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Baby names

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

Original poster

French Girls names that work here

56 replies

RoseApp · 05/07/2024 15:19

My friend really liked Raphaelle for a girl but has received some negative comments over here. What names might work well in France and the UK at the moment.

i know an Elodie, Elyse and a Sylvie but they are older. I suggested Manon as it works well in French and Welsh 🤣

i still think she should go with Raphaelle if she likes it but any other suggestions?

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Liripipe · 05/07/2024 18:28

HowIrresponsible · 05/07/2024 18:22

Clemence isn't pronounced how most people think it is and no one will say it correctly.

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I speak French and have a goddaughter in Paris called Clémence. Anglophones unfamiliar with Yvonne when it first started being used in the English-speaking world will have said 'Wye-vonny' and the like, but they'll pick it up. In a worst-case scenario, they'll say 'Clemence' as in 'Clemency' without the final syllable.

I heard an American running a webinar see the name Gráinne in the chatbox and pronounce it 'Grainy', but no one died.

HowIrresponsible · 05/07/2024 18:22

Liripipe · 05/07/2024 18:19

If people managed to get their mouths around Yvonne and Yvette, they'll manage Clémence.

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Clemence isn't pronounced how most people think it is and no one will say it correctly.

Koko83 · 05/07/2024 18:20

Amélie

Liripipe · 05/07/2024 18:19

HowIrresponsible · 05/07/2024 18:09

Clemence

Please don't no one will be able to say it.

Yvonne
Yvette
Cecile
Émilie
Annette
Marie

If people managed to get their mouths around Yvonne and Yvette, they'll manage Clémence.

greengreyblue · 05/07/2024 18:12

Clementine/ Clemmie for nn
Madeleine/ Madeleina

HowIrresponsible · 05/07/2024 18:09

Clemence

Please don't no one will be able to say it.

Yvonne
Yvette
Cecile
Émilie
Annette
Marie

MamaD2207 · 05/07/2024 18:08

Colette

Liripipe · 05/07/2024 18:04

Constance, Céline.

HairyToity · 05/07/2024 17:58

Isabelle

namesnamez · 05/07/2024 17:55

Corinne

Hannahspeltbackwards · 05/07/2024 17:53

Amelie is beautiful.

TheDonsDingleberries · 05/07/2024 17:18

Juliette
Léa
Adèle
Léonie
Jeanne
Inès
Alix
Margaux / Margot
Camille
Théa
Josephine
Celia

Jentefieldroamer · 05/07/2024 17:08

Andree

ginasevern · 05/07/2024 16:58

I don't know why she's received negativity for Raphaelle. It's a lovely name and there won't be hundreds of them! I feel the same about Manon too and it will work very well in Welsh. I don't think she could improve on either choice.

Bbq1 · 05/07/2024 16:53

Raphaelle is a lovely name. I've only ever known one. I thought she was so pretty, half Italian and everyone called her Raffie.

alteredimage · 05/07/2024 16:53

Adele

KirstenBlest · 05/07/2024 16:42

They tend to sound different in French and English. The stress is different.
Manon in Welsh is MAN-on. In French it is Man-on. In 'English' it's 'Mannun'.

Raphael is popular here and gets said as Rapha-YELL. Raphaelle might be confused with Raphael. Might be me, but I think it sounds a bit downmarket.

Genevieve and other names sound quite different in the two countries.
Elodie, Amelie, Charlotte, Alice, Beatrice, Marie etc work in both but sound slightly different.

Names like Louise, Estelle, Isabelle, Anne, Sophie would work in both

Stripesandchecks543 · 05/07/2024 16:42

Sabrina or Sabrine
Carine
Marine
Amandine
Océane
Marie-Louise
Matilde
Eléonore
Margot
Chloé
Anne-Victoire
Gabrielle
Sophie
Inés
Laurene

bluebird3 · 05/07/2024 16:40

Esme

Peachbubble · 05/07/2024 16:37

Juliet
Louise
Sophie
Lucie

greengreyblue · 05/07/2024 16:32

Aimee
Fkeur
Elise/Elyse
Dominique
Francine
Celeste
Vivienne

AdaColeman · 05/07/2024 16:27

Miriam
Gabriella
Marianne
Genevieve

Manon is my favourite!

Sundaysunshine21 · 05/07/2024 16:20

I think Raphaelle is beautiful! There’s a little Raphael in one of the baby groups I go to and I’ve always loved that and as far as I know his parents haven’t run into any issues with it.

Other French girl’s names that could work:

Elodie
Charlotte
Margeaux
Gabrielle
Anais
Clemence

MissyB1 · 05/07/2024 15:25

Simone
Celine
Annalise

IggyAce · 05/07/2024 15:24

Obeline, Celeste and Alizea.

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