A
free online resource crammed with advice about
choosing a Dutch baby name...
A Major Life event!
If you have searched for 'Dutch baby names' then "Congratulations" must be in order. Whether you are the mother or father of a new baby, a member of the family or a close friend you are sharing in a major life event and taking a serious interest in choosing a special babyname from one of the
many of the selection that are available.
Dutch
Baby Names! This page is crammed with information
about Dutch baby names and their origins about their firstnames
and their surnames. We
have provided an unusual selection to choose
from. Still
unsure? Then check out over 50,000
other ones available via the
Index. Click the following links to access:
Dutch
Surnames
- Info requested by our visitors
In their search for a Dutch baby name people become interested in
their own surname or family name. We have therefore included
this information to meet the requests of our visitors.
History
of Dutch
Surnames
The Dutch
nobility started to use unique surnames in the 16th Century,
other Dutch people adopted patronymic, or matronymic,
names
meaning that the
surname was the father, or mothers, given name. Examples of this
are Alberts, Hindriks or Willems. Other
surnames were not generally used until Holland
became part of the French Empire in the late 18th century when
names were required to be officially registered.
The
Origins of Dutch
Surnames
The origins of this these include place names,
those related to
mythology and history, origins from colours, plants and
other types of nature, Fictional origins, historical origins, characteristic
and religious origins. We then move on to the
genre which can be classed as Descriptive, Place, Speciality and finally unique (or created
name's). Occupations and Trades such as Verver
meaning a painter or Boer meaning a farmer. A Place name might
reflect a location such as living near a river or of towns
or villages were adopted. The descriptive genre would often reflect
a physical attribute such as short (de Klein) or family
relationships such as the son (de Jong). Dutch Surnames can also
be traced to the family's original location in Holland:
Gelderland surnames often end in hof,
ink, inck, ing or loo
Zeeland surnames often end in aert,
ge, ghe, ick, uck, se or sons or have French prefixes of de, d'or ver
Zuid Holland surnames are often prefixed with de, den, van,
vande, vanden or van der.
Dutch
First Names
The
Importance of First Names! We respond to our name throughout our lives. People associate
us with our first name, it forms part of our identity. They help to distinguish us from one to another. Other
people gain immediate and sometimes totally subconscious views
of people, just from hearing a name they can
therefore give us a distinct advantage in life, or conversely, a
disadvantage! The choice of an Dutch Baby name is, therefore, incredibly important.
And those of us who choose a baby's name are taking on
a responsible task!
What Dutch
baby name shall I give to my baby?
Will the traditional Dutch
baby
name suit my
baby? Will it be appropriate throughout a full life cycle starting with baby - toddler - school child - teenager - young adults - parents - middle age - retirement and
ending with old age. Will it suit a pensioner as well as a baby? Will the schoolchild be teased
mercilessly about a name? What will your baby think of your choice?
Interchangeable
letters in Dutch names
Dutch first
name's
vary immensely due to the use of interchangeable letters. The
letters 'j', 'y', and 'i' are interchangeable, therefore Antje,
Antye, or Antie are all derivatives of the same
name.
Female
versions of Dutch male names
It was very important to carry down the paternal grandfather's
name. The grandfather's
name would clearly be suited to male descendants but if there
were no male descendents the tradition would still continue as
the Dutch tradition would be to use a feminine version of a male
name. For example, "Eelke" is the male name and "Eelkje" is the female
form and "Jan" is the male name and "Jantje" is the female form.
Dutch family nicknames
The Dutch, like
many other nationalities, use varying family petnames or nicknames for the younger members of the family. Dutch children's
names often end with the suffix 'je', 'tje', 'ie' and 'ke'.
For male children this is used to reflect an age difference, as
in the American terms Snr. and Jnr. A father might be called "Jan" and,
to save confusion, his son would be called "Jantje".
