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Baby names

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

Original poster

Help French boys name!

188 replies

wildswimmer20 · 09/05/2023 17:22

Pregnant with no. 2, hubbie is French but we live in the UK. 1st child has an unusual Celtic name and this time would like to choose a French name but struggling! Needs to be fairly easy to say/spell in both languages. Wouldn’t probably go for a very traditional French name.

Top choice at the moment is Artus, like the nicknames Art and Artie. Would be pronounced quite differently in French and English, does it sound ok in English?

Other options -
Léon
Sylvain
Mathis / Matisse
Malo

Open to suggestion!

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FayCarew · 10/05/2023 14:46

Here's a list from a baby name site:
Most Popular Names in France | Nameberry

Many of the names don't seem traditionally French, and many would probably not 'work' in the UK (spelling/mispronunciations/dated)

Most Popular Names in France

Most popular names in France with top baby girl names and top baby boy names for 2021

https://nameberry.com/popular-names/france

TellTailTale · 10/05/2023 14:20

Oojamaflipp · 10/05/2023 13:09

Well there must be thousands millions of people across the English speaking world called Malcolm or Norma who were children at some point, but they‘re not names you tend to hear babies called these days.

I think PP was just saying these names aren‘t in fashion at the moment in France and tend to be associated with older people.

Show quote history

Yes that's what I was trying to say!

I was trying to be helpful by sharing how some of these names would actually be perceived in France at the moment.

I like all of @puttingontheritz suggestions - they are current with a traditional feel the OP is I think looking for.

NameChange30 · 10/05/2023 13:54

FayCarew · 10/05/2023 13:51

@NameChange30 , many of the names seem to be misspelt, and some aren't even French.

People I know with half-french children have given them names like Leo and Sophie

Lol, yes!

FayCarew · 10/05/2023 13:51

@NameChange30 , many of the names seem to be misspelt, and some aren't even French.

People I know with half-french children have given them names like Leo and Sophie

NameChange30 · 10/05/2023 13:35

FayCarew · 10/05/2023 13:27

That's what happens on these threads.
Some of my suggestions are the names of adults I know, and they are not all from France.

Show quote history

Yes, it's always the same, people suggest the French names they've heard, without any idea or consideration of the associations of the name in France and/or among French people! I find it mildly amusing and/or irritating depending on my mood Grin

FayCarew · 10/05/2023 13:27

NameChange30 · 09/05/2023 22:40

A couple of people have suggested Alain... it's about as cool in France as Alan is in the UK - not very! I wonder how many under 5s are called Alan / Alain in either country!

That's what happens on these threads.
Some of my suggestions are the names of adults I know, and they are not all from France.

Oojamaflipp · 10/05/2023 13:09

CharlottenBerg · 10/05/2023 09:27

@TellTailTale "Yes to this! Beware of Laurent, Claude, Gérard, Pascal, Alain , Dominique, Guy, Michel, Jacques, Philippe... I couldn't really imagine them on a child "

I don't see your point - there must be thousands or millions of people across the Francophone world with those names, who must have been children at some point.

Well there must be thousands millions of people across the English speaking world called Malcolm or Norma who were children at some point, but they‘re not names you tend to hear babies called these days.

I think PP was just saying these names aren‘t in fashion at the moment in France and tend to be associated with older people.

yarikq · 10/05/2023 13:05

If you have any French female friends, or if your partner has a sister who you're on good terms with, I'd suggest asking them. Lots of French names have generational associations or other unwanted connotations that aren't obvious to English speakers.

MmeCamenbert · 10/05/2023 13:00

I live in France and the biggest shock I got was one of my kids coming home saying there was a little boy in their class called Swan 🦢
Pierre
Antoine
Henri
Marin
Léon
Rémy
Gilles
Luc
Marc
I think they are all lovely classy names 😊

checktoolate · 10/05/2023 12:47

As @puttingontheritz says Maxence, Clovis or Marius are all lovely!

uncomfortablydumb53 · 10/05/2023 12:47

Pascal?

newtb · 10/05/2023 12:44

Pascal
Yvon
Marc
Max

puttingontheritz · 10/05/2023 12:39

I think Hugo pronounced in French sounds like an entirely different name!

CloudPop · 10/05/2023 12:38

Hugo
Fabrice

puttingontheritz · 10/05/2023 12:34

Other options -
Léon is fine
Sylvain - is about 45 and it is not making a comeback. Awful. Has your DH been out of France ages?
Mathis / Matisse - two in every class. So, so popular. But please don't go with a tacky original spelling, yes, I know it's the artist, but this is really to try hard.
Malo I hate it, but it is pretty popular.

As for Artus how French is that? I have never heard it.

I would suggest Maxence, Clovis or Marius.

I could not agree more with the person that said that Laurent, Claude, Gérard, Pascal, Alain , Dominique, Guy, Michel, Jacques, Philippe are now extremely dated.
It's like being called Amanda or Brian, it's fine, but it's dated.

CharlottenBerg · 10/05/2023 09:29

I adore Fabrice Luchini. How about that?

Maddy70 · 10/05/2023 09:27

Philip

CharlottenBerg · 10/05/2023 09:27

@TellTailTale "Yes to this! Beware of Laurent, Claude, Gérard, Pascal, Alain , Dominique, Guy, Michel, Jacques, Philippe... I couldn't really imagine them on a child "

I don't see your point - there must be thousands or millions of people across the Francophone world with those names, who must have been children at some point.

CharlottenBerg · 10/05/2023 09:23

PurpleChrayne · 09/05/2023 23:07

You can't call an English boy Gaëtan. Come on!

Didier sounds like epididymis.

Didier is the name of a tremendously funny film starring Alain Chabat where he plays a dog (of that name) which has been magically turned into a man, but retains most of the doggy ways he had before. It's a scream when he is taken to a restaurant and finds the food a bit hot.

Roseau18 · 10/05/2023 08:59

As others have already said, so many of these names are so old fashioned (Alain, Philippe, Serge, Michel, Laurent etc) or just don't exist. In 30+ years of teaching have never had a French pupil called Paris or Eiffel or Champagne or Martini.

You would be better off asking your French in-laws for suggestions and then deciding if they work in Engl8sh.

FangsForTheMemory · 09/05/2023 23:42

Another vote for Fabian. Also Laurent.

Acatnamedfox · 09/05/2023 23:34

Remy is sooo unpopular in France, it always fascinates me, it’s contrasting popularity here in the UK.

How about Kylian? A French name (I think) that derives from a Celtic one so compliments your other child ☺️

Orders76 · 09/05/2023 23:30

Michèle
Gabriel
Laurent

iamme21 · 09/05/2023 23:25

Clement

sewerrat · 09/05/2023 23:22

Francis,
Paris (like Juliets arranged lover in Romeo and Juliet)
Jacques
claud
martini
pierre
jean Paul
marco
eiffel
christian
karl
sebastian
champagne
dom

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