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Baby names

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

Original poster

Quirky or classic?

94 replies

ozzyfroggy · 21/05/2021 21:49

I'm looking for reactions to the names Daphne and Rosanna.

My husband and entourage are keen on Daphne but I can't help hearing daft knee... It does go well with our surname and I do find it quite charming though.

I like Rosanna but my husband says it's a gypsy name. I think it's strong and feminine though...

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Perlette · 24/05/2021 15:21

Yes, it's funny the different associations with names that should work in both languages. It does make it tricky. A lot of the French names used for babies in the UK are slightly dated in France and vice versa.

I think Rebecca is nice because it's a pretty name and although you don't come across many baby Rebeccas now in the UK, it isn't cheesy at all and it sounds fresh in France.

Or what do you/he think about using something like Natalia instead of Nathalie? I've always thought it was very pretty!

TatianaBis · 24/05/2021 14:56

Isabeau?

Original poster
ozzyfroggy · 24/05/2021 14:00

I totally prefer Nathalie to Rebecca but for the OH it's like the french Karen or Sue.

I love Marianne but for him it's a fuddy name.

Also with Daphne, they say it dafnay. Nez being nose in french... And big noses do run in the family...

OP posts:
TwoDrifters2 · 24/05/2021 11:04

How about India, to keep with the phonetic alphabet theme of your other two children?!

(And if you have another in the future, there’s still Charlie and Mike!) Wink

AlmostSummer21 · 24/05/2021 10:55

I don't think anyone's mentioned Elodie or Matilda have they?

AlmostSummer21 · 24/05/2021 10:54

I don't really like Rebecca, but it's a million times better than the first two.

I think Nathalie is the nicest so far with Amelie in second place.

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 24/05/2021 10:49

I really don't like Rebecca.

Why not another Shakespearean name? Would he go for Rosaline instead? I think Imogen is a lovely name. Or Hermione, Perdita, Cordelia.

idontlikealdi · 24/05/2021 10:31

Rebecca will be beck or becks, daphne is lovely and underrated IMO.

Theforest · 24/05/2021 10:25

How about Rosina?

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 24/05/2021 10:22

I like them both, and they're in the same sort of "camp" to me - instantly recognisable as names, not very common or popular but not "weird", a little bit boho but classy boho, IYSWIM.

TatianaBis · 24/05/2021 10:18

Manon
Capucine
Romane
Maelys
Sigolene

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 24/05/2021 10:15

How about Alexandra, Georgia or Elise. Just trying to think of names that work in French and English.

helpmebeanadult · 23/05/2021 20:16

Prefer Rosanna to daphne

Bumzoo · 23/05/2021 09:45

Gloria is my all time favourite girls name

Serpenta · 23/05/2021 03:32

Daphne du Maurier was my first thought.

Both good names.

EvilOnion · 23/05/2021 00:16

Poor Frumpy Daphne was my first association too @Cyberworrier, that and Scooby Doo!

Cyberworrier · 22/05/2021 22:51

I love Daphne as a name, but the associations with the Scottish comic character Daphne Broon would put me off (she’s the chubby sister who’s the object of a lot of jokes). But if you have no Scottish family who’d go “ooh like Daphne Broon haha” I’d go for it!

irresistibleoverwhelm · 22/05/2021 22:27

I like Rebecca. Actually I really love Oscar and Juliette - they both work well in French and English.

More suggestions:
Elise
Imogen
Laura
Aurelie
Francesca
Alice?

Tavannach · 22/05/2021 21:11

Rebecca is lovely and goes well with Oscar and Juliette.

timeforanother1 · 22/05/2021 21:08

Rebecca is lovely- how about as a nickname,

Rebs
Rebby
Bibi
Reeby?

Squeakerfoot · 22/05/2021 20:56

I know both a Rebecca and a Gabriella who never shorten their names.

Other ideas similar to (but different enough from) Eléonore:
Léna
Eloïse/Héloïse
Elsa
Elise

Or what about:
Beatrice
Alice
Celia
Lucie

GodolphinHorne · 22/05/2021 20:24

My grandmother was a Daphne. It’s a nice name but she got called Dafty.

TenThousandSpoons · 22/05/2021 20:16

Sorry just read your update. Love Rebecca and know one that never shortens it. But if you want a nickname Bec is good.

TenThousandSpoons · 22/05/2021 20:14

Both are ok. They’ll probably end up Rose/Rosie or Daph though so I’d go with Rosanna.

Original poster
ozzyfroggy · 22/05/2021 20:11

Eléonore is a great suggestion but already used it for a second name ☹️

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