Cootje

Cootje is a Dutch diminutive, formed by adding the suffix '-tje' to the name 'Coot'. The name 'Coot' itself is a short form or pet form of longer Dutch names, often those containing the element 'Coen' or 'Cornelia'. The suffix '-tje' is a common Dutch diminutive ending, used to indicate smallness, endearment, or familiarity, similar to '-ie' or '-y' in English. Therefore, Cootje literally means 'little Coot' or 'dear Coot'.

While the name 'Coot' might also refer to the bird (a type of waterfowl), in the context of a personal name, it almost certainly derives from a given name. The use of diminutives is very prevalent in Dutch naming traditions, and Cootje would have been used as an affectionate nickname that eventually became a standalone given name, though it remains relatively rare.