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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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LeslieWink1e · 20/03/2013 17:46

Bonsoir, the french list is awful. lilou !? that is not as nice as names listed.

MortifiedAdams · 20/03/2013 17:42

Fabienne
Ariadne

Manoodledo · 20/03/2013 17:41

I also know of a little French Brian, which made me laugh...

happyhorse · 20/03/2013 17:16

Don't the French have a glut of teenage Kevin's? They obviously don't care how names are thought of in other countries.

Xiaoxiong · 20/03/2013 17:04

Ha I was just thinking the same puds Smile

puds11isNAUGHTYnotNAICE · 20/03/2013 16:57

Bonsoir perhaps you could contribute some more up to date names then Confused

Everhopeful · 20/03/2013 16:53

Ornelie and Collette

WormCanner · 20/03/2013 16:46

Many of the names that are currently popular for babies in the UK sound "dated and frumpy" to me.

Starfishkiss · 20/03/2013 16:10

Berenice?

LemonBreeland · 20/03/2013 16:10

Ottilie and Mathilde are my favourites.

bedmonster · 20/03/2013 16:07

Chantelle?

OneLittleToddleTerror · 20/03/2013 16:06

Oh and I bet no one here could guess my DH name as it is definitely a boy's name, not even gender neutral, in the UK. (Unless some smart kiwis are reading this and I just outed myself). Grin

OneLittleToddleTerror · 20/03/2013 16:02

I don't think it matters unless the child is going to live in France. Similarly names like Milo and Kai are a joke in NZ. It doesn't matter unless you think you or your child will live in Oz or NZ. The chances of a Brit moving to down under is higher than to France isn't it? Yet I see Milo being fairly popular on mumsnet.

PS DH has English parents and was saddled with a very popular working class boys name in the UK. Unfortunately it is a girls name in NZ.

Bonsoir · 20/03/2013 15:53

I beg to differ and think it does matter if you call a child a name from another country that is really dated and frumpy.

OneLittleToddleTerror · 20/03/2013 14:12

According to that list HazleNutt linked, Sarah is very on trend, like I said Grin

monal · 20/03/2013 14:10

I know a French Celeste who's one and a half, so there Grin. Although then again I know two baby Hortenses so my social circle may be a poor frame of reference. Adèle? Anaïs? Manon is pretty as well.

Viviennemary · 20/03/2013 14:07

I like Cecile, Violette or even Vivienne.

WormCanner · 20/03/2013 14:02

Bonsoir It's natural that our suggestions may be "dated", as in many cases we are thinking of people we know or have met. Unless OP lives in France, I can't see that it matters. I assumed that the OP is looking for a name she likes, and is not particularly concerned with being "on trend".

OneLittleToddleTerror · 20/03/2013 13:54

I like how Sarah is number 8 Shock

HazleNutt · 20/03/2013 13:52

Have you checked french babyname sites?
top 100 names in France:
www.infobebes.com/prenoms/top-prenoms-filles

In 2011, the most popular names were
?Emma
?Jade
?Zoé
?Chloé
?Léa
?Manon
?Inès
?Maëlys
?Louise
?Lilou

LillianGish · 20/03/2013 13:47

Magalie, Eva, Elena, Fleur, Olivia, Sophie, Emilie, Giselle, Mathilde, Constance, Luna, Heloise, Maud - that's a random selection of girls in my dd's class over the years.

Xiaoxiong · 20/03/2013 13:40

Anouk
Claudine
Claudette
Brigitte
Perrine
Nolwenn
Maryse
Maëlle

(I know some people from Brittany. And like French films from the 60s!)

Bonsoir · 20/03/2013 13:39

The names on this thread are all incredibly dated - the equivalents of Maureen, Karen, Pauline, Susan...

AlisonClare · 20/03/2013 13:33

I've always liked Marie Claire

WormCanner · 20/03/2013 13:30

Jacqueline
Claudine
Josiane
Joelle
Marianne
Valerie
Sandrine
Mirabelle
Myriam