Opinions and ideas, please!

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

Come spring we've decided to stop actively preventing pregnancy and see where nature takes us. This has, as you might expect, caused us to chat more frequently about potential kids and the choices we would like to make regarding them. Names are a part of this. :)

What complicates things a bit for us is that we have two languages to contest with (and of course two cultures with different feelings regarding names). We want a name that is easy to pronounce in both Dutch and English. It can be very obviously a Dutch name or in some circumstances an English name. However, we are a bit more hesitant about the latter because certain English names sound trashy here because people who watch a lot of soap operas wind up naming their children things like Michael, Kevin, Kimberly and Jennifer.

Also we tend to like simple names that are obviously names, though not too common. Alliteration doesn't appeal to me and the last name is Neessen (Nay-sen), so no "N" names. Also I would like to avoid names too similar to our names - Dirk Johannes and Carrie Beth (both my names are difficult for Dutch people to pronounce, especially Beth as the "th" sound doesn't exist in the language).

My inclination for a middle name is to use one of my parents names (respectively Carl and Lynn) because they are nice, simple names and I know my parents would be pleased. Johannes (my husband's middle name) and Peter (my fil's name and pronounced Pay-tare) are also contenders. I like Petra as a middle name, just not with the names we've chosen. My mil's name Gertrude (with the awful guttoral Dutch g) and variation thereof such as her nickname Truus, are NOT options. Sorry. However, I am open to other suggestions.

The names on the top of our list right now are:

Girls:
Femke
Prounounced Fem-kuh, the "ke" or "je" on the end of a name in Dutch is diminutive. The name is dervied from Femme which means "famous protecter". I like that is sounds so, well, feminine.

Maya
This is neither a Dutch or an English name, but is fairly common in both countries. I have noticed that it is increasing in popularity, and this makes me hesitant.

Boys:
Thijs
Rhymes with "nice" but the ij sound is longer. This is a fairly classic Dutch name.

Ben
This is more an English name than a Dutch name, but you hear it here as well. My hesitation regarding this name is that "ben" is also a verb meaning "am". So if you were to say "I am Ben." you would say "Ik ben Ben." However, I know about 3 Bens here one who is 50 something and two who are in there late 20's early 30's. Still, I heard so many "Carrie carry this" jokes as a kid that I just don't know.

Other names that I like but that are ruled out because they are either pronounced differently, unpronouncable or have a strange connotation in Dutch are:
Seth
Adam
David
Kate

I'm very curious what you guys think.

X-posted in namingnames.

Comments

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

My brother works with a Thijs and I have to admit they call him "Thighs". Which may not be the effect you're after if your hypothetical future son wants to work in the UK at all. ;-) My brother's wife is half-Dutch, so he should know better! (I really like her mother's name, Stans, but it does confuse people over here apparently, thinking it's a typo for Stan and that she's male.)

Femke is nice - I'm guessing it's the same name as Famke (as in Janssen)?

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

I hadn't even thought of the "thighs" connection. See, this is why I'm asking here.

Femke and Famke are similar variations of the same name. I'd venture that Femke is just a tad more common here. Though the "Bond Girl" association has probably made Famke a bit more recognizable outside of NL. Regardless, I like the "eh" sound better than the "ah" sound with this name.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[anapology.livejournal.com]

Kasia
Mia

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

Mia is a bit of an old lady name here...though I do think it is pretty.

I was unfamiliar with Kasia. Also pretty. I'm curious what my husband will think of it. I had suggested Kato, which is probably the Dutch equivalent and he wasn't overly enthusiastic.

[anapology.livejournal.com]

Kasia is the slavic version of katherine (which i dont like) But i love this :-)

[lilfaeriegirl.livejournal.com]

I'm not that familiar with Dutch names, except though a few friends i have on LJ..
I do like Hennes though, and I have a friend named Wynke, although I have no idea how to pronounce her name. Johan is nice too, although its too close to Johannes.

Sorry I couldnt be of more help.

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

English names are welcome too. They just have to be pronouncable. My first association with Hennes is Hennes & Mauritz (the department store); so although the name is ok, I'm not sure what I think of that.

I actually do see Johan or Johannes as a likely middle name.
Thanks.

[quiteoutofplace.livejournal.com]

Maya is pretty.

The only Dutch person I've ever known was named Kirsten.

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

I think Maya is pretty too. Do you think it is too popular?

One of my best friends growing up was Kirstin (Swedish spelling) and I think the name is nice. However, I think it might be to similar to Carrie. My father's name is Carl and I think our names are just too similar as well. You sort of get caught on the sound.

[quiteoutofplace.livejournal.com]

I'd never heard the name before today, actually. I don't know how popular it is where you live, though.

And I know exactly what you mean. I've already decided to avoid any names starting with "K" or ending in "ina" for my daughters, because my name is Kellina, and it just seems... like I'd be overdoing it.

[politicking.livejournal.com]

i really like Femke & Maya.

i'm not too into Thijs, but i like Ben. even with the "ich ben Ben" thing lol

[politicking.livejournal.com]

"*ik ben Ben"

[politicking.livejournal.com]

here are some other names i like... i looked up "dutch baby names" so i'm not sure if they are actually Dutch, but i enjoy them anyway:

(all girls names, btw)

Adrie
Anki
Jette
Katrien
Marysa


http://www.weddingvendors.com/baby-names/origin/dutch/

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

Curious, what about Thijs don't you like? Is is just the general sound or does it draw certain associations?

The link has an interesting selection of names. Not necessarily the most common names. I wonder how they put the list together.

[politicking.livejournal.com]

Thijs is... i'm not sure. it's just the general sound of it, i think. i don't really have anything to associate it with lol

but i love Femke.

good luck when you start trying for a baby :)

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

[so-there.livejournal.com]

I met a girl over trhe summer who was born into the same situation. he father was american and her mother was dutch. they wanted names that both cultures coud pronounce and appreciate. I don't remember her siblings' names but her name was Johanna, Hanna for short.

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

If you could remember the other siblings' names, that would be great. :)

[5thousandkisses.livejournal.com]

I’m not going to pretend I know anything about dutch names. These are just the ones I thought sounded pretty and I had a chance at pronouncing correctly. BTW, I like Femke from that list and that's about it.

BOY
Adriaan
Alexander
Casper (I like this a lot)
Daniël
Dominicus
Everhart
Gerrit (Bad ‘G’?)
Issac/Izaac
Jacob
Jordaan
Jozef
Koenraad
Olivier (I like this a lot)
Ruben (I like this a lot)
Sander
Sebastiaan (I like this a lot)
Thomas (Baby-sat a Thomas. His mother was Dutch I do believe)
Vincent
Willem


GIRL
Agnes (Knew one back in school)
Angelien
Annemarie
Annelien
Carolien
Ellen
Emma/Emmy
Eva
Gisela (I like this a lot)
Heleen
Irena
Isabella
Johanna (Name of one of my favorite teachers from college)
Katrien (Too much like Kate?)
Liesbeth
Lisanne
Liselot (I like this a lot)
Margriet
Rosa
Sofie (I like this a lot)
Stefanie
Viona

Also I looked up the top 100 dutch names (I think) and on the list were the names Lana, Sam, Nina, Esmee, Tessa, Chantal, Luca, Zoë, Esther, and Max (but that was #1 which might be way to popular), which I like.

Lots of luck!

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

Ruben was actually top on my list for a long time, but all of the Americans I mentioned the name to told me it made them think of an old Jewish man. So I came up with Ben. I'm glad you say you like it. Maybe I should still consider this, and we could always use the name Ben as a nickname in English.

I also like Olivier, but I think it would be too difficult for English speakers to use the same pronunciation. I don't want a name that has a very different proncuniation in both languages. Jacob, for example, I love in English (though it is too trendy). But in Dutch you would say Yah-cub. Which is just to different.

I too am a fan of Sofie, but my husband thinks it is too common.

Isabella and Emma are names which I feel have become too trendy.

What do you think of Annemieke?

Another name that we have considered is Bastiaan, with Bas as a nickname. It reminds me of the Never-ending Story.

[5thousandkisses.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of the names that were used on older people are making a comeback, because... well the old people that used to occupy them are passing away. Ruben, with Ben as a nickname is really nice. Ben is young and can be used in grade school and Ruben can be used when he's older. I like when names are versatile like that.

Sofie - I still like this one
Isabella & Emma - I agree with you! I would not want to be a child named either of those right now. I'm sure there will be 2 or 3 in every class. Gah, how annoying. But everyone else seems to like them.

I just love Bastian/Bastiaan. It does remind me of The Never Ending Story. But I don't think the association is terribly strong. If I ask my sister, 16, what TNES is she just looks at me quizically.

Is Annemieke pronounced Anna-me-ka? That was the only pronunciation I could find. If so yes I do like that. Easy enough to pronnounce once you know how. Then there's always Ann, Anna/Anne, or Meike as nicknames.

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

Thanks again. I'm actually likeing this Ruben with Ben as a nickname idea too. I've noticed the trend of older names coming back, which would make it more acceptable but still not overly common.

Amusing that your sister didn't recognize TNES. I feel like such a child of the 70's / 80's now. :)

Mieke and Meike are actually two different names. Mieke is with a long song ee (as in meet) while the "ei" in Meike is pronounced like a long i (as in line). But I like the veratility of Annemieke as well.

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

:)

[alison-in-oh.livejournal.com]

Looking at the Dutch (I *think* it's mostly Dutch!) part of my family tree, I see men named Garret and Gerrit a lot (that's where my brother's middle name of Garrett came from). I also know a gentleman named Arjan and I love his name. :)

My family tree has women named Lysbet, Elysabet, Annetje, Jannetje, Catlyntje (I think that's where my cousin Caitlin got her name), Antje, Aeltje.

Oh, I love Annemieke! I don't know if it would be pronounced right in English though -- the whole movie Eurotrip is based on the main character thinking his penpal "Mieke" is a guy named 'Mike'!

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

Fun the old-fashioned spelling of a lot of those names. :)
I'm not big on G names, as I found the G sound in Dutch rather harsh.
I think you're right about Caitlin being derived from Catlijntje.

I haven't seen Eurotrip, but it sounds amusing.

[pap3r-heart.livejournal.com]

My linguistics teacher is Dutch and her name is Annemarie, pronounced on-uh-mah-REE.
Her son is named Timo, which is pronounced tee-mo.

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

Actually except for Ben and Thijs the names listed are names that we can't really choose because of pronuciation issues etc. Peter has the same problem as does Sebastian with the English spelling.

But thanks for the ideas.

[in-the-starlite.livejournal.com]

I love love love Femke and Thijs.

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

:)

[xcuore.livejournal.com]

Femke en Thijs zijn de enigste twee Nederlandse namen die ik mooi vind.
Maya is ook erg leuk^^

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

Dat is dan echt toevallig. :)

[xcuore.livejournal.com]

en ik vind Meike ook een mooie naam. (hij viel me gisteravond pas in hihi)
alleen weet ik niet of je Meike ook goed kunt zeggen in het engels? ik denk dat het dan zoiets als may-ke wordt?

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

Ik vind Meike ook mooi, maar ik maak mij ook zorgen over het uitspraak in het Engels.

[xcuore.livejournal.com]

ja dat is waar. Ik denk dat het in het engels klinkt als Mike ofzoiets

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

Thank you. This is very encouraging to hear. :)

[simtastic.livejournal.com]

I love Maya (it's not popular at all where I live, but I'm in Australia so that's irrelevant!), and I'm quite fond of Ben, especially when used as a nickname for Ruben. I don't really like Femke or Thijs, mostly because they seem awkward to me as an English-speaker.

I'm Dutch, but 2nd-generation Australian so I'm not familiar with the language. Me & my brothers' middle names all have significance (mostly family names):

Alexander Walter
Daniel William
Thomas Jeffrey
Jasmine Marie

My parents are Walter Cornelius (not fond of his name at all, and neither is my brother Alex!) and Dominique Elizabeth Marie (middle names are her grandmothers', so my middle name is my great-grandmother's). My paternal grandparents are Henny and George, and my maternal grandparents are Gerda and Frank (or variations of those).

Siblings of my grandparents: Willem, Maria, Elly/ie, Rhea (not sure of the spelling), Jeff. Common family names are variations of William, Jeff, Frank and Elizabeth.

Sorry for the long comment, just thought I'd share my family's names with you as examples of Dutch names integrated into English. None of them sound particularly Dutch to me, with the exception of Gerda and Willem.