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

Anglo-French girl's name

68 replies

Dru6 · 26/07/2011 14:29

We're really struggling to decide on a name for our DD2 due in October. My DH is French so we need to choose a name that works well in both languages - with the spelling and pronunciation the same. Our DD1 is called Sylvie.

Our short list is Alice, Elodie, Fleur, Florence (Flo for short), Olive.

I think we're going to go for Alice or Fleur. I didn't originally want to go for Fleur but it's growing on me and it's the only name where the pronunciation is exactly the same.

What do you think? x

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mangomousse · 26/07/2011 14:36

Both lovely names but I prefer Fleur a little.

What about Gabrielle and Eve aren't they pronounced the same in both languages?

narmada · 26/07/2011 14:37

Anais? I like it, But spose it may be mispronounced by English speakers.

fraktious · 26/07/2011 14:37

I love Fleur. Same situation as you but can't use it as it's too similar to my name :)

I'd avoid Alice because of that flipping awful phone commercial.

randomimposter · 26/07/2011 14:38

My fave of your names is Elodie.
Prefer Alice to Fleur.

RamblingRosa · 26/07/2011 14:40

Elodie is lovely.

Ivortheengine8 · 26/07/2011 14:40

Our little girl is called 'Elisa'
I think it is of French/Spanish origin and comes from Elizabeth.

Ivortheengine8 · 26/07/2011 14:41

Oh and I like Alice and Elodie from your list :)

SenoritaViva · 26/07/2011 14:42

I was going to suggest Sylvie but you've got there already. I like Elodie or Fleur. Both lovely.

belgo · 26/07/2011 14:53

There's no problem with the name being pronounced differently in french and english. My dd1's name is pronounced differently in english then it is in flemish. Better that then a badly pronounced french name such as Fleur when said with an english accent!

Ephiny · 26/07/2011 15:41

I think Elodie is lovely, have not heard that before but it's really pretty. Fleur is nice as well, and Alice is OK, but in English at least feels quite old-fashioned to me. Not keen or Florence or Olive at all.

Or Corinne, Coralie, Marie, Helene, Elise?

HPonEverything · 26/07/2011 15:41

I'm considering Fleur myself (hope to move to France when my baby is about 5 so also looking for Anglo-French names), I think it's lovely although I do wonder if it's like an English little girl being called "Flower" which would be a bit odd.

The other Frenchish name on my shortlist is Elise, and I also very much like your Elodie Hmm

HPonEverything · 26/07/2011 15:42

Sorry that wasn't meant to be a Hmm face, it was meant to be a [thinking about it for myself] face but they don't do that one apparently!

CaptainNancy · 26/07/2011 15:45

Aurelie/Aurelia
Flora

I like Elodie
and Coralie

HPonEverything · 26/07/2011 15:47

Amelie?

Runoutofideas · 26/07/2011 15:48

I love Ottilie but didn't think I could get away with it, not having any French roots, so that's what I'd go for. Out of your choices though my favourite is Elodie followed by Alice and Florence.

jenpetronus · 26/07/2011 15:49

Anouk? Lea? Camille?

Maternelle · 26/07/2011 15:50

Louise?

Xiaoxiong · 26/07/2011 15:57

I know a family of three little Anglo-French girls called Anouk, Claudette and Brigitte... (as in Aimee, Colbert and Bardot).

Claudine, Colette, Ondine, Margot, Manon are all pronounced the same in both languages. I really like Fleur and Elodie too.

(The one name I love in french but not so much in english is Genevieve...oh, to be french!)

MinnieBar · 26/07/2011 16:00

Justine?

Camerondiazepam · 26/07/2011 16:00

Really like Fleur and Elodie from your list.

Clotilde?

CalmInsomniac · 26/07/2011 16:02

We're in a similar position and went for Eva. Too common?

HPonEverything · 26/07/2011 16:02

Claudine
Francine

2blessed2bstressed · 26/07/2011 16:09

Friends wife is French, their two girls are called Charlotte and Amelie. I like Fleur too.

ShoutyHamster · 26/07/2011 16:13

Elodie is by far the nicest on your list and goes so well with Sylvie.

I too think that having the pronunciation the same in English and French isn't that important. Accents will be so different that they will sound different anyway! Don't choose based on this, because I guarantee you will hear a difference in pronunciation in every region you live. Go with the name you love the best!

Manon and Marie are also beautiful.

All great names :)

zingzillachinchilla · 26/07/2011 16:15

Yvonne?