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!

Nobody wants to be a heifer!

The only Dutch girls I have known were called Ria [Reea] and Lotte

But the Germans and dutch will get hung up on the R in Rea.

When DD1 was born we lived in Belgium, DH is English, I'm Belgian. DD1 is Ella. DD2 is Sterre, which doesn't work in English, but she was stillborn last year and it is a name I always wanted for a girl, we thought it was apt for her anyway.
DD3 due in 5 weeks will be Lotta...

Sorry to hear about little Sterre tinkerbell. It's a lovely name.
I really like Ella and Lotta, but would you believe both are names of recent arrivals in our circle of friends.

I like Ria, but it's true about the 'r' though maybe it doesn't matter. I also rather like 'Rian' but I suppose it is maybe a bit too unusual and maybe more of a boy's name.

Oh blue I am sorry to hear about your loss. Sterre is a beautiful and apt name for your daughter xx

thanks ladies :)

Polly is adorable.

We had Fr/En and should work in Dutch. Melisande, Adeline and Adelaide were our front runners.

DH liked Sanne too.

Sorry about your loss Blue, Lotta is a lovely name.

I know a Pascale.

Pascale is lovely, as is Dominique.

Femke and Ineke.

Pronounced "Fem-ka" and "I-nik-ah"

Not I as in "I am" but I-Nik-Ah as in EE

Alma?

I know a little Flemish girl called Billie, which I think works well and is easy to pronounce in most regions.

What about Brigitte, Charlotte (Lotte) Yvonne, Edith (as in Cavell) or Audrey?

What about Brigitte, Charlotte (Lotte), Yvonne, Edith (as in Cavell) or Audrey?

Sorry, I didn't mean to post that twice!

Bluetinkerbell, so sorry for the loss of Sterre.

We had our DDs in Belgium (flanders if it makes a big difference)
DD1 is Ella. On the shortlist for DD2 were Lotta and Freya. We chose Maja in the end DESPITE the bee (was v aware of this, she has been on kids tv for years) actually because we had then planned to move and she only spent 6 weeks of her life there!
Ideas from those I know:
Emma
Lise/Lize/Elise
Margo
Stella

We also steered clear of Astrid because of the royal connection but now for the life of me I can't think which royal she is

just to go back to the R sound. My SIL is Ria and although she uses a stonger R than I do, the name is totally workable in both languages

They will be pronounced differently anyway. Lotta in an Emglish accent sounds quite different to in Dutch. My dcs don't even really notice any more that people are actually saying it differently

reminds me of an Aussie friend I had called Megan. After I had known her a while, she said she loves the way I say her name. I was bemused, turns out in an aussie accent it sounds like Mehgan with the stress on the first syllable.

FWIW, my dutch dh doesn't differentiate s and sh as much as I do, which makes some names sound very different

Also Ria in Dutch is usually short for Maria. In fact I know not one Dutch person who is called by their given name. They have a birth name and a 'roep naam' and name you are called by.
The most extreme one I know is Whilemina Theadore, known as Lisa ??

Maria is known as Ria, Caroline Lousie is known as Carry Lou, Adriaan is known as Aad (prn art) and so on. So you cna use any name and have a dutch 'known as' version