-hou is a suffix found commonly in Channel Islands and Norman names. It is the Norman language version of the Old Norse holmr, meaning a small island, and often found anglicised elsewhere as "holm". It can still be found in modern Scandinavian languages, e.g. Stockholm.

The Norman toponym and diminutive hommet/houmet also derives from this element.

In Parisian French, the equivalent is îlot, which is cognate with the English "islet".

Bailiwick of Guernsey

• Off Guernsey
  • Lihou
  • Les Houmets including - Houmet Benest/Benet, Houmet Paradis & Houmet Hommetol (Omptolle).
• Off Alderney
  • Burhou
• Off Herm
  • Jethou
  • Le Plat Houmet
• Off Sark
  • Brecqhou

Bailiwick of Jersey

• Les Écréhous
• Le Plat Hommet
• Le Hommet du Ouaisné
• Les Hommets
• La Rocco (from rocque-hou)
• Icho (from ic-hou)

Normandy

• Tatihou
• Quettehou
• Néhou
• Tribehou

References

• Noms de lieux de Normandie, René Lepelley, 1999 Paris ISBN 2-86253-247-9
• Jersey Place Names, Stevens, Arthur & Stevens, 1986 Jersey ISBN 0901897175