Dutch baby names for girls have been historically shunned by American parents even though many of us have a touch of Dutch heritage. As the pool of baby names expands and new parents continue to broaden their horizons in hopes of finding the perfect, unique name for their daughter, Dutch names are a logical place to turn for baby name inspiration.
Believe it or not, one of the top Dutch names for baby girls in the US is Noor, a diminutive of Eleanor. However, the name also has Arabic roots and means “light” in that tradition. We decided to round up other popular Dutch baby names in the US along with names that are popular in The Netherlands today to give parents plenty of variety to choose from. This means that you will find a mix of names you know and probably did not realize were Dutch along with some unique baby names that you might have not encountered before! Here are 25 Dutch baby names for girls to honor your family’s heritage or to simply serve as wonderful baby name inspiration for adventurous parents.
25. Merel
Merel is a homonym of Meryl and may be thought of as a variation of that name, but it’s also the Dutch word for “blackbird” and so you can make it more stylish as one of the flock of fashionable new bird names, joining Wren, Lark, and Sparrow. It’s currently one of the most popular names for girls in The Netherlands right now!
24. Anouk
There is no shortage of French influence in Dutch culture and it is the marriage of these two traditions that brings us the name Anouk which is an alternate form of Anna that means “grace.” Anouk, which is quite popular in The Netherlands, was the name of the young daughter in the French film Chocolat.
23. Pip
Pip is a top 100 name for girls in The Netherlands and it is considered a shortened form of names like Phillipa and Pippa. We love the short crispness of this charming little, one-syllable name. If we take this name to be shortened form of Phillipa this gem means “lover of horses.”
22. Senna
Senna is a flowering bush common in the tropics, with bright yellow flowers. While this name is Arabic in origin it is a top 100 entry in The Netherlands. The name means “brightness” which we do not think any new parent could argue with. If you are after a subtle botanical name, this would be the one!
21. Noor
A captivating name associated with the elegant American-born Queen Noor of Jordan, Noor hit the US top 1000 for the first time in 2015 and has remained on the list ever since. In Arabic tradition, this name means “light.” However, to the Dutch, it is a very popular name that is a derivative of Eleanor! This multicultural treasure could be the perfect appellation for your daughter!
20. Evi
Evi is the preferred Dutch form of the classic Hebrew name Eve which means “life.” While names with similar sounds are popular in the US, this particular spelling has never landed in the top 1000 here. However, new Dutch parents cannot get enough of this practical and cute choice making it a top 20 name in The Netherlands.
19. Nienke
Nienke is a Dutch name that has origins in Greek. This name is a Frisian shortened form of Catharina, which means “pure.” You will find another name with the same root further down the list! Nienke makes the top 200 in The Netherlands but it is completely foreign to most English speakers.
18. Lieke
The popular Dutch name Lieke is one of those diminutives, like Lena, that can be short for a variety of names ending in its sound which, by the way, is the two-syllable LEE-ka. This name is most commonly associated with Angelique, a French name that means “angelic.”
17. Dael
Dael is the feminine form of Dale in Dutch and with a simple shuffle of the letters this name manages to be infinitely cooler than good old Dale. Dael has never been a popular name in the US, but Dale has which might appeal to some parents, however, we think it is keeping most from choosing this classic Dutch name.
16. Veerle
Veerle is a Dutch name that derives from the old Germanic name, Farahild. It is quite common in The Netherlands. Veerle has a most interesting meaning in “travel to battle.” Vera is a popular name there too, but we think Veerle is the more intriguing of those two options.
15. Yuna
Yuna is the Dutch form of a name English-speakers know well, June. Yuna has origins in Roman mythology as the goddess Juno for which the month is named. Yuna is very popular in The Netherlands and sit just outside the top 100 there.
14. Suze
Like Yuna, Suze is another cute, Dutch form of a popular name, Susan. Suze is a top 50 name in The Netherlands and we think the name would be at home in the US. The name has Hebrew origins and means “lily.” This is the perfect flower name that is not cloyingly sweet.
13. Nine
As promised, we bring you another form of the name Nienke, which we told you about earlier. This Dutch name is also a short form of Catharine and it is pronounced just like the name Nina. Just like Nienke, Nine means “pure” and has nothing to do with the number.
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12. Liva
In old Norse mythology, Lifa or 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. From old Norse, Lifa means “shelter” or “protection.” Liva is a top 100 name in both The Netherlands and Denmark.
11. Noe / Noë
In America, you will commonly here the name Noah. In The Netherlands, the names Noe and Noë are prevalent and beloved for both boys and girls. The name share the same Hebrew origins that mean “rest.”
10. Saskia
You might recognize the name Saskia as it is attached to a portrait of Rembrandt’s wife (her full name was Saakje van Uylenburgh, but she was always called Saskia). The name is thrilling and we have no idea why it hasn’t attracted more fans in the US. In the UK, this name has been adopted and climbed into the top 500 most popular names there! Saskia means “Saxon.”
9. Romy
Romy is the preferred Dutch form of a slew of names like Rosemary, Roma, Romana, and Romilly. Romy is a top 100 name in The Netherlands today. The name is thought to have originated in German and simply means “a Roman.”
8. Novi
Novi is a name that only a hand full of American girls have enjoyed. However, it is the fastest rising name for girls in The Netherlands today. This charming Dutch appellation is the preferred form of Nova, a Latin name that means “new.” If you are after a fresh name that has not caught on yet, Novi would be the way to go.
7. Marit
Marit is a royal name in Norway but you scarcely hear it outside of Europe. Today, you will find the name most in Germany and The Netherlands. Marit is an ancient name that was originated in Aramaic and it is what brings us the many Mary names you know and love. Marit means “pearl.”
6. Lize
Lize is a Dutch name that comes from the French favorite, Elise. It’s a top 100 name in The Netherlands and we think that is very easy to understand. If you are looking for alternatives to Liz, Liza, Elizabeth, etc., this would do the trick. This name shares its meaning with Elise and Elizabeth, “pledged to God.”
5. Fenna
The vintage Fenna, an old lady name making a return in The Netherlands, originates in Friesland in the northern part of the country, where the Fries language is spoken. Rhyming with Jenna, it’s both exotic and familiar. This name has an excellent meaning: “peace.”
4. Aya
Aya is a top 1000 name in the US and nearly a top 100 name in The Netherlands today. While this name is not quintessentially Dutch, it does have a long history in the country as a form of a German name that means “bees.” Aya is best for parents looking for casual and carefree names as it is as easy as it gets!
3. Roos
You know and love the flower name, Rose. In Dutch, you will find their favorite form of the name, Roos. Roos van Montfort is a Dutch model who proudly sports the name today. This name is in the top 50 in The Netherlands and we would love for it to be adopted in the US by more parents.
2. Mette
Mette is a Norse and Dutch preferred form of the perennial favorite Margaret. Mette can be pronounced MEH-teh or MET, rhyming with bet. This name is huge across Scandinavia and we want it to cross the sea and find a home in the US as well! Like Marit, this name means “pearl.”
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1. Famke
Famke was introduced to this country via Dutch-born actress Famke Janssen, however, the name is not wildly popular in The Netherlands today. Famke has Dutch origins and means “little girl.” We would love for American parents to pick this name as it is not completely unknown and it possesses a strong sound with a sweet meaning.
There you go! We hope you enjoyed these popular Dutch baby names for girls that have a little something for every parent. These adorable names, like Dutch itself, are a collection of different appellations from across Europe and beyond. These inspiring options would be home in the US without a doubt!
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