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Baby names

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

Original poster

Boy name help - Beau, Jacques or Miles

89 replies

afrenchmum · 11/06/2023 18:35

Hi all,

Due in September and struggling on a boys name. It’s between Beau, Miles and Jacques. What do we think of each name and which is your favourite. Thanks in advance for the help!

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AgentProvocateur · 11/06/2023 19:19

Is Jacques pronounced Jacks? One of my colleagues in France is called Jacques but I’ve been calling him “Jack” (with a soft J). Oops.

NameChange30 · 11/06/2023 19:06

Did your dad talk French with you; are you fluent?
Have you spent much time in France, visiting family or just in general?

I find it hard to believe that anyone who speaks French (to a decent standard) and/or spends any time in France would have that name shortlist.

Beau is the male form of "beautiful"; so it means handsome, I guess. No French person would use it.

Jacques is not pronounced "Jacks" (you saying that makes me think you don't speak French); it's pronounced similar to Jack but the j is soft (like the s in "pleasure") and the s is silent.

Miles is not a French name and the French would probably pronounce it the same as mille (sounds like "meel") which means a thousand.

Are there any other names you like?
Is your partner British? What names does he like?

AromanticSpices · 11/06/2023 19:02

Beau-Jacques, particularly if your surname happens to be Horseman

Theos · 11/06/2023 18:54

Beau is a bit mrs Hinch

Theos · 11/06/2023 18:54

I have a Miles and we all agree it’s a splendid name that can be used by itself if you have a tricky surname to book tables in restaurants, et cetera

Original poster
afrenchmum · 11/06/2023 18:53

Ps @Mummy08m, laughing at the ‘Coke’ pronunciation!

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Original poster
afrenchmum · 11/06/2023 18:52

@Mummy08m my dad is French and mum English, realised my username is possibly misleading now come to think of it, just couldn’t think of something else at the time! I just seem to like French names but would be open to English ones too I guess. Jude has been another contender, it just seems to be super popular at the moment!

OP posts:
Mummy08m · 11/06/2023 18:47

afrenchmum · 11/06/2023 18:42

We live in the UK so pronunciations would be Bo, Myles and Jacks phonetically.

Do you have French family? Just asking because of your username.

I have family from an East Asian country and deliberately chose a name for Dd that's pronounced the same in both languages... just my viewpoint but I'd hate it if I had a son called Miles (which is a lovely name) but his grandparents called him Meal or however it might be pronounced in French. Or the dgp might make an effort to pronounce it correctly but it'd be an effort every time.

My mum can't pronounce the "oh" vowel sound: she calls the Pope the Pop! The drink Coke she pronounces Cock. I love the name Hope but she'd forever be calling her Hop lol. So, I chose a name she could pronounce easily lol

Original poster
afrenchmum · 11/06/2023 18:42

We live in the UK so pronunciations would be Bo, Myles and Jacks phonetically.

OP posts:
Pieceofpurplesky · 11/06/2023 18:41

I like Beau. Prefer the Bodhi spelling (but know that's not French). Depending on where you are will depend on how people say Jaques (have taught one and he got called Jack a lot).

SeeingSpots · 11/06/2023 18:39

Miles. It's the one that's least likely to be mispronounced or spelt incorrectly.

Mummy08m · 11/06/2023 18:37

How is Miles pronounced in French? I'm afraid it would sound very different and not as nice.

I vote Beau

Beaucielblues · 11/06/2023 18:36

Beau also Beaudie