View Message

This is a reply within a larger thread: view the whole thread

[Facts] Re: Erkmute and Marike
in reply to a message by LC
Hi LC,when I read the name Erkmute, I immediately thought of Erdmute, which is an Old German first name meaning "earth" + "mind, courage". I haven't heard of the name Erkmute, but there are several female Old German names beginning with Erk- or Erken- (like Erkamberta, Erkenhild etc.) The "erk"-part of the names means "real, firm", so Erkmute would mean "real, firm" + "mind, courage".Marike is still a quite popular name in the north of Germany and in the Netherlands. It's a Dutch and Low German form of Marie. The "-ke" ending is a diminutive ending, so Marike means "little Marie".Regards, Satu
vote up1vote down

Replies

wow, fascinating. I guess I should study German.
Now I know what my great grandmother's nickname means. Her name was Anna but her father called her Anke "litle Ann"!
Thanks
vote up1vote down
Marike is used in South Africa as well - the more usual diminutive of Marie is Marietjie (ma-REE-kee), and Marika (ma-Rick-a) makes a nice change.
vote up1vote down
That makes sense since some of the Dutch settled in South Africa
vote up1vote down