Hendrika

[edgeware]

My lovely grandmother was called Hendrika. Everyone called her Rietje (Ree - tche). There is no name in the world that you make from this that you could saddle a baby girl with, is there?

Hendrika is a lovely name and makes me think of Rembrandt and Hendrickje Stoffels. His pictures of her are so beautiful and loving.

I'd go with Hendrika and the nickname as they are both lovely.

I think it is a lovely name with a nice story. Lots of natural nns could spring from it.

What about nn Erika or Hettie?

I think it’s lovely.

I never heard this name before but I think it sounds nice.

I used to know a Henny. I was never sure if it was short for something or a full name. I think Hendrika would be fine as a middle name. I actually think it would be fine as a first name too, but not if you really don’t like it.

Never heard this name before but I really like it.

I think they're lovely, meaningful, if slightly unusual names.
I like the name Rika, which is less of a mouthful for a child and feels a bit more modern.

Go with what you want though!

@NoraLuka it’s Dutch, to be honest I think it’s just a female version of Hendrik. My grandmother was a surprise twin, I think they just thought let’s just call her after her dad and call it a day!

I love it. I love classic Dutch names, it’s so refreshing, it’s sweet on a little girl sophisticated on a woman, it has lovely family meaning etc etc. She could be Hen, Hettie, Dree, Rika etc

It’s just a form of Henrietta / Harriet. As Hendrik is a form of Henry.

I know a Henrietta who is known as Rita day to day, which is just the English language version of your granny’s name.

So either the Dutch or the English forms really - with short forms Rita/Rika, Etta, Hennie, Hatty, Harrie, depending what you go for

I think it’s nice name

I think Hendrika is a lovely name! Really pretty.

Hendrika feels a bit lumpen to me, but I love Henny as a NN. Which syllable is emphasised?

I love it.

I would probably use:
Rika as a standalone name
or
Henrietta - Etta, Henri, Hattie, Hattie

Rika is really nice actually. Easy to pronounce, unusual in uk but not bizarre.

@UnbreakMyFart HenDREEka.

Glad so many people like the name. I think I find it hard to seperate it from the Dutch connotations, it’s a very old fashioned name in Dutch. My grandmother herself didn’t even like it, hence why she made everyone call her Rietje!

It's lovely, I'd give her the proper name and use nickname Rika.

Rika is nice. Just give her the name you plan to call her.

@edgeware it’s fab. I live in NL and have met a couple of little Hendrikjes recently. A lot of that sort of names seem to be coming back! It’s not like calling her Miep or Jannie.

Go for it!

I like it too.

Another thumbs up from me!

Love it!

I like it, it’s a very solid name so a counterpoint to the very cutesy names that have been in fashion in recent years. But I can’t judge of course how it would sound to Dutch ears. Rietje sounds nice.

A surprise twin! How amazing for the family.
I love the name as it is Hendrika and also the nick names are all interesting, smart and acceptable.
I also like Henrika.