Writing Adolescent Fiction/Character names/Latvian

Usage note

Latvian surnames change with gender. The -is at the end of the male form changes to -e when used by women: Sprogis -> Sproge, Prieditis -> Priedite. Names ending in consonant+s change the -s to -a when used by women: Jaunzems -> Jaunzema, Purins -> Purina, Kluss -> Klusa, so the wife or daughter of Andris Berzins would be named Ieva Berzina. The suffix -ins that appears on many Latvian surnames has a special mark over the S in Latvian and is often respelled -insh in English, so some people are named Berzinsh or Purinsh. Other names are also sometimes phonetically respelled in America, so that Dance, the feminine form of Dancis, is spelt Dantche.

Families from foreign ethnic groups who have moved into Latvia usually Latvianize their names. The rules for forming the feminine form are a bit different with non-Latvian surnames. Many men of German descent have surnames like Smits, Runvalds, Kronvalds, Fisers, Valters and Zanders. The -s ending changes to an -e in German names: Smite, Kronvalde. Scandinavian names in the form of Andersons, Petersons, Mikelsons, Jansons, Jekabsons and Jirgensons (Andersone or Petersone in their feminine form) are common. The -ski at the end of Polish and Bulgarian or Macedonian names becomes -skis (Berzinskis, Bilinskis, Kalvinskis, Kolomenskis, Vasilevskis, Zakresevskis, Zemlinskis), and -ska is the form used for women (Berzinska, Bilinska, Vasilevska). Slavic names ending in -nieks for men (Bauskenieks, Bitenieks, Kurpnieks, Mucenieks, Podnieks, Ratnieks, Tiesnieks, Upenieks) become -niece for women (Bauskeniece, Kurpniece, Ratniece, Upeniece).

Girls' names

Ada
Adele
Aelita
Agate
Agija
Agita
Agnese
Agneta
Agnija
Agra
Agrita
Aiga
Aija
Aina - Means "sight" or "to see"
Aira - Means "paddle"
Airita
Aiva
Aivita
Alda
Aleksandra - Latvian version of "Alexandra"
Alida
Alina
Alise
Alla
Alma
Alona
Alvine
Amanda
Anastasija
Ance
Anda
Andra
Andzela
Anete
Angelika
Anita
Anna
Annija
Anta
Antonija
Antra
Arija
Arita
Armanda
Arnita
Arta
Astra
Astrida
Ausma
Austra
Baiba
Barbara
Beate
Beatrise
Benita
Biruta
Brigita
Dace
Dagnija
Daiga
Daina
Dainuvite
Dana
Diana
Dina
Dita
Dzemma
Dzidra
Dzintra
Edite
Egija
Egita
Elga
Elina
Elita
Eliza
Elma
Elvira
Elza
Erika
Erna
Eva
Evija
Evita
Gaida
Galina
Gerda
Gertrude
Ginta
Gita
Grieta
Guna
Gunda
Gundega
Gunita
Gunta
Guntra
Helena
Ieva
Ildze
Ilga
Ilja
Ilma
Ilona
Iluta
Ilva
Ilze
Ina
Inara
Indra
Inese
Ineta
Inga
Ingrida
Inguna
Inita
Inna
Inta
Ira
Irena
Irina (can also be spelled "Iryna")
Irisa
Irita
Iveta
Jana
Janina
Jekaterina
Jelena
Jevgenija
Jolanta
Julija
Julita
Justine
Juta
Karina
Kate
Katrina
Kintija
Kitija
Krista
Kristiana
Kristina
Kristine
Laila
Laima
Laimdota
Laine
Lana
Larisa
Lasma
Lauma
Laura
Lelde
Leontine
Liana
Lidija
Liene
Lienite
Liesma
Liga
Ligita
Lija
Liliana
Lilija
Lilita
Lina
Linda
Lita
Liva
Livija
Lolita
Lonija
Lucija
Ludmila
Luize
Madara
Maiga
Maija
Maira
Mairita
Mara
Margarita
Marija
Marika
Marina
Marite
Marta
Maruta
Milda
Minna
Mirdza
Monta
Nadezda
Nanija
Natalija
Natalja
Nellija
Nina
Nora
Oksana
Olga
Olita
Pečka
Pupila
Ramona
Rasma
Regina
Renate
Rita
Rudite
Ruta
Sabine
Saiva
Sanda
Sandra
Sanita
Santa
Sarlote
Sarma
Sarmite
Sigita
Signe
Silvija
Simona
Sindija
Sintija
Skaidrite
Sniedze
Snikere
Sofija
Solveiga
Solvita
Svetlana
Tamara
Tatjana
Tereze
Tija
Una
Vaira
Valda
Valentina
Valerija
Valija
Velga
Velta
Vera
Veronika
Vesma
Vija
Viktorija
Vineta
Viola
Violeta
Vita
Zaiga
Zanda
Zane
Zanete
Zanna
Zenta
Zigrida
Zinta
Zita

Boys' names

Adams
Adolfs
Adrians
Agnis
Agris
Aigars
Ainars
Ainis
Aivars
Aivis
Aksels
Aldis
Aleksandrs
Aleksejs
Aleksis
Alens
Alfons
Alfreds
Alnis
Alvils
Alvirs
Alvis
Anatols
Andis
Andrejs
Andrievs
Andris - Meaning "Manly"
Ansis
Anslavs
Antons
Ardis
Aris
Arkadijs
Armands
Armins
Arnis
Arnolds
Artis
Arturs
Arvids
Arvils
Arvis
Askolds
Atis
Audris
Augusts
Auseklis
Austris
Boleslavs
Boriss
Brencis
Bruno
Centis
Dags
Dailis
Dainis
Daniels
Dans
Davids
Davis
Denis
Deniss
Didzis
Dims
Dmitrijs
Druvis
Druvvaldis
Dzintars
Edgars
Edijs
Edmunds
Eduards
Edvards
Edvins
Edzus
Egils
Egons
Einars
Elmars
Elvijs
Elvis
Emils
Eriks
Ernests
Ervins
Evalds
Ezis
Felikss
Gaidis
Gastons
Gatis
Gederts
Genadjis
Georgs
Gints
Girts
Gregors
Gunars
Gundars
Guntars
Guntis
Gunvaldis
Gustavs
Gusts
Gvido
Haralds
Hardijs
Harijs
Heinrihs
Helmuts
Hugo
Igors
Ilgonis
Ilgvars
Ilmars
Ilvars
Imants
Indulis
Ingars
Ingmars
Ingus
Intars
Ints
Ivars
Ivo
Janis
Jazeps
Jekabs
Jevgenijs
Julijs
Jurijs
Juris
Kalvis
Karlis
Kaspars
Klavs
Konrads
Konstantins
Krisjanis
Kristaps
Kristians
Krists
Kurts
Laimdots
Laimonis
Larss
Lauris
Leo
Leonards
Leonids
Leons
Leopolds
Linards
Lotars
Ludis
Lukass
Madis
Maigonis
Maksims
Manfreds
Marcis
Mareks
Margers
Maris
Martins
Marts
Matiss
Mihails
Mikelis
Miks
Mikus
Modris
Nauris
Nikodems
Nikolajs
Niks
Nils
Normunds
Ojars
Olafs
Olegs
Olgerts
Oskars
Oto
Paulis
Pauls
Pavels
Peteris
Raimonds
Raitis
Raivis
Ralfs
Reinis
Renars
Ricards
Rihards
Rinalds
Ritvars
Roberts
Rolands
Romans
Romualds
Rudolfs
Rusins
Salvis
Sandijs
Sandis
Sandris
Sergejs
Simons
Stanislavs
Stefans
Talis
Teodors
Tomass
Toms
Ugis
Uldis
Uvis
Vadims
Vairis
Valdemars
Valdis
Valentins
Valerijs
Valters
Valts
Varis
Vents
Verners
Viesturs
Vijars
Vikentijs
Viktors
Vilis
Vilnis
Visvaldis
Vitalijs
Vitolds
Vjaceslavs
Vladimirs
Vladislavs
Voldemars
Yuris
Zanis
Ziedonis
Zigfrids
Zigmars
Zigurds
Zintis

Surnames

Top 10

Berzins
Kalnins
Ozolins
Ozols
Liepins
Krumins
Balodis
Eglitis
Zarins
Vitols

Others

Abolins
Aboltins
Alats
Aldins
Alsknis
Alksnitis
Alunans
Andis
Apanis
Apsitis
Arajs
Arnicans
Augis
Auzins
Avotins
Babicevs
Bajars
Barkans
Barons
Bartkevics
Barzdins
Bats
Baumanis
Bebrekarklis
Bebris
Beiris
Berklavs
Biezais
Bikerts
Bilmanis
Birkavs
Blagonadezdins
Blazevics
Bleidelis
Bogdanovs
Bondars
Bresis
Briedis
Broks
Bruziks
Buikis
Bukss
Buls
Busmanis
Caunis
Celmins
Cerbulis
Cirulis
Dabolins
Dalbergs
Dambis
Dancis
Darzins
Djomins
Dreimanis
Dzenis
Dzenitis
Dzervis
Egils
Ekmanis
Endzelins
Endzelis
Erglis
Ezergailis
Ezerinss
Fedorovics
Florovs
Gailis
Gailitis
Galins
Gedrovics
Gigulis
Gilis
Gobins
Gorbanovs
Grabis
Graudins
Graveris
Gravitis
Gredzens
Greitans
Grevins
Grigulis
Grundulis
Gulans
Gulbis
Hazans
Ierags
Ievins
Indans
Insakovs
Irbins
Ivanovs
Ivbulis
Jaunberzins
Jaunsleinis
Jaunzems
Jelisejevs
Jencs
Jermolajevs
Jirgens
Judrups
Kairis
Kaktins
Kalejs
Kalnberzins
Karavajevs
Karklins
Karnitis
Kaudzitis
Kaukis
Kazanovs
Kenins
Kezis
Kibilds
Kimenis
Kivrins
Klavins
Kluss
Kokins
Kondratovics
Kozlovs
Krastins
Krauklis
Kreitus
Kreslins
Kronitis
Kulins
Kupriss
Kurlis
Kursitis
Kuzmins
Lacis
Laizans
Langalis
Lapins
Lasmanis
Latvietis
Lazdins
Leitass
Lejejs
Lejins
Lesitis
Licis
Lieknins
Lietuvietis
Links
Lobanovs
Locmelis
Logins
Lukstins
Lurins
Lusis
Malejs
Markuss
Martins
Mazins
Mazrocis
Mednis
Meierovics
Melbiksis
Melecis
Melngailis
Mucenieks
Muiznieks
Murnieks
Niedritis
Odinecs
Oditis
Ogsts
Osis
Paeglis
Pahars
Pantelejevs
Pauls
Pauluks
Pedars
Peders
Pelecis
Pelsis
Penikis
Pinkis
Pinkuls
Pinnis
Pirags
Piziks
Plakans
Platacis
Plavins
Pogins
Popelis
Priedis
Prieditis
Pukis
Pukitis
Pumpurs
Pupils
Purins
Purvitis
Putnins
Rainis
Raitums
Ramolins
Reks
Riekstins
Rimkus
Rodzins
Rokis
Rozitis
Rubiks
Rubulis
Rudzitis
Rusis
Rutks
Sakbartis
Salmins
Samitis
Sarkans
Saulitis
Seleckis
Sevlakovs
Silins
Skinkis
Skrastins
Skujins
Slaidins
Spigulis
Spricis
Sprogis
Stepanovs
Stolcers
Strautins
Strazdins
Strazds
Streics
Strods
Sturis
Sturitis
Sviklis
Tarasovs
Taurenis
Tebelis
Tiltins
Tots
Treimanis
Troickis
Tupuritis
Udris
Ulmanis
Upenieks
Upitis
Upmanis
Vagalis
Vagris
Valdemars
Vanags
Veidis
Veigulis
Velins
Vigulis
Vilcins
Vilnis
Vilums
Voldins
Zabers
Zagarins
Zaks
Zalitis
Zeltins
Zemitis
Ziedins
Ziedonis
Ziemelis
Znotins
Zvaigznis
Zvirgdzins