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

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