Girls names that work in Dutch, English (and maybe French)

[SomethingSuitablyWitty]

I'm based in Belgium and will be expecting DD2 in March! We are a bilingual family, speaking English and Dutch (Flemish). Where we live is largely French speaking. So, I'm looking for ideas!

Basically, DD1 has a very simple little Irish name spelled as it is pronounced and said more or less the same in the three languages (similar to "Sara"). I'm looking for another name, possibly with an Irish connection, which would also travel well and work in Dutch.

I like some Dutch names, like Marta or Freya for example, but think they are a bit too close to DD1's name. French names are also popular here: like Sophie or Léonie and I'd be open to something like that too. But nothing has really struck me yet and I'd like to start getting some ideas together!

Any inspiration?! Thanks a lot!

Ella is fine in Belgium.

Maya is fine/Maja is associated with the bee.

I know a child called Margot.

Louise and Elize will be pronounced Louisa and Eleeza.

OP Clodagh is Irish, would go with Sarah and mgiht work in the NL, but is it quite close to the german (and possibly dutch?) slang word for toilet. I seem to half remember a girl called Clo (for short) telling me that .

Sorry! you are in Belgium

Again Clodagh is the kind of Irish name that could work, but sadly, I don't much care for it.

I don't know Maja the bee :-) Yet.

Anouk?

Cora
Celeste
Agnes
Carola
Nina
Was going to say Beatrice, but if you are avoiding Royal connotations, that's not for you!
Sophie
Dinah
Isobel
Iris

What about Clio

Maja is a soap to me. I know it means pretty or cute or 'nice' in spanish. meh to maja

Margaux
Jolanda
Nancy
Amelia

I know a dutch family and their DD is called Amarens, its lovely.

Isobel is lovely and Dutch people say it with such a beuatiful I sound at the beginning.

Dervla?

THis is so helpful. Thanks a million for your ideas and feedback. I did none of this with DD1, as I had a name I'd always loved. But it's really fun and there are so many lovely suggestions!

Do you like Saskia? I had a Flemmish friend with this name, very pretty!

Never heard Amarens, but it's beautiful. Not remotely Irish mind!

Neve?

I do aire. It has been scribbled on the rapidly growing list!

Marijke is the loveliest Dutch name I've heard. Would that travel well?

I like it a lot too, but close family member is called it greenhill. Also not sure about it in English really.

Annaliese

Greta

Anya

for the french side of things, what about

Fabienne

Simone

Agnes - with accent but can't do one

Delphine

This is a fantastic thread, very timely for me as we are an English/Dutch-speaking family expecting a girl next month (and still no clue what to call her).

I love the 'unusable' names, we have been collecting those as well. Another one to add to that list: Trees.

I have been thinking of Aoife, though I will doubtless be dooming the poor child to a lifetime of saying, "No not Eva, Aoife ... Aoife ... A-O-I-F-E, yes, with an F, it's an Irish name ... " That said I did see a birth announcement for a little Dutch girl called Aoife Marieke back in July, so maybe.

I LOVE Saskia but (Dutch) partner says no way, as it's so common here.

DP also likes Femke (NO!), Silke, Nina and Lina. I think the last 3 are fine, but they don't really "grab" me if you know what I mean.

Oh another 'unusable' = Fokje (short for Fokkelina). There are a few of them around

Oh we are a dutch english family too. Ours had to work in russian as well, so a bit of a nightmare

Ones I liked
Amalia
Miriam
Lisanne (prn Lisanna)
Saskia
Hannah
Jessica (soft J on Dutch)

there is an aoife in dd2 reception class, I have heard it pronounced several times and still can't remember how to say it properly. I think it is horribly unfair in a child to give them a name that is so unkown and hard to write.

Actually, I think Duchess could definitely get away with Aoife! A lot of spelling and explaining to do certainly, but it's easy to pronouce and I think most people would pronounce it correctly once explained. I also think it's a lovely name (again a very close family member has it!).

I think Amalia is beautiful Steppemum . Very unusual and pretty.

In fairness steppemum, I have a very common name in English (top ten a few years after I was born) and still my DP's grandfather could never remember it, he clearly found it hopelessly exotic! So it all depends where you come from and where you live.

That said, I value your opinion because as you will know, Dutch is phonetic and 'Aoife' would be impossible for people who haven't heard the name before. This is the big problem, there are lots of Dutch names that I like but my family, who don't speak Dutch, would find it impossible to pronounce them. My mother in particular has a very broad Aussie accent and pretty names like Cato and Bente would become "Kate-o" and "Benter" when she said them

I also really like 'Caoimhe' but if we went for that we would spell it phonetically, otherwise I feel it's tantamount to child abuse in a non-English-speaking country!