Mumsnetters with a French 'connection' is this name really that horrid in France/Quebec?

[sedgiebaby]

DH and I are struggling to find a consensus, there are few (almost none) names that we both like. DH is French Canadian...we are perm in the UK but half the family is fench speaking and in Quebec, so it needs to be a 'franglais' name

We do both quite like Gisele, but I hear it is the equivalent of 'Edith' or 'Doreen' in France (and Quebec?) is it not one of those 'old lady' names due for a revival or am I being fanciful?!Somehow DH is unaware but I've done a board search and this was flagged up some while ago...

Gisele popularity in France over the years. It was in the top 100 in Canada in 2001 (don't know about Quebec alone though).

FWIW, I think it's gorgeous.

Yes, it's horrid in France!

Afaik, no revival due any time soon in France...

Thanks MathA, I have seen this chart I think...I actually started lurking on French name boards and my french is seriously lacking so you see my desperation!

Now here those 20's and 30's names are having a revival here e.g. Florence, Elsie etc.. but I don't know about in western French speaking cultures, I just would not want to make the French side of the family really cringe! I have a link to a list of all baby names in Quebec last year, I'll double check but I think there was only 1 baby Gisele, so not sure what that means :S
www.rrq.gouv.qc.ca/en/enfants/Pages/banque_prenoms.aspx

lol I found the Quebec stats, not looking much of a revival = number of babies with Gisele as a given name in a particular year

Given name 2004 = 0 2005 = 2 2006 = 3 2007 = 1 2008 = 2 2009 = 3

Not even as chic as Edith or Doreen. Seriously uncool and likely to remain so.

Oh dear, my shortlist is that short, I kind of wish I had not asked...

It's better to know these things I think... Even if it's not the information you wanted.

I ran some French names past a French woman I knew years ago (Marianne, Sylvie, Vivienne) She shook her head (nearly off her shoulders to be frank) at all of them.

My son's name is Marcel, which is just as popular as Gisele. Ouch. Luckily no French connections.

I would have thought Gisele Bündchen would have made it more fashionable recently. Also I think of it as more a German name than French, or is that Gisela?

I think it's a really pretty name, fwiw. But then I'm not French...

I like it, but haven't heard anyone called that here (in Quebec).

Last few girls that have been born in our circle or toddlers I know have been named

Lily-Rose
Stella
Anais
Maui
Eden
Scarlett
Sophia
Elodie

Gisele is a lovely name. If you like it, why bother what others think.

Bonjour JeMeSouviens! and thank you for your comments.

SkylineDrifter, we want to bring her up bi-lingual, half the family is French (Canadian) and being that close to France I didn't want to pick something that would be viewed as old-fashioned-ugly, but I'm not sure it would put us off altogether but it is a consideration.

How about Adele? I know one (French/English parents) and she is very sweet.