Wait… did that guy just say his name was Freek?! Yep, Dutch names can be Freek-ishly weird sometimes. 🤷🏻♀️
Whether you’re trying to name your own kindje (little kid) or are just curious about Dutch names in general, it can be a bit difficult to work through the double Dutch of naming conventions in the Netherlands.
We get it, so we’ve put together something to help: the ultimate guide to Dutch names!
The history of Dutch names
The oldest Dutch voornamen (first names) are primarily of Germanic origin, which is why you may notice that several of them have cousins in English (another Germanic language).
In the Middle Ages, doopnamen (Christian names) gained popularity due to religious influence. Christian names, also known as baptismal names, are religious personal names assigned to children at birth.
However, after World War II, the Dutch grew far less religious. Naming conventions began to reflect this, with more first names of foreign origin being picked.
Some names, such as those borrowed from French, underwent phono-semantic matching. This means that elements of the original names were Dutchified — like, for example, ‘Jacques’ becoming ‘Sjaak’.
The result of this evolutionary process? Some very interesting (if slightly bizarre) modern Dutch names!
Common boy names in the Netherlands
Grab yourself some tea and huddle around with your friends because we’re about to talk about Dutch boys — and we’re going to be naming names.
Dramatics aside, according to the Meertens Instituut, these are the most common boy names you’ll find millennials bearing in this gorgeous cheese-obsessed country!
- Thomas
- Kevin
- Tim
- Dennis
- Jeroen
- John
- Tom
- Robin
- Nick
- Niels
Traditional Dutch boy names
Looking for something a bit more old-fashioned? The Meertens Instituut also released a list of traditional Dutch boy names that have been popular for over a hundred years.
@cl_audio Top 5 best #Dutch ♬ Soul Mates – Jazzinuf & Etymology Records
Let’s talk about some Dutch boy names that just ooze old-school cool.
- Johannes
- Jan
- Cornelis
- Hendrik
- Willem
- Pieter
- Gerrit
- Petrus
- Jacobus
- Jacob
Common girl names in the Netherlands
If perhaps you’re called ‘Margo’ and are sick of Dutch people — with their guttural gs — pronouncing your name closer to ‘Marko’, then you may be considering a name change.
We hear you! Here are the most common girl names you’re likely to find millennials bearing in the Netherlands:
- Laura
- Lisa
- Anne
- Sanne
- Iris
- Michelle
- Maria
- Tessa
- Melissa
- Anna
Traditional Dutch girl names
You can always embrace a little traditionality with these conventional Dutch girl names that have seen over a century of use.
- Maria
- Johanna
- Anna
- Cornelia
- Wilhelmina
- Hendrika
- Catharina
- Elisabeth
- Adriana
- Jacoba
Dutch baby names
Choosing a little one’s voornaam (first name) can really be harder than only eating one bitterbal.
To get some inspiration flowing, 24baby has dropped its lists of the most popular baby names in the Netherlands — as well as its predictions for names that are currently rising in popularity. 📈
Popular baby boy names in the Netherlands
These names have been topping the Dutch charts for the past year, so there’s a chance that any baby boys in your life might bear at least one of them!
- Noah
- Lucas
- Luca
- Liam
- Finn
- Levi
- Mees
- Sem
- Noud
- Daan
Trending Dutch boy names in recent years
Much like with Dutch fashion, Dutch names are no strangers to giving in to a new hype now and then. According to 24baby, these are some boy names that new parents in the Netherlands have been loving in recent years.
- Nohr
- Jax
- Lev
- Nox
- Hidde
- Jace
- Fedde
- Ezra
- Melle
- Vic
Popular baby girl names in the Netherlands
Do you feel like you know at least three Emmas in the Netherlands? And three more couples who have just named their child Emma?
There’s a reason for that, as ‘Emma’ tops the list of the most popular baby girl names in the Netherlands, and she’s joined by:
- Nora
- Olivia
- Mila
- Noor
- Liv
- Luna
- Yara
- Julia
- Mae
Trending Dutch girl names in recent years
As with the list of trending Dutch baby boy names, when it comes to Dutch girl names, the Netherlands dips a toe (or perhaps an entire foot with ‘Nova’ 👀) into the pool of all things hype.
According to 24baby, these are the girl names that have been rising in popularity:
- Rose
- Ola
- Luma
- Zia
- Nova
- Noé
- Flore
- Maen
- Elara
- Amélie
The Dutch roepnaam
“A roop-what?” we hear you ask.
Don’t worry, we aren’t roop-ing you into anything! A roepnaam is actually a name that many Dutch people use instead of their legal first name.
It’s a bit like a nickname, except a roepnaam carries a bit more weight and can be used on legal documents.
READ MORE | What is a ‘roepnaam’? One of the best Dutch quirks explained
In fact, after the birth of a new child, it isn’t out of the ordinary to send out a card with a child’s official name and a line underneath mentioning their roepnaam.
Some names just won’t fly with the Dutch
Of course, it goes without saying that there are some names that you definitely shouldn’t saddle your kids with.
To protect little Dutchies from being given the kind of names American celebrities give their kids (we’re looking at you, Kim Kardashian!), the Registrar of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Registered Partnerships will first have to approve your child’s name.
Generally, names that consist of offensive or embarrassing words or existing surnames are off the table and will be rejected by the Registrar.
However, even if the Registrar refuses to approve your child’s name, you’re still free to think up a new one before they choose a name for you (yes, they can do that).
So, if, like one Dutch father, you’d love to name your son after your favourite football club, you may need to hop over to Belgium to do it.
What the…?! Weird Dutch names
For every few Jeroens you come across, you’ve got a smattering of Tacos, Freeks, and Harms. Of course, we can’t talk about Dutch names without mentioning some of the most bizaar (bizarre) ones.
- Fokje
- Puck
- Boudewijn
- Floor
- Joke
- Reinder
- Jet
- Splinter
- Greet
- Sicco
(We also must mention that there’s a Dutch politician called Tiny Kox 🤭).
A lot of the perceived weirdness of these names actually stems from our shocking pronunciation of Dutch names, which our buitenlandse (foreign) ears often can’t make heads or tails of.
For example, the girl’s name, ‘Joke’, initially sounds like some parents played a cruel… err, joke on their daughter. In Dutch, however, the name is pronounced similarly to ‘yo-kuh’.
READ MORE | 17 Dutch towns with the funniest names
Similarly, Dutch names have their own diminutives. Much like ‘Richard’ becoming ‘Dick’ in English, ‘Greet’ is actually a shortened form of ‘Greta’ or ‘Margaretha’.
Common Dutch surnames
Many Dutch surnames contain a tussenvoegsel (a sort of affix that goes along with their surname), such as the ‘van’ in ‘van Gogh’ and the ‘de’ in ‘de Vries’.
@cl_audio My favorite #Dutch 🇳🇱 names pt. 3: Van der Berg #TikTokNetherlands ♬ Fallen Down – Toby Fox
According to data from the Meertens Instituut, we see several of these tussenvoegsels in the list of the top ten surnames in the Netherlands:
- De Jong
- Jansen
- De Vries
- Van de/den/der Berg
- Van Dijk
- Bakker
- Janssen
- Visser
- Smit
- Meijer/Meyer
FAQ: Dutch names common questions
How can you change your surname in the Netherlands?
You can only apply for a change of surname in the Netherlands if you’re a Dutch national, stateless, or an asylum seeker.
Applicants must submit an application for a name change to the Justis (the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security). There’s even a handy dandy Name Change Brochure that you can leaf through for more information on the process and requirements.
Be aware, though, that a surname change in the Netherlands will set you back a whopping €835 for an adult and €1,670 for three or more minor children (excluding VAT). 💸
When can you use your Dutch partner’s surname?
According to Justis, you can only use your partner’s last name if you’re legally married or in a registered partnership. (RIP to all the madlads that were hoping to nab ‘Fokker’ as a fabulous surname. 🥲)
After you’ve tied the knot or signed the paperwork with your schaatje, you’ll need to inform the Basisregistratie Personen (Personal Records Database) of the municipality you’re registered in of your surname change.
However, all official documents, such as passports, IDs, and driver’s licences, will still carry your own last name.
Where do Dutch surnames come from?
Like first names, Dutch surnames mainly tend to be of Germanic origin.
A handful of Dutch surnames are also patronymic (derived from an ancestor’s name) and, as such, contain a possessive form of a father or grandfather’s name. For example, ‘Pieterszoon’ would refer to a son of Pieter.
Others refer to occupations such as ‘Molenaar’ (miller), ‘Visser’ (fisher), and ‘Boer’ (farmer).
Dutch names can be weird, wonderful, and, much like biking in Amsterdam, need some getting used to. When you do, however, you won’t fail to realise how leuk they can be!
What’s one Dutch name that’s caught your eye? Tell us all about it in the comments below!