Dutch Names & Nicknames and their English Equivalent

A boy with the Dutch name "Jan" will in his childhood very often be named "Jantje". It is also used to show an age difference in place of Senior [Sr.] and Junior [Jr]. the father will be called "Jan" and the son "Jantje".

Female names are slightly different. If a grandmother is named for example "Sien" or "Sina" the girls Dutch name very often is "Sientje" meaning small/younger Sien, and this will be the name given on the Birth certificate. Thus Sientje is her registered name, not just the diminuitive.

As well, the suffixes -je and -tje, while normally used as a diminuitive, are also used to create the female form of the name (especially in Friesland). For example, "Eelke" is the male name and "Eelkje" is the female form. "Hendrik" is the full male name, "Henk" the short form and "Hendrikje" or "Hendrickje" the female form.

Following is a list of some Eng lish names with their Dutch equivalents, including both shortened and diminuitive Dutch forms when known. !

Dutch Male Names and Nicknames

*Note: Thank you to Arjen Ronhaar for sharing his knowledge of Dutch names and providing The Olive Tree Genealogy with more names and explanations. Arjen, his great grandfather, and uncle all are "Arend Jan Ronhaar". His great grandfather was called "Arend", his uncle was called "Jan" and he is called "Arjen". Also thanks to Henk Koopmans for his corrections and additions to Dutch names.

He has also explained Harmanus vs. Hermanus:

• Harmannus = Harman = Mannus. (can be Harmannes, Mannes)
• Hermannus = Herman. (can be Hermannes)
• Herman is a common Dutch name which could be changed to Helmar or even Harrie.
• But Harrie also can come from Harman.

Dutch Female Names and Nicknames

*Note that Magdalena, Helena and Elenora all become Lena and this makes searching difficult when we try to work backwards to the Dutch diminuitive Leentje. The original baptsimal name is often lost when the diminuitive is used.

Dutch Customs of Child Names