Jantje

Jantje is a Dutch given name commonly understood as a diminutive form of Jan, the Dutch version of Johannes/John. The suffix -je is a typical Dutch diminutive that conveys affection or familiarity, and Jantje reflects this naming pattern.

In the Netherlands and Flemish-speaking Belgium, Jantje has been used both as a nickname and, less often, as a formal given name. In contemporary practice it is more commonly encountered as an informal or endearing form for someone named Jan, rather than as an independent legal name, though there are instances of Jantje appearing on birth records.

Culturally, the name appears in Dutch folklore and literature. The best known reference is the traditional children’s rhyme Jantje zag eens pruimen hangen, which features a boy named Jantje and has become a familiar cultural touchstone in Dutch-speaking communities. The rhyme contributes to the perception of Jantje as a rustic, cheerful figure in Dutch culture.

Related forms include Jan, Johannes, and other diminutives of Jan. In various Dutch dialects and regions, there are minor variations of the name, but Jantje remains primarily a familiar or affectionate form rather than a widely used formal given name in modern times.