Opinions on Colleen?

[ParisPreMom]

Hi,
I'm Canadian, DH is French, so we need a bilingual name. What do you think of Colleen?I think it sounds really cute in French, but want to make sure it's not too old-fashioned/dull in English.

Much prefer Collette

Lovely name, think it's Irish originally(?). Not dull at all!

I think it's a lovely name! I wanted to call DS that if he was a girl, isn't it an Irish rather than English name though?

It's pretty but I can only imagine somebody with a strong Irish connection using it. A colleen is a young, unmarried girl in Irish isn't it?

Yeah, it's Gaellic for 'young girl', I think. I read that it's actually rarely used in Ireland, because it's a common noun, but popular in US, UK, etc.

Sorry but I think it's a terrible name.

It means girl, as in when you speak Irish you actually use the word "cailin' (with an accent over the last i), which is the proper spelling. Just as you would never call a boy "Boy" why on earth would you call a girl "Girl"? It's such a stereotypical Irish-American name as well (I'm Irish and have an Irish-American cousin called Colleen). Sorry to rant, but I really dislike and feel sorry for any Colleens I meet who got lumbered with such an unimaginative name!

How about something like Camille or Cecile or Elodie instead? There are loads of lovely French names that work in English.

Rooney

Not crazy about it. Just means girl doesn't it! but then, live in Ireland but do not knowanybody called Cailin. There are a few though. I do like Nina, so .... that's not logical.

As you are French-speaking, don't you hear the word for 'hill' in Colleen?

I think it´s lovely.

I like it.

Gaellic does not mean Irish, and its not an Irish name, its an American name that tries to sound Irish. Its terrible.

It's not a name I'd go for (sorry), and it doesn't strike me as French at all. I'd associate it with Ireland. Because of the vocabulary word and Colleen Nolan.

what about Camille or amalie? (sp?)

It makes me think of Colleen Rooney too. How about the French spelling Coline?

Hi,
Awhile back I asked for opinions on Colleen. Despite it being 'unimaginative' to some (I don't buy into bestowing qualities on a baby through a name, anyway, so I have no problem with it just meaning girl), we still really like it but are stuck with how to spell it. My French husband thinks it should be "Coline" so French people can spell it easily. But I don't like how that looks. Does it look weird in English to anyone else? When you see it spelt that way, does the same pronounciation come to mind anyway?

In England I'd definately spell it Colleen. Otherwise people will pronounce it Col-eye-n.

And it looks too similar to colon imo.

Spelt that way it looks a bit like Colin with an e tacked on.

Stil makes me think of Rooney or Nolan so I don;t like it but if you're not in the UK I'm sure its a lovely name

Lovely :)

Not nice at all

Lovely.

hate it. Makes me think of the Rooney person which , let's face it, is never a good thing.

It is actually a pretty name imo. Most people's association is currently with Rooney, but once your dd is around her friends/family will of course associate with your lovely dd.

Hi,
Thanks for the responses so far. I maybe should have specified that I am Canadian, my husband is French and we live in Paris and I don't even know who this Rooney person is (nor does anyone here) so comments like 'I hate that name, reminds me of Rooney) really don't apply and don't help me out. It won't be an issue, but thanks for your concern!!

Horrible, really a bad idea. Colleen is the worst of Irish American-ness. It became popular originally because of ignorance of what it means, I firmly believe.

Why would you call your daughter 'girl' when there are so many beautiful French names that are easy for English speakers? Would you call your son 'boy'? There are even some lovely Irish names that might go down well in France (Orla, Maeve) if you have Irish heritage you want to honour.