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Baby names

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

Original poster

Help with franco-british names!

42 replies

anaotchan · 29/08/2013 11:10

I am French but my baby will likely grow up in the UK, so I would need a French name that also works in English.

Right now I am liking Lucie. I think it is a lovely name, but reading through past threads I got the impression that a lot of British people found the -ie ending too twee, or too nicknamey, or too pretentious. (it is the normal and only spelling for the name in French, though.)

Does my French passport give my bi-national child a pass? Or should I avoid the name altogether? ("Lucy" is not an option, because I really want a French name)

If anyone has other suggestions for two-syllable names that are classic but not too popular in either country, I am all ears! I considered Louise, but DH vetoed it. Sophie is nice but way too common in the UK for my taste. Names starting in "E" (Emma, Elise) are also out because DH thinks they do not work with our last name. *sigh...

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Original poster
anaotchan · 02/09/2013 11:43

oh my, yes. It's all Léa and Lili and Lilou and Lola and other cutesy (nick)names (not many Lucies, though!)...
Léa is very pretty, actually, but my fear for these children is that their names will sound very pointedly dated in a few years/decades.

OP posts:
dappleton · 02/09/2013 10:22

I'm English and live in a French speaking country, all little girls seem to be either Lily or Lea (with the accent thingy above the 'e' but I can't do that on my keyboard - sorry)

ThePeppermintHippo · 01/09/2013 15:37

Chloé?

CultureMix · 01/09/2013 05:14

Can I suggest Romy.

NadiaWadia · 01/09/2013 01:41

'Lucie' is certainly not unknown in the UK, (although obviously it's usually 'Lucy)'. I think it even appears in Beatrix Potter (whose books must have been written over 100 years ago).

I think it's pretty, not twee or anything.

BikeRunSki · 31/08/2013 18:21

Sophie
Anna
Isabel
Stephanie
Lilly

winkygirl · 31/08/2013 17:43

I have a Madeleine who was going to be a Madeline until I found the French spelling was significantly better known in the UK. (Top baby names list)

I also love the name Lucie and do not think it would be an issue for a Lucie rather than a Lucy.

And my Madeleine is in a class with an Amelie. Very pretty name.

selsigfach · 31/08/2013 13:06

Lucienne?

Original poster
anaotchan · 31/08/2013 10:32

Can you imagine a foreigner who'd never lived here roaming the baby name threads and just not getting it?

'Ah, but Kevin is a very nice name, no? Very old, very classic?'
'But what is wrong with Jordan? I think it is chic!' etc etc

Yes I can! That's me!! well not quite... but that's a feeling I often get when I suggest a name to DH. I'll think it's a perfectly normal and lovely name (in a French context), and he goes "ewww", for a wide variety of reasons. Also complicated by the fact that DH is American, and names sometimes have slightly different connotations in the US and the UK... (for instance, apparently a lot of French names tend to be given to black women only! so strange!)

it's a cultural translation nightmare :)

OP posts:
ChubbyKitty · 30/08/2013 13:38

Ooh, my name is French but its such a ball ache trying to correct people so probably not the best. Sad

TheSecondComing · 30/08/2013 13:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EldritchCleavage · 30/08/2013 13:18

I came across Claude and Florianne yesterday, both nice to my ears.

It's so hard to make suggestions for anther nationality, because you don't get any of the social or other connotations that names have.

Can you imagine a foreigner who'd never lived here roaming the baby name threads and just not getting it?

'Ah, but Kevin is a very nice name, no? Very old, very classic?'
'But what is wrong with Jordan? I think it is chic!' etc etc

jkklpu · 29/08/2013 18:48

Aurelie
Beatrice
Margaux
Odile

Original poster
anaotchan · 29/08/2013 18:43

Thank you so much for the suggestions everyone, a lot of gorgeous names (and sound advice) in there!

Thanks
OP posts:
MrsSchadenfreude · 29/08/2013 18:12

I wanted to call my French cat Clawdine. DH vetoed it. Grin

I like Amandine.

BikeRunSki · 29/08/2013 16:07

My Anglo-French niece, who was born in France and has always lived there, is Stella Alice.

Xiaoxiong · 29/08/2013 15:56

We have Anglo-French-Chinese friends with three daughters whose names I love: Anouk, Claudia and Brigitte. (Yes, named after the actresses!)

EldritchCleavage · 29/08/2013 15:47

Syrie
Corinne
Anne

QisforQuestion · 29/08/2013 15:44

I absolutely love 'Solenne'. Although its French English people can pronounce it easily. It's such a sweet and classy name.

aftermay · 29/08/2013 15:43

Sylvie
Eloise
Clara

hetsto · 29/08/2013 15:40

I had an Anglo-French friend called Leonore, which I think is gorgeous! She got 'Leo' as a shortened version, which was pretty cool too. I also really like Ariane.

LeBFG · 29/08/2013 15:40

Having done this one to death - twice for mine - my best advice is just choose a name YOU like. The country will adapt (even with accents). If you choose a very franco name it'll just give your DD an exotic appeal.

toobusytothink · 29/08/2013 15:38

I went to school with a Genevieve. Always thought it was a beautiful name. Otherwise Stephanie. But think lucie with ie is very pretty and not twee at all.

Layl77 · 29/08/2013 15:30

I like Anais, Nicole, Lucie, Maelle, Madeliene

EnjoyEverySandwich · 29/08/2013 13:38

Martine
Judith
Colette
Diane
Nicole
Renée
Denise