Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 17/09/2015 20:54

Manon is lovely.

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

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

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!

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 16/09/2015 20:10

Belle

GoooRooo · 16/09/2015 20:05

Stephanie
Elizabeth
Isabelle
Zoe
Alice
Brigitte
Catherine
Chantal
Colette

turdfairynomore · 16/09/2015 17:28

Delphine

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.

YogaPants · 16/09/2015 17:09

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

YogaPants · 16/09/2015 17:07

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

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

BlueChampagne · 16/09/2015 16:41

I know a Constance NN Coco, if that helps.

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

fairyfeatures · 16/09/2015 13:23

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

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

BertrandRussell · 16/09/2015 11:04

Romane (spelled differently) is a lettuce in England.

Clemency?

steppemum · 16/09/2015 11:01

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

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.

BastardGoDarkly · 16/09/2015 10:56

Eloise? Although I think Romane is lovely :)

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 16/09/2015 10:43

Maria

BettyBi0 · 16/09/2015 09:56

Rose? I love how that sounds with a French accent

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:
marmaladegranny · 16/09/2015 09:33

Sandrine - or is that dated?

WiIdfire · 16/09/2015 09:32

Marie

WiIdfire · 16/09/2015 09:32

Amelie