English/French baby names (living in France)

French friend with British DH has:

Camille and Jules which I both like.

Another friend with British ex DH has:

Juliette

For girls I like:-

Chantal
Mimi
Pascale
Emmanuelle
Estelle (French NDN DH and American wife named their DD this)
Elodie
Amelie
Faustine
Monique
Delphine

(I do like some of the more classically French girls names as you can see).

boys:-

Thierry
Remy
Arsene
Felix
Jean
Patrice
Xavier
Yannick

I think all the above are fairly interchangeable countrywise.

Laur is the French for Laura (I only recall this because a friend in my French class was called this when we had French names.

And yet Louise, which would probably be considered a 70s/80s name in the UK, is one of the most popular names in France currently.

Prénom Élodie : Origine - Caractère - Signification - Etymologie | PARENTS.fr
1980s name.

I haven’t either in the time I’ve spent in France. I can see the Latin origin would fit ( vivre, vif etc) but before Angelina Jolie, I’d only come across it in Oscar Wilde (in the Picture of Dorian Gray. )

Naissances en 2022 : 18 filles (très rare)
L'âge moyen des Vivienne est de 65 ans
(from https://www.parents.fr/prenoms/vivienne-57155)

Translation: only 18 baby girls were named Vivienne in 2022, and the average age of Vivienne is 65.

I have never met anyone French or in France called Vivienne, of any age. I work in medicine so come into contact with many patients (plus their family members) and colleagues.

I found that posting on Mumsnet was a bit pointless tbh because the vast majority of mumsnetters are English speakers who live in the UK and don't speak French fluently, have never lived in France and don't have lots of French family and friends. So very little exposure to current French naming trends and the cultural associations of names. A lot of people will just reel off the French names they've heard once before and thought sounded nice, even though to French person the name is the equivalent of Gary or Sharon or something (perfectly decent names but not names most people would choose for a baby in 2024). Oh and there's always someone who suggests Beau which is the most ridiculous name for an English child let alone a French one.
@NameChange30 , I agree.
I'm not French but have noticed it on threads for other languages.
For example, the names suggested are those of celebrities, so are the names of adults.
Like asking for English names and getting Emma (Thompson), Kate (Winslet), Adele, Victoria, David, Ed, Harry, Lewis, Andy.

Cedric
Gauthier

I know smb who called their daughter Hope living in France. Just don't...

Juliet
Margot
Susannah

Philip/pe
Patrick
Remy

I love Vivienne. Please can I have your verdict French Mumsnetters? What is it the equivalent of in England? When would a Vivienne have been born here, what were her friends’ names and what was her boyfriend called? 😁

OP, what would you say your name non negotiables or strong dislikes are to narrow down?

"Remy to me sounds like an old French man who doesn’t shave, wears braces to hold up his baggy trousers and plays pétanque, or the rat in the Ratatouille movie."

🤣

Oh yes it is Arabic, I am sorry, very ignorant of me I actually think it's a nice name now that I realise it's not a misspelling of Ryan! And much nicer than Ryan too.

Rayan is a unisex Arabic name. I’ve known a couple, one boy and one girl, but both Lebanese which might explain its popularity in France.

Btw I think Louis is my favourite if your boy list and it is lovely to name after DH’s grandfather.

Also meant to say I quite like Beatrice .

Vivienne!

:)

LOVE.....
Sylvie and Remy

Yes I know several French Sophies who are not old . I think it’s a classic name - like Alice and I don’t think you could go wrong with either.

The following are probably objections unique to me; but since you asked…

Charlotte I have a problem with in a franglais context because in French la lotte means monkfish so Char-lotte always makes me think of charred monkfish. The French also put lots of emphasis on the second syllable which sounds a bit “ plop plop.”

Remy to me sounds like an old French man who doesn’t shave, wears braces to hold up his baggy trousers and plays pétanque, or the rat in the Ratatouille movie.

Valentin I don’t think works in English. It would end up being Valentine, with obvious connotations.

Margot has been seen a lot in recent years in the UK. Firstly it makes me think of Penelope Keith in The Good Life. Secondly, it sounds like Margaux ( the wine) ( and sometimes that spelling is even used). I find this incredibly tacky ( sorry Margaux!) because to me it’s kind of like calling a child Chardonnay or Budweiser.

I like Celeste but that probably doesn’t work well with Arthur because of the Babar books.

Camille
Sophie
Eloise
Dominique
Celine
Harriet

Louis
Gabriel
Theodore
Pierre
Elliott
Etienne

It might be, although I think it might also be a real (Muslim?) name. I taught a Muslim Rayan, and in the UK we knew a white British Rayana, whose mum said it was an Iranian name.

Phew

There is also "Rayan" which may have other origins but I strongly suspect it's a mangled spelling of Ryan!

Yes, exactly - I was agreeing with you...

But it's not pronounced "Ann-ay"! Completely proves my point

Luc
Amelie

I like the classical names which are quite fashionable now: Daphné, Athéna, Helena, Thais, Sophia.