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Original poster

Baby girl names to suit different British and French naming styles

87 replies

Indiff · 17/09/2026 13:03

Hi all, so my husband and I are expecting our first child together, we both have children from our first marriages and my husband is French.

We have very very different naming styles.

My children are Pippa Jane and Leo Mark, family names for middle names. His children each have 3 middle names! And quite formal to me anyway first names, their names are Arthur Louis Marc Gaspard and Estelle Inès Pascale Aliénor.

We are expecting a little girl

My husband loves

Blanche, Victoire, Apolline and Eugénie
I think these are all far too heavy and I don’t like them.

I love Clara, Phoebe, Alice, Juliette, he doesn’t like any of these!

Can anyone help us find a name we both like?

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Dorothyperky · Yesterday 19:46

I usually work in Paris so I hear some pretty names.

Vivienne
Daphne
Valerie
Fleur
Cecily
Helene
Alexandra

I've also worked with Fanny,
Hermes and Chanel!

My Mil and Dil are both called Catherine/Kathryn.

If I had had another daughter she would have been Angharad (but that's Welsh).

Calliopespa · Yesterday 19:24

ButlerianJihadNow · 27/09/2026 18:08

Capucine

I love this actually. But I'm not sure it works in English? Kappa-sin!

Velveting · Yesterday 06:29

ButlerianJihadNow · Yesterday 06:20

The dad will think Ambre is chavvy

I have to admit it immediately gives me Ambre Solaire sunscreen.

ButlerianJihadNow · Yesterday 06:20

The dad will think Ambre is chavvy

Gonnaeatalotofpeaches · 27/09/2026 19:27

I think Capucine is beautiful too and know some cute little Capicines at my daughters maternelle but I can imagine it would get butchered in English.
I like Ambre also which is quite current in France but I imagine that would be mistaken for Amber in English.

CuteHANDBAG · 27/09/2026 18:20

ButlerianJihadNow · 27/09/2026 18:08

Capucine

I love this name and recommend it too. It’s so pretty

ButlerianJihadNow · 27/09/2026 18:08

Capucine

CatVester · 23/09/2026 11:27

Newabodemode · 23/09/2026 08:26

Tina or Val aren't really great in English though?

Show quote history

Equally, Elisabeth/Catherine aren't brilliant in France.

Newabodemode · 23/09/2026 08:26

sashh · 18/09/2026 06:49

What about Catherine? It's timeless and works in both languages.

Elizabeth

Violette, famous British women who was sent to France as a spy / resistance worker in WWII.

Valentina, the name of the first woman in space, although it's a Russian name it isn't only Russian. It also has lots of potential for diminutives eg Tina and Val.

Show quote history

Tina or Val aren't really great in English though?

minipoodlemum · 22/09/2026 07:23

GustyGertie · 22/09/2026 00:25

@minipoodlemumhow do you pronounce Laure please? Is it like Laura?

Show quote history

Yes, like Laura without the a. It’s pretty.

GustyGertie · 22/09/2026 00:25

minipoodlemum · 21/09/2026 22:59

I know a few little French girls, so adding their names to the mix:

Jade
Ambre
Célestine
Léontine
Laure

@minipoodlemumhow do you pronounce Laure please? Is it like Laura?

Calliopespa · 22/09/2026 00:12

Newabodemode · 21/09/2026 23:36

Anna was the choice of an Anglo-French couple I know. Laura was their second choice.
I like Clara and think it works here.
I really like Amandine and Elodie too.
What about Isabelle? (nn Isa?)
Or Nadia?

I am slightly bored to tears with Isabelle, but in this instance I think it's a good suggestion.

Newabodemode · 21/09/2026 23:36

I also like Elise and Estelle.

Newabodemode · 21/09/2026 23:36

Anna was the choice of an Anglo-French couple I know. Laura was their second choice.
I like Clara and think it works here.
I really like Amandine and Elodie too.
What about Isabelle? (nn Isa?)
Or Nadia?

minipoodlemum · 21/09/2026 22:59

I know a few little French girls, so adding their names to the mix:

Jade
Ambre
Célestine
Léontine
Laure

Frannieisnthappy · 21/09/2026 22:35

A little girl in my child's class has French parents and is called Mabel pronounced Ma-Belle

dcadmamagain · 21/09/2026 20:53

Elise

dcadmamagain · 21/09/2026 20:53

Danielle

Calliopespa · 21/09/2026 20:50

SwedishEdith · 21/09/2026 20:40

Apolline is gorgeous.

I love French girls named so would be completely leaning in to his suggestions so probably not much help. But French pronunciation really changes how some sound.

Delphine (Delphy is a great nickname)
Séraphine
Sabine
Fabienne (I suspect this is old fashioned in France but sounds great)
Solange
Ségolène
Séverine

Love Nectarine though 😄

I love both Apolline and Seraphine.

The latter is more elegant in French than the English Seraphina I think.

SwedishEdith · 21/09/2026 20:40

Apolline is gorgeous.

I love French girls named so would be completely leaning in to his suggestions so probably not much help. But French pronunciation really changes how some sound.

Delphine (Delphy is a great nickname)
Séraphine
Sabine
Fabienne (I suspect this is old fashioned in France but sounds great)
Solange
Ségolène
Séverine

Love Nectarine though 😄

GustyGertie · 21/09/2026 20:19

Yes nectarine is fun 🍊 Or clementine perhaps.

Seriously though how about Maelys.

CatVester · 21/09/2026 20:16

I love Nectarine. That is v funny.

Marine is a very bad idea.

Also, I think people are just suggesting names that sound a bit like the English equivalents without considering how they might actually be perceived in France. Some of these names aren't far off Doris or Tracey.

Calliopespa · 21/09/2026 20:07

Word of warning re use of Victorine in the UK. My dc had one in their nursery class and the children all thought she was called Nectarine.

luckylavender · 21/09/2026 19:56

Agnès
Agathe
Eloise
Manon
Marine
isabelle
Veronique
Noemie
Sophie
Alice
Céline
Emmanuelle

ThatGoldScroller · 21/09/2026 19:47

Marianne