty of this vibrant country as you go through this list to choose a name for your baby.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do Dutch naming conventions handle middle names?

The Dutch naming conventions do not have the practice of using middle names.

2. How do Dutch names differ between regions?

Dutch names may differ between regions across the Netherlands and Belgium based on the regional dialect. These names also vary in the way they present their prefixes. For instance, while ‘van’ may not be capitalized in a full name in the Netherlands, they do the opposite in Belgium.

3. Do Dutch names change over time?

Dutch names are consistent across time and are passed down from generation to generation. Even married women do not have to change their names. They may, however, add their married name to their maiden name in a hyphenated format.

Infographic: Unique Dutch Baby Names With Strong Meanings

From patronymic to topographic, various categories of Dutch baby names exist to discover. However, some names also represent strong, intelligent, and beautiful characteristics. The infographic below mentions a few Dutch baby names associated with meanings that showcase great strength, mightiness, bravery, and power.

dutch baby names with strong connotations (infographic)

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

Dutch Culture; Naming.
https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/dutch-culture/dutch-culture-naming
Eight Dutch Naming Patterns to Watch Out For.
https://www.dutchgenealogy.nl/8-dutch-naming-patterns-to-watch-out-for/
Netherlands Naming Customs.
https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Netherlands_Naming_Customs

Look Up For Many More Names

Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.