10 Czech Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

Marcus Szabo via Dribbble

Most people you meet will not be able to give you an example of a Czech name. To be honest, before I wrote this post, I couldn't either! Smaller countries like the Czech Republic are often overlooked when it comes to name nationalities, but that shouldn't be the case. So many Czech names could (and should) be embraced by the general population, and I've got ten of them here to tell you about. Take a look.

Andel- Andel might be the Czech form of Angel, but in the US, he'd definitely be considered one of the many And- names. Even though he does sound a bit exotic, the popularity of those aforementioned And- names will help a little Andel fit right in.

Artis- Have people gotten on board with the nickname Art yet? He's very distinguished and poised, but has that fun old-man-chic feel for a little boy. Even if Arthur's not you're style, I think Art is a nickname to consider. The Czech name Artis makes the perfect full name. It's also the real first name of popular rapper Coolio.

Bohdan- Bohdan is a Czech and Ukranian name that may be related to Donald. In the Ukraine, he's pronounced bo-DAHN, but most Americans will put the stress on the first syllable, thanks to similar trendy names like Bodhi and Boden. Whatever way you choose to pronounce him, Bohdan makes a lovely import into the American name pool.

Jiri- The previous names might be great at blending in, but Jiri feels decidedly more Czech. This sweet, upbeat name is a variation of George. Much like Jory, I think Jiri works well on his own as well as a nickname for the more classic George.

Kafka- No matter which way you slice it, Kafka is most certainly a namesake name. Franz Kafka, the most notable wearer, authored such 20th century classic as The Metamorphoses. However, Japanese author Haruki Murakami moved Kafka into first-name territory when he gave the name to the main character of his (fittingly named) book Kafka on the Shore.

Leos- Altough Leos peaked in the '60s in the Czech Republic, he feels very current for an American baby. That's probably due to the fact that the Leo- names are super stylish right now. From Leonardo to Leopold, Americans are loving all variations of Leo. Leos seems like another one of the boys. Possible element of confusion: in most of Europe, he's pronounced LAY-os.

Ludek- Ludek is a Czech variation of Louis, but he strikes me as a great alternative to the ever-popular Luke. He has all the same sounds (and then some), and can even go by Lou. Ludek is easy to say and spell, yet still has an exotic feel. What more could you want?

Otokar- Otokar is Czech name that comes from the ancient German name Odovacar. The historical Odovacar was a Gothic ruler who became the King of Italy. Otokar is a much more wearable name, and he's an easy way to get to Otto.

Radko- Radko is a very fun name that means "happy." I love the fact that he has the word "rad" inside him (that'd make a cool nickname), and I can definitely see him catching on in the US. For those of you worried about Rocco's current rise, Radko could be an alternate option.

Vit- Vit is a perennial Czech favorite, having ranked in the top 40 for almost 40 years. He traditionally comes from the name Vitus, but the Czechs have since abandoned that for simply Vit. He might be a little short for American standards, so I urge you to consider Vit as a nickname for Victor.

10 Czech Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

Eho via Dribbble

We don't hear about Czech names often, but there are some wonderful options! My personal favorite of today's list is Lida--how lovely would she be on a baby girl? Let me know your favorites, I always love to hear them.

Apolena- I don't know about you guys, but I love the name Apollonia, just not her five syllables. Thankfully, the Czech version is Apolena--a slightly shorter version that I think I like even more.

Dosia- Dosia is a Czech version of the Greek Dorothea. She also has roots in Poland, where she is used as a nickname for Teodozja or Dorota. As far as pronunciation goes, in the Czech Republic, Dosia is said like DAH-shuh.

Edita- With Edith on the rise in the US, it's time to start looking for variations. I'm particularly fond of the Czech one, Edita. She could easily go by the retro-cool nickname Edie, if you're a fan.

Evka- Speaking of names on the rise, let's talk about Eva. She's currently at #82 in America, and similar names (Ava, Eve, Evie, etc.) are soaring as well. The Czech Eva is Evka, and it's safe to say she hasn't hit it big yet. If you're not offended by the hard K sound (currently not very vogue, but I love it!), then Evka could be a lovely Eva alternate.

Lenka- Lenka is originally a short form of Madalena and Helena in the Czech Republic, but I think she's gorgeous in her own right. She's similar to the rising name Lena, but has an undeniable European feel.

Lida- Lida is name that has great potential. I can definitely see her catching on in the US. She's a diminutive of Ludmila (unfortunately, not one I can see catching on), but is unrelated to the Greek Leda. Americans love L names for girls, so tell me--am I crazy, or could Lida be our next big import?

Milena- No doubt you are familiar with Milena as the real name of mega-star Mila Kunis. She's currently ranked at #798, making her the most popular name on this list, as well as the most well-known Czech name to Americans. Milena is used in many European countries, so she's a good cross-cultural pick.

Olina- Olga might not be your style, but how about her Czech form, Olina? She's less harsh and more feminine, plus she can shorten to Lina. Olina is a Czech name by design, but also used throughout Scandinavia.

Olivie- Olivie and a Czech and French name. As you may have guessed, she's a variation of Olivia. Unlike her more popular sister, the emphasis is not on the second syllable. Instead, Olivie, is pronounced oh-liv-EE.

Tila- Isn't Tila cute? She's a Czech nickname for Matilda, and much like my favorite Matilda knock-off (Tilda!) she's splendid on her own. That being said, she makes a fun, unexpected nickname for an American Matilda.