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Baby names

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

Original poster

Lilou

59 replies

bellarosabella · 27/01/2023 06:04

Could you give me your thoughts on the French name Lilou?

We are thinking Chloe Lilou. Or maybe Sienna Lilou, Savannah Lilou.

It's pronounced lee-loo.

Any similar names you can suggest to Chloe and Lilou (in style not necessarily sound)?

Thanks

OP posts:
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SlinkySienna · 31/01/2023 09:36

I know a Maya Lilou. I love it.

ClassroomRunaway · 31/01/2023 09:24

Milka Jovovich! If course it was. Not Uma Thurman 🤦🏼‍♀️

ClassroomRunaway · 31/01/2023 09:23

It makes me think of Uma Thurman in Fifth Element too! Quite a cool association, but I don't like the name. I'm a french speaker and I still don't like it.

I also think there are too many llllllll names around. Lilah, Lola, Lily, Layla. So I wouldn't want to use it for that reason.

inquisitorgeneral · 31/01/2023 09:21

It's not a classic/traditional name in France. AFAIK it only got popular after the Fifth Element came out, which has a character named Leeloo played by Milla Jovovich.

Regardless, if it's only a middle name I don't think the associations really matter. If you love it, why not?

Pinkdafodils · 29/01/2023 21:01

Posh people names at the moment are grandma type names

Posh people's names?! Confused

puttingontheritz · 29/01/2023 20:22

bellarosabella · 27/01/2023 12:15

Really? How exactly?

The one I met years ago was very sweet with two lawyers as parents.

I thought it came from an old fashioned nickname for women named Louise.

I think as a full name it is modern, though.

(not saying you are wrong, just curious, because I didn't get the impression).

Show quote history

It's just really common (as in heard a lot) and I do quite like it, but perhaps because all the Lilou (Leelou, Lylou) that I have met have been nice. Like the names Emma or Sarah in English. Not posh, not not posh, just so ordinary. I guess this poster is right though, it wouldn't be seen as a classy name at the moment, in France, but you are not in France. Nicknames for Louise are Lou, Loulou, Loulotte, but not Lilou. Posh people names at the moment are grandma type names such as Josephine, Apolline, Alice, Sidonie....

CharitySchmarity · 29/01/2023 10:39

I've never heard it before and I kind of like it. I've met a Malou before (who was not in the least French!) and I liked that too. Chloe Lilou flows better in my opinion than a longer name + Lilou.

FayCarew · 28/01/2023 18:34

It makes me think of Milou, Tintin's dog

ofwarren · 28/01/2023 15:32

I think it sounds nice as a middle name with Chloe. Very pretty.
Go for it if you like it.

whatausername · 28/01/2023 15:21

Thoughts as they came to me:

  1. I think of Oksana's disguise when she murders the asthmatic woman in Killing Eve.
  2. I (unsure why) have a very strong association with bichon frises and poodles.(Was it a comedy stereotype of idle rich women or overpampered dogs somewhere!?)
  3. It sounds a bit infantile over here, might be dated in France as it is from 13 years ago and definitely doesn't sound as nice as it does in a French accent.
  4. It's a middle name, nobody will ever know it unless you make a point of telling them.
  5. It's your child, it's not ridiculous and won't make her a laughing stock so go for it!
Original poster
bellarosabella · 28/01/2023 01:56

lovelilies · 27/01/2023 17:13

My point exactly.

Although by the look of it, OP only wants people to say "Oh yes it's a timeless French classic and will mark your cherub out to go onto great things".

Show quote history

No.

If you had paid attention you would have noticed that I didn't comment on a single negative opinion voiced respectfully such as that it makes people think of "loo" or "that it won't age well" because I respect opinions.

I do, however, not respect rude behaviour and people belittling me, saying I used the non-reliable data and then linking the exact same data.

There's a difference between politely voicing an opinion and being haughty and impolite.

Thanks to all the people who voiced their opinion in a respectful manner! I will simply ignore the rest from now on.

OP posts:
ColonelSpondleClagnut · 27/01/2023 17:47

Multipass!

ReadtheReviews · 27/01/2023 17:19

Milla Jovovich Fifth Element

helloelsie · 27/01/2023 17:15

What about Lila? Lee-la
That was my first choice

lovelilies · 27/01/2023 17:13

TheBestTeam · 27/01/2023 16:58

It's a middle name so it really really doesn't matter. No one apart from new parents and grandparents will ever use it.
I'm indifferent to it. I know a few Louise's that are called Lou.

My point exactly.

Although by the look of it, OP only wants people to say "Oh yes it's a timeless French classic and will mark your cherub out to go onto great things".

TheBestTeam · 27/01/2023 16:58

It's a middle name so it really really doesn't matter. No one apart from new parents and grandparents will ever use it.
I'm indifferent to it. I know a few Louise's that are called Lou.

NoraLuka · 27/01/2023 16:36

I'm in France and can confirm that it is really popular, along with other Lou type names, Louane, Louna, etc. I don't think it stands out as posh/not posh, it's just an normal name. Louise is really old-fashioned in France and Lilou is a modernisation of it.

KirstenBlest · 27/01/2023 16:21

@bellarosabella @FineThings , I am basing my opinion on some of the entries on the BTN site in general, and I certainly found odd name suggestions on there
I'm not arguing about whether or not Lilou was a top 10 name in France in 2010.
It's not now.

As it happens, I did check, that's why I included the link. Being accused of something that is untrue isn't pleasant.

FineThings · 27/01/2023 16:16

KirstenBlest · 27/01/2023 15:41

That's not a particularly reliable site, @bellarosabella .
You'd need to look at the ONS type site for France www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/3532172

The OP is correct, on that very site it has Lilou as a top ten name in 2010
www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/3532172

HelloBunny · 27/01/2023 16:07

Not saying this to upset to annoy you, OP. Honest opinion...

First thought is Lil-Lets.

Original poster
bellarosabella · 27/01/2023 16:02

KirstenBlest · 27/01/2023 15:41

That's not a particularly reliable site, @bellarosabella .
You'd need to look at the ONS type site for France www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/3532172

If you had paid attention you would have seen that that's where behindthename gets its data from and it's actually a very reliable site.

It is even confirmed here but I guess you didn't bother?

It was a top 10 name: www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/3532172

It's like you are going out of your way to prove people wrong without even checking. It's quite unpleasant.

OP posts:
Sunshineandflipflops · 27/01/2023 15:44

I'm not keen, sorry. I'm sure it's widely used in France and I'm sure it also sounds better In French but some names just don't have the same ring to them English. Unless you live in France, which would maybe change my opinion but I'm still not keen.

It sounds a bit like a pet name for a small child, which is fine when they are a small child but not as an adult.

Chloe is fine though.

KirstenBlest · 27/01/2023 15:41

That's not a particularly reliable site, @bellarosabella .
You'd need to look at the ONS type site for France www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/3532172

BellatrixLestrangesHeatedCurlers · 27/01/2023 15:31

I don't think it goes with any of those first names. It sounds more like a nn than a full name. If you had Lucy or Lulu it would be better I think.

Soubriquet · 27/01/2023 15:07

Leeloo Dallas, multipass