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Baby names

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

Original poster

Bahh, help me decide on a girls name please!

23 replies

BriocheBriocheBrioche · 16/09/2015 09:31

I just can't decide!

I'm pregnant with my second dd and can't find a name that is 'the one'

I am English but live in France with French husband so I need a name that works in both languages without too much of a difference in pronunciation.

Current favourite is Clementine but I don't like the shortening of Clem/Clemmie which is inevitable.

Others on the list are:

Manon - not sure about how this comes across in England and is v popular here
Ines - again in the top 5 here
Romane - too masculine?
Constance - can see it being shortened and 'Con' is an insult in France.

I can't really have any 'H' names or names with 'TH' as they don't translate to French very well.

Any suggestions are welcome!

OP posts:
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WiIdfire · 16/09/2015 09:32

Amelie

WiIdfire · 16/09/2015 09:32

Marie

marmaladegranny · 16/09/2015 09:33

Sandrine - or is that dated?

Original poster
BriocheBriocheBrioche · 16/09/2015 09:44

Amelie - I like that, will add it to the list although I prefer slightly stronger sounding names.

Marie - A little religious for me and the name of an estranged family member!

Sandrine - It is nice but yes, unfortunately a little too dated.

OP posts:
BettyBi0 · 16/09/2015 09:56

Rose? I love how that sounds with a French accent

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 16/09/2015 10:43

Maria

BastardGoDarkly · 16/09/2015 10:56

Eloise? Although I think Romane is lovely :)

PermetsTu · 16/09/2015 10:59

Manon and Ines are beautiful and not popular here at all.

Constance nearly always gets Connie ime. Fab name too.

steppemum · 16/09/2015 11:01

Clementine is very pretty and could be Tine, or Tinie or Tina as a shortening?

BertrandRussell · 16/09/2015 11:04

Romane (spelled differently) is a lettuce in England.

Clemency?

CakeRattleandRoll · 16/09/2015 11:28

These all work well in both languages imo, but I have no idea how they are viewed in France (dated, faddy, etc):

Adele
Beatrice
Blanche
Camille
Celeste
Claire
Claudette
Corinne
Danielle
Elise
Estelle
Giselle
Madeleine
Margot
Marianne
Odette
Sylvie
Vivienne
Zoe

fairyfeatures · 16/09/2015 13:23

What about Roma instead of Romane?
Romilly also - although I prefer Romillie spelling.

GlasgowPingu · 16/09/2015 14:15

I'm another one who really likes Claire and Amélie.
Other French names that I think would work well in English: Aimée
Thérèse
Clémence

BlueChampagne · 16/09/2015 16:41

I know a Constance NN Coco, if that helps.

YogaPants · 16/09/2015 17:07

Manon, Constance (Coco) and Clementine (Tina) are nice.

I'd suggest Mathilde or Clara as on trend here.

YogaPants · 16/09/2015 17:09

IMHO I also think Romane sounds too similar to a type of lettuce.

NadiaWadia · 16/09/2015 17:16

Isabelle, Sophie, Anna, Juliette, Madeleine, Marianne, Chloe, Leonie, Emma, Emilie, Lucie? All pretty names which are used over here too, although I don't know if any of them are considered dated in France? I know Sylvie is considered a bit middle aged over there, although it sounds very pretty and is becoming popular in the UK.

Manon is also a Welsh name, I believe (might be pronounced differently). To be honest, she might get teased a bit in the UK, as it has the word 'man' in it, and is unusual here. I know this is daft, but there you are.

turdfairynomore · 16/09/2015 17:28

Delphine

GoooRooo · 16/09/2015 20:05

Stephanie
Elizabeth
Isabelle
Zoe
Alice
Brigitte
Catherine
Chantal
Colette

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 16/09/2015 20:10

Belle

MaudeTheMopLady · 16/09/2015 21:15

Just thinking of the names of my french friends, they are: Eloise, Lily, Alexia, Greta, Constance (never shortened) they all work quite well in both languages.

I would love a Clothilde personally, Manon is lovely and Emmanuelle and Lea.
Good luck with choosing!

ashesandfire · 16/09/2015 22:42

These have probably all been mentioned but
Mathilde, Marianne, Madeleine, Elodie, Mirabelle, Eloise, Elise, Leonie, Sylvie, Noemie, Adelaide, Alice, Anais, Sophie, Suzanne, Camille, Josephine, Emmeline, Juliette, Celeste, Cecile, Elisabeth, Genevieve,Laure.

I like Clementine but agree probably clem/Clemmie is inevitable. I like Manon too

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 17/09/2015 20:54

Manon is lovely.

I also like Agnes with French pronunciation. And with English.

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