Lieke is a Dutch feminine given name with roots in multiple other names. It originated as a diminutive of names like Angelique or any name ending in -lia, such as Lia. The suffix -ke is a common Dutch diminutive affix, giving Lieke the meaning "little Lie" or "little Lia." Additionally, Lieke can be a short form of Elisabeth or even Nicolaas, though it is primarily feminine. Etymology The name Lieke is a diminutive of the short form Lie, which itself may derive from Angelique (French for Angelica) or Angelika, ultimately from Greek angelos meaning "messenger." Alternatively, Lie may originate from the first syllable of Emilia, Julia, or similar names, or from the nickname for Elisabeth. The closely related form Nel and its variants like Neeltje share a similar diminutive structure. Popularity and Usage According to Dutch records, Lieke first appeared in the 1940s, initially rare, with fewer than three newborns per year. Its popularity rose gradually, peaking in 1991 and again in 2008. Today, it is borne by over 16,000 women in the Netherlands and Belgium, and it is also found in northern Germany. Masculine Forms such as Cornelis, Cornelius, and Julius are formally related but not directly diminutives.