Introduction
So, you’ve made a decision of your life to adopt a dog, but you’re out of your depth in the vast world of dog names. Have no fear, because the trick is to focus on either your interests or a language, and the traditional names that that language may offer to you. If you happen to be familiar with Dutch culture, or you’ve visited Amsterdam while traveling across Europe, you must have noticed the rich history and culture that this Northern country prides itself on. Therefore, if your choice rests on The Netherlands as your guide through the difficult task of naming your dog, rest assured that you’ve made the right decision!
Dutch Dog Names in Pop Culture
Amongst innumerable things that the Dutch are famous for – the most well-known being windmills, tulips, and legalized marijuana – they are also a nation of people that devote a lot of effort into keeping their canine friends off the streets. To illustrate, out of 17 million citizens, 1 out of 5 people in the Netherlands are proud dog-owners, and even more importantly, over the years, adopting cross-breed dogs instead of buying a puppy with a pedigree became the usual practice.
This practice isn’t just a matter of activism and eco-prudence that is a prevalent preoccupation of the majority of Northerners in recent years. On the contrary, the amazing care and fellowship that the Dutch have with their dogs are almost as ancient as the nation itself.
The dog that changed it all was named Pompey, and his owner was none other than William the Silent, the Prince of Orange. We say none other because of the measly fact that the Dutch consider him to be their ‘Father of the Fatherland’, mainly because he was the one to organize an uprising against the Spanish rule and lead the Netherlands towards independence. As the legend goes, The Eighty Years’ War is the backdrop of the story of Pompey’s heroism, as if it hadn’t been for this vigilant doggo, the Dutch may not have become independent way back in the 16th century.
According to the legend, it all happened in Hermigny, France. One night in 1572, William the Silent was resting in his tent in the midst of his camp, taking a break from the continuous battles with the Spanish during the Siege of Mons. Luckily for him, he was wise enough to sleep with his loyal Pompey at his side. Luckily, because a few men crept into his camp with the intention to take his life, and probably would have if Pompey hadn’t alarmed the Prince of Orange by barking, scratching him, and finally, jumping on his head to wake him up. This feat earned Pompey a monument placed at the Church of St. Ursula in Delft, where he is carved right next to his master’s feet, guarding him for all eternity.
If this story has taught us anything, apart from the amazing shrewdness that dogs possess, it’s the fact that you shouldn’t be ashamed of sleeping with your beloved pooch as it can indeed be a matter of life and death.
Dutch Dog Name Considerations
If this amazing story about Pompey’s heroism has inspired you, perhaps you should consider giving your dog the name of his owner, the brave William of Orange. Pompey’s breed is still debated as some believe that he was a relative of what today we call a Pug, while some argue it might have been a Kooikerhondje, the breed made famous by Dutch masters Rembrandt and Jan Steen. Be what it may, if you happen to own a dog that is similar in appearance to Spaniels, you can consider these names.
Then again, you mustn’t overlook the illustrious Dutch artists when searching for a suitable name for your doggo. Dutch and Flemish Renaissance painters are famous worldwide, so much so that it is almost impossible to decide who made a larger impact on their successors and the world of art in general. Skim through your high-school Art History books, and remind yourself of the masters of Dutch painting and architecture. Our suggestions are Vincent, to honor the Post-Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh, (especially if you’re dog has ginger fur and quirky habits), and Jan, not only being a frequent Dutch name to this day, but also the name of one of the most significant painters of the Northern Renaissance, Jan van Eyck.
Male Dutch Dog Names
Votes | Name | Vote |
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2 |
Leven
Means ‘life’ in Dutch
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2 |
Hondje
Means "small dog" in Dutch
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1 |
Spinoza
If you’re into Baruch Spinoza’s philosophy
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1 |
Zoon
Means "son" in Dutch
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1 |
Lekker
Means either "nice" or "appealing" in Dutch
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1 |
Leuk
A Dutch word used to describe someone who has a nice personality
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1 |
Fedde
If you like Fedde le Grand’s music
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1 |
Diesel
Another popular dog name
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0 |
Rembrandt
Famous Dutch painter
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0 |
Martin
If you’re into EDM and Martin Garrix
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0 |
Johannes
Johannes Vermeer painted the Girl with the Pearl Earring
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0 |
Bart
A popular name in the Netherlands
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0 |
Jacob
Jacob Obrecht is a famous medieval Dutch composer of masses
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0 |
Bo
Popular name for dogs in the Netherlands
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0 |
Bernhard
Current Prince of Holland
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0 |
Tiesto
If you’re a fan of techno music
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0 |
Rutger
Star of Blade runner, Rutger Hauer
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0 |
Escher
The great Dutch graphic artist
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0 |
Piet
Piet Mondrian is considered to be one of the greatest artists of the 20th c.
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0 |
Antonie
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, aka the father of microbiology
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0 |
Lars
A popular name in the Netherlands
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0 |
Abel
Abel Tasman discovered Tasmania and New Zealand
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0 |
Max
A popular dog name in Holland
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0 |
Erasmus
The influential Dutch humanist
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0 |
Zeeman
A famous physicist, discovered the Zeeman effect
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0 |
Jongen
Means "boy" in Dutch
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0 |
Bosch
Hieronymus Bosch and his famous paintings
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0 |
Oscar
Famous blues singer Oscar Benton is from Holland
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0 |
Paul
If you love the work of director Paul Verhoeven
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-1 |
Van Halen
The frontman Eddie Van Halen was born in the Netherlands
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Female Dutch Dog Names
Votes | Name | Vote |
---|---|---|
2 |
Luna
Most popular dog name in the Netherlands
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2 |
Esmee
Another popular name for girls
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1 |
Maartje
A popular name in Holland
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1 |
Lizzy
Lizzy Ansingh was a Dutch painter of the post-Impressionist movement
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1 |
Zoe
Another popular girl name
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1 |
Minne
Means "love" in Dutch
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0 |
Mata
Mata Hari was a famous exotic dancer convicted of being a German spy in WWI
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0 |
Nora
A popular name in Holland
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0 |
Audrey
Audrey Hepburn was actually a daughter of a Dutch Baroness Ella van Heemstra
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0 |
Meisje
Means ‘a girl’ in Dutch
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0 |
Anne
Anne Frank spent most of her life in Amsterdam
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0 |
Tess
A popular girl name in the Netherlands
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0 |
Voel
Means "to feel" in Dutch
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0 |
Lara
After Lara Stone, a famous Dutch model
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0 |
Bloem
Means "flower" in Dutch
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0 |
Doutzen
Doutzen Kroes is one of the most famous Victoria’s Secret angels
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0 |
Sylvia
Sylvia Kristel, famous Dutch actress, star of Emmanuelle
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0 |
Yara
Popular name for girls in the Netherlands
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0 |
Candy
Candy Dulfer, famous Dutch saxophonist, won a Grammy
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0 |
Dame
Means "lady’" in Dutch
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0 |
Rebecca
Rebecca Romijn, the beautiful actress is actually of Dutch ancestry
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0 |
Eleanor
Eleanor is also a common girl name in the Netherlands
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0 |
Mooi
Means "beautiful" in Dutch
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0 |
Bella
Another popular dog name
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0 |
Rosalie
Rosalie van Breemen is a famous Dutch model, ex-wife of Alain Delon
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0 |
Lied
Means "song" in Dutch
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0 |
Daphne
Daphne Groeneveld is a well-known runway model from the Netherlands
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0 |
Aletta
Aletta Jacobs was the first Dutch woman to complete a university degree
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0 |
Liv
A popular Dutch name
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|
-1 |
Famke
After Famke Janssen, the star of the X-men franchise is Dutch
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Community Dogs with Dutch Names
A cat peed on him when he was 2 weeks old