Critique our girl shortlist?

[thrillahkillah]

Our surname is v unusual, begins with an O. Use Omelette as a fairly analogous name if you want to hear "flow". (seriously. Omelette.)

the idea was, names that reflect French heritage but are instantly recognisable in English.

Sylvie
Elise
Valerie
Madeleine
Eloise
Annabel

possible middle name is Marie, or none at all.

no need to suggest more names... we have been through every list available on this planet, and these are the only names DH will consider

personally am leaning towards Elise and Madeleine... but really not sure and would love to hear other impressions.

I have a Madeleine, so I'm biased.

I'm not keen on Valerie or Annabel i'm afraid. Eloise and Madeleine would get my vote from your list I think.

Elise and Eloise are both lovely.

Ha ha - I misread the title of your thread and thought that you were suggesting the name "Critique" for a girl!

My order of preference would be #1: Sylvie then Madeleine then Annabel then Elise then Valerie and last Eloise.
I like Sylvie and Madeleine almost equally, but chose Sylvie first cuz it's less common.

Love Valerie and Madeleine.
Do not like any of the others.

eloise is beautiful and my 2nd choice would be madeleine

I like Sylvie, Annabel and Eloise best from your list. Not keen on Elise (sorry!) or Valerie...I like Madeleine a lot, but am sure loads of people will say they thin of Madeleine McCann...however ridiculous this seems it was the first thought that came to my mind..

Sylvie - LOVE it, and would have it for if I had a DD2, however it is coming up a LOT on these threads
Elise - do not like
Valerie - do not like, prefer Vivienne
Madeleine - do not like
Eloise - do not like
Annabel - do not like

Sylvie - OK
Elise, Eloise - Like
Valerie - really dislike
Madeleine, Annabel - Meh

My favourite is Eloise, great namesakes - the Eloise (not sure if spelling was the same) as in Eloise and Abelard was very feisty plus there's that song by The Damned (?).

Next favourite is Elise.

Not keen on any of the others, especially don't like Sylvie, in English it is just too cutsie, might be different in French.

I like them all. Perhaps Madeleine the least and Sylvie best. I also like Sylvia and Veronica which you never hear these days.

Sylvie is my favourite from your list. I'm not a fan of Valerie - much prefer Vivienne or Genevieve.
Can I persuade you to consider Solange? I love that name - if I were ever to have another daughter that would be a real contender

I love Valerie, can't understand why everyone else is hating it. It is not currently fashionable, which would be a plus point for me.

I like Valerie too. And Vivienne is lovely.

i am also very fond of Valerie but have received some dreadful comments about it, and am deeply unkeen on "Val".

i think it's on the cusp of revival but i may not be brave enough to use it. :(

OK so far it seems Madeleine, followed by Sylvie and then Eloise, are the most liked. (btw we are not in UK, no McCann association and Sylvie isn't popular here)

more opinions welcomed!

I like Annabel best, and it would flow nicely with your surname. Valerie quite nice too.

There is no McCann association here (not in UK), so Madeleine McCann is not an issue at all.

Solange is prn French-style, "sohl-ahnj" i suppose.

That's how I pronounce Solange - I love it, but appreciate it's not to everyone's taste

I've got an Eloise - check the books about Eloise who lives in the Plaza hotel.

what about Elodie or Eloisa? or the alternative spelling Heloise?

Llan i like Solange myself, and Bobbi I love Elodie, but DH having none of it. the six names in the OP are quite literally the only ones he will countenance.

he could have wanted to use Madysynne or something, so i think i'm quite lucky on balance.