Hélène or Marguerite - which one is your favourite?

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These are our favourites - we can't decide between them (our last name is French). Which name do you prefer and why?

Marguerite, although both are nice.

I just think it sounds prettier and I prefer the nicknames

Gosh, that is hard! I should say Helene as its essentially my name, but Marguerite is really pretty, and I love the flower too. I think maybe I very slightly prefer Marguerite, but really they are both beautiful classic and elegant names.

Marguerite, chère compatriote. Hélène is dated whereas Marguerite is due for a comeback.

Helene. Lovely classic. Marguerite is a bit of a mouthful.

Helene

Margeurite if you are in the UK, since Hélène will end up being pronounced Helen or Heleen in error (and the accents will often be missed off) whereas Marguerite is less likely to be anglicised. I also think it's prettier

I also love Margot

Marguerite pour moi aussi! Very elegant name.
Agree that Hélène is dated.

Marguerite! We chose it as a middle name :)

Are you French? If not, I'd go for Helen or Margaret - which is how they will be pronounced anyway.

My name is Helen Margaret and I'm a French teacher! I vote Helene Marguerite!

Helene

yes, we are French but we are likely to stay in the Uk for a long time so it's important that the name also sounds good in English. I prefer Marguerite but I'm a bit concerned about spelling it out all the time... and being a mouthful to pronounce

Is it really a mouthful to pronounce? Am I missing something? It's a 3-syllable name, right?

Both are lovely, but prefer Helena out of all of them.

Both lovely names; Marguerite probably less likely to have pronunciation anglicised.

Helene

If she's likely to grow up in the UK I'd go for Marguerite, as Helene will just become Helen by default...

Marguerite but not Margaret as it is still too reminscent of Thatcher although the Americans don't have this problem and it seems to be on the increase there with Maggie as a nn. Marguerite has lighter sound to it than Margaret and puts me in mind of the capable Marguerite Pattern.

Minty is right, Helene will just become Helene or Helen, particularly in texts and emails.

marguerite. beautiful name.

Wow, the majority of lovely MNetters prefer Marguerite! But what would be the nicknames? I'm not keen on Marge (Simpson). Maggie? Margo?

Daisy is actually a nickname from Marguerite (being that they both refer to the flower I suppose).

I'm sure why, but Peggy is a traditional nickname for Margaret. Also Meg.

Helene, because my friend Marguerite got called margarine at school.
I prefer Marguerite really though.

Marguerite is beautiful!

I'd vote Hélène - I'd see Marguerite as the dated one myself, it sounds really 70's, 80's to me but Hélène is really pretty - on my list anyway!

Maggie, Marge, Mags, Meg, Mag, Peg, Peggy, Rita, Rite are nn for Marguerite, can't think of any more

I'd use Hels, Ene/Ena or Nell as a nn for Hélène, but I may be pronouncing it wrong for you, we use a slightly unusual inflection in my family.

Both are really dated and haven't even started a come back. Having said that, Marguerite is much the prettier.