the Last of the Dutch Rarities

illustration by Benjamin Rabier, via janwillemsen on Flickr

I'll miss doing these posts. They've been the source of quite a few new additions to my own favorites list, but what's more, they've taught me a lot about Dutch naming sensibilities — about what they really like in a name. (Who knew another country could love the  "-ayden" sound as much as the US?) I've found the lists to be quite playful, full of alternate spellings, unusual variants, pop culture influences, plenty of influences from other cultures (eastern Europe and the middle east especially) and mind-bendingly on-trend — or way ahead of it. It's one of the more interesting and eclectic lists I've had the pleasure of perusing.

Here are the last odds & ends — names that were used just 4 or 5 times in the Netherlands in 2011. Enjoy!

Girls  

Aivy 

Annique — a mixture of Annika/Unique, perhaps

Asude — this is Turkish, I think. Anyone know what it means? 

Davita — the Italian phrase "da vita" means "of life," kinda nice

Elles 

Eslina  

Fabiën — I've liked Fabien for a girl since first hearing it in Pulp Fiction ("I want a pot," anyone?") but never cared for the uber-feminine "-enne" ending. Why not just use this!

Inci 

Issrae   

Julot 

Liselore 

Luke — hmm, sort of surprised I haven't seen this one used on a girl yet  

Marilou — so retro adorable   

Nelleke 

Sundus — an Arabic name referring to "soft silk wrought with gold or silver"

Syra 

Yalou 

Yzze — makes me think of this drink

Boys  

Aalt 

Danian 

Erion 

Fabe — "no no, not Gabe. It's Fabe."

Ferren 

Fimme 

Florentijn  — love the "-tijn" ending for boy names, too

Gerson 

Goof — no kidding   

Güven 

Joa 

Kik  

Lucenzo — Luca + Lorenzo? I actually like it   

Mexz 

Nobel — aspirational naming, can't argue with that

Riquelme 

Santi — sweet 

Silvian 

Sunny — Sunny for a boy, Luke for a girl, why not? 

Veysel 

Wick — seems great for a character in a YA novel or something

Yorn 

Yven