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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

French female names

110 replies

Rororowmeboat · 20/03/2013 11:03

I like Madeleine and Cecile but not 100% happy with them - does anyone have any suggestions for similar?

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Original poster
Rororowmeboat · 20/03/2013 19:27

Thanks for all the suggestions folks. I really don't mind if the names sound dated in France - these things often go in cycles. My DS name most people would say is very dated in the UK but I don't care because I like it and that is the most important thing.

Keep the suggestions coming - I have just shown this thread to DH and we particularly like
Delphine, Mirabelle and Agathe (but not sure how to pronounce Agathe).

OP posts:
TrishkanOEUFak · 20/03/2013 19:22

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girliefriend · 20/03/2013 19:19

Josephine or Constance?

TheRedQueen · 20/03/2013 19:18

Nicole

LillianGish · 20/03/2013 19:01

I know a Fleur with sisters Clementine and Prune. I also know an Alistair - who is a girl.

LeslieWink1e · 20/03/2013 18:58

Magaly is lovely. Magaly, Virginie, and Stephanie sound beautiful to me.

Maelys, Lilou, manon Hermence! Shock .......... those don't appeal.

pinkhousesarebest · 20/03/2013 18:55

Why would you pick a dated French name though.....muses.
My (40 year old or so ) friends are called Fabienne, Stephanie, Valerie, Virginie, Magali, Isabelle, Delphine, Carine (millions of these).
In my dds class there is Lola, Hermence, Garance, Domitille, Camille (loads of), Margaux (ditto), Julie (!), Capucine, Anne Charlotte. And a Maelys, Lila, Clara and Luna.

bigboobsatlast · 20/03/2013 18:46

Fleur is my personal favourite :)

PORRIDGEANYONE · 20/03/2013 18:44

Fabienne is a lovely name

CotherMuckingFunt · 20/03/2013 18:43

My dd has a Chelsea in her (French school) class.

MrsSchadenfreude · 20/03/2013 18:40

The top 10 girls' names in Paris all begin with "A"!

Tillylils · 20/03/2013 18:34

How about Sidonie?

Franup · 20/03/2013 18:19

Bonsoir - ironically the names on the French list are dated UK names! But seem to have the cache we give to dated French names.

Two of the names on the French top ten list are names my mum had in reserve for me as a baby and I am nearly 40!

MrsSchadenfreude · 20/03/2013 18:18

The DDs' French friends are: Amytis, Sonia, Lisa, Julia (x 3), Zoe, Chloe, Serena (x 2), Ines, Rachel, Pauline, Nathalie (x 3) and Sophie.

PipkinsPal · 20/03/2013 18:17

I had a penpal called Corrine. Esmeralda is French isn't it? Grin

AvonCallingBarksdale · 20/03/2013 18:13

Chantal?

Badvoc · 20/03/2013 18:12

Solange
Brigitte
Sophie
Clara
Manon

MrsSchadenfreude · 20/03/2013 18:12

DD2 is named for an ancient relative... her name is definitely an old lady's name in Germany, but seems to be seen as a "posh Mumsnet" name on here.

pollypanic · 20/03/2013 18:07

There are a lot of currently popular names in France that I think will really date (Lilou, Lou) and others that aren't very appealing to our ears.

More beautiful names...

Violette
Clemence/Clementine
Ines
Charlotte
Sylvie

NonnoMum · 20/03/2013 18:03

Camille

frozentree · 20/03/2013 17:59

I have 3 daughters at school in France. Here's a selection of their classmates names...

Flavie
Amandine
Coline
Ludivine
Eva
Elsa
Louise
Chloe
Jade
Ines
Matilde
Julie
Segolene
Victoire
Loanne
Sarah
Claire
Emma

Hope this helps

Umlauf · 20/03/2013 17:58

Jade is number 2 in France? How do they pronounce that? Shaaaadde?

Dated and frumpy names are coming back in the UK so by the time the OPs DD visits France she will probably be thought of as modern and cool.

Not that it matters how she is perceived in France, or anywhere, as she will be a person not a name.

sara11272 · 20/03/2013 17:55

I've always liked Anne-Sophie

LeslieWink1e · 20/03/2013 17:55

After a quick look at the french list which includes marion and pauline, i would rather the names we think of as french.

pollypanic · 20/03/2013 17:50

The OP is free to chose any name she wishes, but at least it is good to know how it is perceived in the country of origin. Surely you'd be keen to know that if you are so fond of French names?

Anyhoo, my choices are

Jeanne
Agathe
Agnes
Clara
Mathilde
Camille
Juliette
Louise
Annie (it is dated)
Salome
Aurelie

  • as spoken by the French!