Old Dutch names belong to the Old Dutch language tradition. This collection contains 31 Old Dutch names with their meanings, cultural backgrounds, and pronunciation guides. You'll find 18 names traditionally given to boys and 8 names for girls, reflecting naming patterns from regions where Old Dutch is spoken. These names carry the linguistic heritage and cultural values of Old Dutch-speaking communities. Common themes include new, flower, showing what Old Dutch cultures have valued across generations.
This name derives from a Dutch surname, from the word “Schuyler,” meaning “scholar, student,” brought to America by seventeenth-century Dutch immigrants. The surname Schuyler was initially introduced in North America by 17th-century settlers arriving in New York. It became a given name in honor of prominent members of the New York family, such as Philip Schuyler, and so became the given name of Schuyler Colfax, the 17th vice president of the United States.
The origin of this name is still quite uncertain today. The theories include: 1) Linguist Jan de Vries notes that there was mention of a pirate named “Dutch Yanky” in the 17th century, which would have radically influenced the term. 2) Another theory surmised that the word was borrowed from the Wyandot (Iroquoian-speaking peoples of North America) pronunciation of the French “l’anglais,” meaning “the Englishman” or “the English language,” which was sounded as “Y’an-gee.” 3) Michael Quinion and Patrick Hanks argue that the term refers to the Dutch feminine diminutive name “Janneke” or masculine diminutive name “Janke,” which would be Anglicized as “Yankee” due to the Dutch pronunciation of “J” as the English “Y.”
This name derives from the Dutch “Den Helder” (Old Dutch: hella duri; Ancient Germanic: *haljō *durz), meaning “hell’s door.” Den Helder is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Its spread is due to the Archbishop Brazilian Dom Hélder Câmara, famous for his charity. Dom Hélder Câmara (1909–1999) was Catholic Archbishop of Olinda and Recife, Brazil, serving from 1964 to 1985 during the military regime of the country.
The origin of this name is still today quite uncertain. The theories include: 1) According to a folk theory, the name could derive from a Germanic source, specifically from a Dutch surname “Kortland,” composed of two elements: from the Middle Dutch “cort,” from the Old Dutch “kurt,” from the Latin “curtus” (short, brief) plus the Old High German “lant” (land). In turn, the name means “short land.” In addition to the many U.S. cities, Cortland is a kind of apple among the fifteen most popular in the United States. Cortland has white flesh and is an excellent dessert apple. This apple was developed at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, New York, in 1898. The apple was named after nearby Cortland County, New York.
The origin of this name is still quite uncertain today. The theories include: 1) Linguist Jan de Vries notes that there was mention of a pirate named “Dutch Yanky” in the 17th century, which would have radically influenced the term. 2) Another theory surmised that the word was borrowed from the Wyandot (Iroquoian-speaking peoples of North America) pronunciation of the French “l’anglais,” meaning “the Englishman” or “the English language,” which was sounded as “Y’an-gee.” 3) Michael Quinion and Patrick Hanks argue that the term refers to the Dutch feminine diminutive name “Janneke” or masculine diminutive name “Janke,” which would be Anglicized as “Yankee” due to the Dutch pronunciation of “J” as the English “Y.”
This name derives from the Old Dutch language “brandewijn,” meaning “brandy wine, brandewine,” composed of two elements: “branden” (to burn) plus “wīn” (wijn) (wine). Brandewijn is a Brandy, an alcoholic liquor, which means “burnt wine.”
This name is an anglicized form of Dutch “de Raedt,” from the Old High German “rāt,” which in turn derives from the Proto-Germanic “*rēdaz,” meaning “advice, counsel, counselor.”
The origin of this name is still quite uncertain today. The theories include: 1) Linguist Jan de Vries notes that there was mention of a pirate named “Dutch Yanky” in the 17th century, which would have radically influenced the term. 2) Another theory surmised that the word was borrowed from the Wyandot (Iroquoian-speaking peoples of North America) pronunciation of the French “l’anglais,” meaning “the Englishman” or “the English language,” which was sounded as “Y’an-gee.” 3) Michael Quinion and Patrick Hanks argue that the term refers to the Dutch feminine diminutive name “Janneke” or masculine diminutive name “Janke,” which would be Anglicized as “Yankee” due to the Dutch pronunciation of “J” as the English “Y.”
This name derives from a Dutch surname, from the word “Schuyler,” meaning “scholar, student,” brought to America by seventeenth-century Dutch immigrants. The surname Schuyler was initially introduced in North America by 17th-century settlers arriving in New York. It became a given name in honor of prominent members of the New York family, such as Philip Schuyler, and so became the given name of Schuyler Colfax, the 17th vice president of the United States.
This name derives from a Dutch surname, from the word “Schuyler,” meaning “scholar, student,” brought to America by seventeenth-century Dutch immigrants. The surname Schuyler was initially introduced in North America by 17th-century settlers arriving in New York. It became a given name in honor of prominent members of the New York family, such as Philip Schuyler, and so became the given name of Schuyler Colfax, the 17th vice president of the United States.
This name derives from the Old Dutch language “brandewijn,” meaning “brandy wine, brandewine,” composed of two elements: “branden” (to burn) plus “wīn” (wijn) (wine). Brandewijn is a Brandy, an alcoholic liquor, which means “burnt wine.”
This name is an anglicized form of Dutch “de Raedt,” from the Old High German “rāt,” which in turn derives from the Proto-Germanic “*rēdaz,” meaning “advice, counsel, counselor.”
This name derives from the Dutch “Den Helder” (Old Dutch: hella duri; Ancient Germanic: *haljō *durz), meaning “hell’s door.” Den Helder is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Its spread is due to the Archbishop Brazilian Dom Hélder Câmara, famous for his charity. Dom Hélder Câmara (1909–1999) was Catholic Archbishop of Olinda and Recife, Brazil, serving from 1964 to 1985 during the military regime of the country.
This name derives from the Old Dutch language “brandewijn,” meaning “brandy wine, brandewine,” composed of two elements: “branden” (to burn) plus “wīn” (wijn) (wine). Brandewijn is a Brandy, an alcoholic liquor, which means “burnt wine.”
This name derives from the Old Dutch language “brandewijn,” meaning “brandy wine, brandewine,” composed of two elements: “branden” (to burn) plus “wīn” (wijn) (wine). Brandewijn is a Brandy, an alcoholic liquor, which means “burnt wine.”
This name derives from the Old Dutch language “brandewijn,” meaning “brandy wine, brandewine,” composed of two elements: “branden” (to burn) plus “wīn” (wijn) (wine). Brandewijn is a Brandy, an alcoholic liquor, which means “burnt wine.”
This name derives from the Tasmanian devil (TAZ) so-called since at least 1829, from its propensity for killing young lambs (other voracious fish or animals also have been named devil). Tasmanian word is by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman who Discovered New Zealand in 1647.
Morien is a character from Arthurian legend. He is the main character of Morien (or Moriaen), a 13th-century Arthurian romance in Middle Dutch. He is the son of one of the Knights of the Round Table, whose name was Aglovale.
Morien is a character from Arthurian legend. He is the main character of Morien (or Moriaen), a 13th-century Arthurian romance in Middle Dutch. He is the son of one of the Knights of the Round Table, whose name was Aglovale.
Morien is a character from Arthurian legend. He is the main character of Morien (or Moriaen), a 13th-century Arthurian romance in Middle Dutch. He is the son of one of the Knights of the Round Table, whose name was Aglovale.
The name comes from the two provinces of the Netherlands called “Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland,” now the Dutch Republic. The union of the two regions has now become the name “Holland”, from the Middle Dutch term “holtland “which means “wooded land.” In turn derives from the Old High German “holz”, from Proto-Germanic “*hultą” meaning (wood) plus “lant” meaning (land).
This name derives from the Old Dutch language “brandewijn,” meaning “brandy wine, brandewine,” composed of two elements: “branden” (to burn) plus “wīn” (wijn) (wine). Brandewijn is a Brandy, an alcoholic liquor, which means “burnt wine.”
This name derives from the Old Dutch language “brandewijn,” meaning “brandy wine, brandewine,” composed of two elements: “branden” (to burn) plus “wīn” (wijn) (wine). Brandewijn is a Brandy, an alcoholic liquor, which means “burnt wine.”
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The origin of this name is still today quite uncertain. The theories include: 1) According to a folk theory, the name could derive from a Germanic source, specifically from a Dutch surname “Kortland,” composed of two elements: from the Middle Dutch “cort,” from the Old Dutch “kurt,” from the Latin “curtus” (short, brief) plus the Old High German “lant” (land). In turn, the name means “short land.” In addition to the many U.S. cities, Cortland is a kind of apple among the fifteen most popular in the United States. Cortland has white flesh and is an excellent dessert apple. This apple was developed at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, New York, in 1898. The apple was named after nearby Cortland County, New York.
This name derives from a Dutch surname, from the word “Schuyler,” meaning “scholar, student,” brought to America by seventeenth-century Dutch immigrants. The surname Schuyler was initially introduced in North America by 17th-century settlers arriving in New York. It became a given name in honor of prominent members of the New York family, such as Philip Schuyler, and so became the given name of Schuyler Colfax, the 17th vice president of the United States.
The origin of this name is still today quite uncertain. The theories include: 1) According to a folk theory, the name could derive from a Germanic source, specifically from a Dutch surname “Kortland,” composed of two elements: from the Middle Dutch “cort,” from the Old Dutch “kurt,” from the Latin “curtus” (short, brief) plus the Old High German “lant” (land). In turn, the name means “short land.” In addition to the many U.S. cities, Cortland is a kind of apple among the fifteen most popular in the United States. Cortland has white flesh and is an excellent dessert apple. This apple was developed at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, New York, in 1898. The apple was named after nearby Cortland County, New York.
The origin of this name is still today quite uncertain. The theories include: 1) According to a folk theory, the name could derive from a Germanic source, specifically from a Dutch surname “Kortland,” composed of two elements: from the Middle Dutch “cort,” from the Old Dutch “kurt,” from the Latin “curtus” (short, brief) plus the Old High German “lant” (land). In turn, the name means “short land.” In addition to the many U.S. cities, Cortland is a kind of apple among the fifteen most popular in the United States. Cortland has white flesh and is an excellent dessert apple. This apple was developed at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, New York, in 1898. The apple was named after nearby Cortland County, New York.
The name Roosevelt is an American surname derived from the Dutch surname “Van Rosevelt” and “Van Rosenvelt,” meaning “from the rose field, of a rose field.” The most famous bearers of this name come from the Roosevelt family, a merchant and political family descended from the 17th-century immigrant to New Netherland Claes Maartenszen van Rosenvelt. In turn derives from the Dutch “roos-veld,” composed of two elements: “roos” (rose, an ornamental plant of the genus Rosa) plus “veld” (field, open country).
The origin of this name is still today quite uncertain. The theories include: 1) According to a folk theory, the name could derive from a Germanic source, specifically from a Dutch surname “Kortland,” composed of two elements: from the Middle Dutch “cort,” from the Old Dutch “kurt,” from the Latin “curtus” (short, brief) plus the Old High German “lant” (land). In turn, the name means “short land.” In addition to the many U.S. cities, Cortland is a kind of apple among the fifteen most popular in the United States. Cortland has white flesh and is an excellent dessert apple. This apple was developed at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, New York, in 1898. The apple was named after nearby Cortland County, New York.
This name derives from the Dutch “Den Helder” (Old Dutch: hella duri; Ancient Germanic: *haljō *durz), meaning “hell’s door.” Den Helder is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Its spread is due to the Archbishop Brazilian Dom Hélder Câmara, famous for his charity. Dom Hélder Câmara (1909–1999) was Catholic Archbishop of Olinda and Recife, Brazil, serving from 1964 to 1985 during the military regime of the country.
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Old Dutch names developed within the Old Dutch language tradition. The naming traditions from regions where Old Dutch is spoken have evolved over centuries, shaped by migration, trade, religion, and cultural exchange. Today's Old Dutch names carry this history.
Old Dutch naming traditions reflect the values and beliefs of regions where Old Dutch is spoken. Names served multiple purposes: identifying individuals, honoring ancestors, expressing hopes for a child's future, and marking religious or cultural affiliation. These functions shaped which names became popular and how they were used.
Today, Old Dutch names appear far beyond regions where Old Dutch is spoken. Immigration, global media, and cultural exchange have made many Old Dutch names familiar worldwide. Parents choose these names to honor heritage, appreciate their meanings, or simply because they like how they sound. The 31 names in this collection range from ancient choices still popular today to names that have fallen out of use but retain historical interest.
Old Dutch naming traditions have developed their own patterns and preferences. Names may honor family members, reflect religious beliefs, describe hoped-for qualities, or commemorate significant events. These patterns explain which names stayed popular.
These traditional patterns still matter, but modern parents also mix things up. Some combine traditional and contemporary elements, pick names from other cultures, or create unique variations of classic names.
This collection breaks down to 58% masculine names (18) and 26% feminine names (8). About 16% (5) work as gender-neutral or unisex options.
Old Dutch names follow the phonetic rules of their language of origin. English speakers may need to adjust their pronunciation for sounds that don't exist in English. Each name page includes a pronunciation guide to help.
When in doubt about pronunciation, listening to native speakers helps more than reading transliterations. Each name page has a pronunciation guide. If you're considering a Old Dutch name for your child, say it out loud and think about how others in your community will pronounce it.
The 31 Old Dutch names in this collection offer choices ranging from familiar options to rare discoveries. Each carries cultural meaning from regions where Old Dutch is spoken.
Old Dutch names for boys outnumber those for girls at roughly 2.3:1 in our database. This reflects historical naming patterns, though modern naming trends are shifting.
Current naming trends show renewed interest in heritage names, with parents seeking meaningful connections to cultural roots. Some Old Dutch names have crossed over to mainstream use, while others remain specific to Old Dutch-speaking communities.
Popular Old Dutch names for boys include Skyla, Yanci, Elder, Court, Yance. Our database contains 18 Old Dutch names traditionally given to boys, ranging from classic choices to unique options.
Our collection includes 8 Old Dutch names for girls. Popular choices blend traditional sounds with meaningful origins. Use the feminine tab to explore options organized by popularity.
Old Dutch names carry meanings from the Old Dutch language tradition. Common themes in Old Dutch names include new, flower. Each name in our database includes its specific meaning and cultural context.
Old Dutch names follow the phonetic rules of their language. Each name page includes a pronunciation guide. When uncertain, listening to native speakers provides the most accurate reference.
This database contains 31 Old Dutch names: 18 for boys and 8 for girls. This represents documented names that have been used historically or are in current use. The actual number of Old Dutch names ever used is certainly higher.
Spelling difficulty depends on the specific name and your familiarity with Old Dutch phonetics. Some Old Dutch names have been adapted to English spelling conventions, making them straightforward. Others retain original spellings that may be unfamiliar. Consider how important easy spelling is to you when choosing a name.