Gender: Masculine
Origin: German/Italian
The name was originally a short form of any name ending in -tino. It has been used as an independent given name in Italy and German-speaking countries since at least the turn of the 20th-century.
Currently, Tino is the 266th most popular male name in Germany, (2011) and the 500th most popular in France, (2009).
Gender: Feminine
Origin: German
(AHN-neh-lee)
The name could either be from a Bavarian diminutive form of Anne or be a Swedish compound of Anne and Louise.
Currently, Annelie is the 270th most popular female name in Germany, (2011).
Other spellings include: Anelie (German); Anneli (Finnish/Scandinavian).
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Czech/German
(ah-LEH-nah)
The name has several possible derivations, the most popular being that it is a Czech contracted form of Magdalena or Helena. Other sources contend that it is derived from an archaic Russian diminutive form of Olga or Alexandra. It has even been suggested to be an earlier Czech feminine form of Alan.
It is possible that it is derived from the Norman female name, Alenn, again, a form of Magdalena.
In Belarus, the name used as a form of Helen.
Currently, it is 226th most popular female name in Germany, (2011).
Other forms of the name include:
In Czech and Slovak, Alenka is the diminutive form.
The name is borne by Czech supermodel Alena Šeredová Buffon (b.1978).
Gender: Masculine
Origin: Frisian
(KEH-noh)
The name is from a Medieval Frisian diminutive form of Konrad.
It was borne by two East Frisian princes, Keno I of Brock (1310-1376) and his grandson, Keno II of Brock (1380-1417).
Currently, Keno is the 310th most popular male name in Germany, (2011).
Gender: Masculine
Origin: Italian/Romansch/Spanish
(REE-koh)
The name comes from a Latinate diminutive form of either Enrico or Ricardo. It is now used as an independent given name in Italy, Spanish-speaking countries and in the Romansch-speaking regions of Switzerland.
Coincidentally, rico is also the Spanish word for “rich” and is used as a term of endearment for small children. It would roughly be the equivalent of “precious.”
Currently, Rico is the 314th most popular male name in Germany, (2011).
Gender: Masculine
Origin: Czech/Polish
Pol/Germ/Est: (YAH-nek)
The name is from the Polish and Czech diminutive form of Jan, which is a cognate for John. The name is strictly used as a diminutive form in Poland and the Czech Republic, but has become a common independent given name in German-speaking countries, (especially in East Germany) and in Estonia.
Currently, Janek is the 346th most popular male name in Germany, (2011).
Another German rendition is Jannek.
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Russian
Eng (SONE-yah); Germ (ZONE-yah)
The name is from a Russian diminutive form of Sophia. Among Russian-Jews, the name was often used as a Russian cognate for the Yiddish, Shayndel, though the two names are not etymologically related.
Sonia could also be from the Hindi word sona सोना meaning “gold.”
In South Eastern Europe and Northern Europe, the name has been used as an independent given name since at least the turn of the 20th-century.
In the English-speaking world, the name was popularized by a 1917 eponymous novel by Stephen McKenna.
Currently, Sonja is the 297th most popular female name in Germany, (2011)
Other forms of the name include:
The name is borne by Norwegian figure skater and actress, Sonja Henie (1916-1969).
Gender: Masculine
Origin: Swedish
(KAHL-leh)
The name is a Swedish and Norwegian diminutive form of Karl, but has been used as an independent given name in Scandinavia and Germany.
In Swedish, Donald Duck is Kalle Anka.
Kalle Blomqvist is a fictional character created by Astrid Lindgren known in English as Bill Bergson.
Currently, Kalle is the 370th most popular male name in Germany, (2011).
Gender: Feminine
Origin: German
(KATE-teh)
The name was initially a diminutive form of Katharina but is now used as an independent given name.
The name was borne by German painter, print-maker and sculptor, Käthe Kollwitz (1867-1945).
Currently, Käthe is the 451st most popular female name in Germany, (2011).