Browse Names - Behind the Name

Adenike f Yoruba
Means "the crown is to be cared for" in Yoruba.

Akerke f Kazakh
Derived from Kazakh ақ (aq) meaning "white" and ерке (erke) meaning "naughty, spoiled, darling".

Anke f Low German, Dutch
Low German and Dutch diminutive of Anna and other names beginning with An.

Anneke f Dutch
Dutch diminutive of Anna.

Annemieke f Dutch
Combination of Anne 1 and Mieke.

Arke 1 f Greek Mythology
From Greek ἀρκής (arkes) meaning "swift". Arke was the twin sister of the rainbow goddess Iris in Greek mythology. Because she sided with the Titans, Zeus had her imprisoned with them in Tartarus.

Berenike f Ancient Greek
Ancient Macedonian form of Berenice.

Bernike f Biblical Greek
Greek form of Bernice.

Beylke f Yiddish (Rare)
Diminutive of Beyle. This is the name of a daughter of Tevye in late 19th-century Yiddish stories by Sholem Aleichem, on which the musical Fiddler on the Roof was based.

Blake m & f English
From an English surname that was derived from Old English blæc "black" or blac "pale". A famous bearer of the surname was the poet and artist William Blake (1757-1827). It was originally a mainly masculine name but in 2007 actress Blake Lively (1987-) began starring in the television series Gossip Girl, after which time it increased in popularity for girls.

Brooke f English
Variant of Brook. The name came into use in the 1950s, probably influenced by American socialite Brooke Astor (1902-2007). It was further popularized by actress Brooke Shields (1965-).

Dieuwke f Frisian, Dutch
Feminine form of Dieuwer or Dieuwert.

Dike f Greek Mythology
Means "justice, custom, order" in Greek. In Greek mythology Dike was the goddess of justice, one of the Ὥραι (Horai).

Eike m & f Low German, German
Originally a short form of Ekkehard and other names beginning with the Old High German element ekka, Old Saxon eggia meaning "edge, blade". This name was borne by Eike of Repgow, who compiled the law book the Sachsenspiegel in the 13th century.

Elke 1 f Low German, Frisian, German, Dutch
Low German and Frisian diminutive of Adelheid.

Elke 2 f Yiddish
Yiddish feminine form of Elkanah.

Elske f Frisian
Frisian diminutive of Elisabeth.

Emőke f Hungarian
Derived from Hungarian emő meaning "suckling (baby)".

Eunike f Biblical Greek, Ancient Greek
Greek form of Eunice.

Eurydike f Greek Mythology
Greek form of Eurydice.

Évike f Hungarian (Rare)
Hungarian diminutive of Eve.

Famke f Frisian, Dutch
Variant of Femke. It also coincides with a Frisian word meaning "girl".

Femke f Frisian, Dutch
Diminutive of Femme.

Fieke f Dutch
Diminutive of Sofie or Josephine.

Frauke f German
Means "little lady", derived from German frau combined with a diminutive suffix.

Frederikke f Danish
Danish feminine form of Frederick.

Fredrikke f Norwegian
Norwegian feminine form of Frederick.

Friederike f German
German feminine form of Frederick.

Funke f Yoruba
Short form of Olufunke.

Györgyike f Hungarian
Diminutive of Györgyi.

Hanke f Dutch (Rare)
Dutch diminutive of Johanna.

Heike f & m Low German, German
Low German diminutive of Henrike or Henrik.

Heinrike f German (Rare)
Feminine form of Heinrich.

Henrike f German
German feminine form of Heinrich (see Henry).

Ilike f Hungarian
Hungarian diminutive of Ilona.

Imke f Frisian, Dutch, Low German
Diminutive of Ime 2.

Janneke f Dutch
Dutch feminine form of Jan 1.

Jannicke f Norwegian
Norwegian variant of Jannike.

Jannike f Norwegian, Swedish
Scandinavian feminine diminutive of Jan 1, from Low German.

Johanneke f Dutch
Dutch diminutive of Johanna.

Kandake f Biblical Greek, Biblical
Biblical Greek form of Candace, as well as the spelling used in some English translations.

Kirke f Greek Mythology
Greek form of Circe.

Kleonike f Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory" and νίκη (nike) meaning "victory". This name was used by the Greek playwright Aristophanes for a character in his comedy Lysistrata.

Küllike f Estonian
Estonian form of Kyllikki.

Kyriake f Greek
Alternate transcription of Greek Κυριακή (see Kyriaki).

Lærke f Danish
Means "lark" in Danish.

Lake m & f English (Rare)
From the English word lake, for the inland body of water. It is ultimately derived from Latin lacus.

Laodike f Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
Original Greek form of Laodice.

Lieke f Dutch
Dutch diminutive of Angelique or names ending in lia.

Lykke f Danish
Means "good fortune, happiness" in Danish.

Maaike f Dutch
Dutch diminutive of Maria.

Maike f Frisian, German
Frisian diminutive of Maria.

Mareike f Frisian, German
Frisian and German diminutive of Maria.

Marieke f Dutch
Dutch diminutive of Maria.

Marijke f Dutch
Dutch diminutive of Maria.

Marike f Dutch
Dutch diminutive of Maria.

Meike f German, Dutch
German and Dutch diminutive of Maria.

Melike f Turkish
Turkish form of Malika.

Merike f Estonian
From Estonian meri "sea" with a diminutive suffix.

Methoataske f Shawnee
Means "turtle laying its eggs" in Shawnee.

Mieke f Dutch
Dutch diminutive of Maria.

Minke m & f Frisian, Dutch
Diminutive and feminine form of Meine.

Nazerke f Kazakh
Derived from Persian ناز (nāz) meaning "delight, comfort" and Kazakh ерке (erke) meaning "naughty, spoiled, darling".

Neske f Dutch
Dutch diminutive of Agnes.

Nienke f Frisian
Frisian diminutive of Katherine.

Nike f Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Means "victory" in Greek. Nike was the Greek goddess of victory.

Nynke f Frisian
Frisian diminutive of Katherine.

Olufunke f Yoruba
Means "God gives care" in Yoruba.

Pherenike f Ancient Greek
Attic Greek form of Berenice.

Praxidike f Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek πρᾶξις (praxis) meaning "action, exercise" and δίκη (dike) meaning "justice, custom, order". In Greek mythology she was the goddess of lawful punishment. This is also the name of a small moon of Jupiter.

Renske f Dutch
Feminine form of Rens.

Rike f German
German short form of Friederike, Henrike and other names ending in rike.

Rikke f Danish
Danish short form of Frederikke.

Sietske f Frisian
Feminine diminutive of Siet.

Silke f German, Dutch
German and Dutch diminutive of Celia or Cecilia.

Tineke f Dutch
Diminutive of Tina.

Tiyamike f & m Chewa
Means "we praise" in Chewa.

Ulrike f German
German feminine form of Ulrich.

Ulrikke f Norwegian, Danish
Norwegian and Danish feminine form of Ulrich.

Vaike f Estonian
From Estonian vaikus meaning "silence, calm". This name was coined by Andres Saal for a character in his story Vambola (1889).

Veerke f Limburgish
Diminutive of Veer.

Vibeke f Danish, Norwegian
Danish form of Wiebke. It was borne by an influential mistress of Christian IV of Denmark (17th century).

Wenke f Low German
Low German diminutive of Germanic names containing the element wini meaning "friend".

Wibke f German
Feminine form of Wiebe.

Wiebke f Frisian, German
Feminine form of Wiebe.

Yutke f Yiddish (Rare)
Yiddish diminutive of Judith.

Zselyke f Hungarian
Possibly a Hungarian form of Željka.

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