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!

A lot of my colleagues are starting to use a hard "J", so the ubiquitous Jayden is in force and I've met a little Jill at creche.

Although Diertje wins my vote!

IME the roepnaam thing is very much of the older generation (45+), most commonly of catholic origin. Are you in the south of NL steppemum?

I was keen to do the given name nn as we do in the UK but DP (dutch) was insitant that it's really very old fashioned here and indeed, I haven't met any DC yet who use a nn regularly as their name, when they are called an nn it's usually as a term of endearment and the parents are keen to point out their real name.

Further to Diertje, DN was Vosje for years.

well actually no, it isn't catholic, it is very Dutch reformed though. Dh family come from Zeeland, and many of them are quite old fashioned, but it is loads of others too (many of them do have connections to the reformed church)

Interesting that your dp finds it old fashioned I have been astonished at how strong it is and how different the given name and roep naam are.

and i have 3 little vosjes

sorry that should be it isn't only catholic.

i like that idea steppemum, so you could call your child phoebe Beatrix and call them phoenix... play areound a bit and nobody would be all oh you caaaaaaan't call him/her that!

hmm. Very interesting. Not run into the "roep naam" thing at all here in Belgium mind you. Just the addition of diminutives.

It's true, many of the older generation have a 'roepnaam'. I knew a Whiska, short for Louisa; and Ada for Adrienne.

I suppose, the spanish do similar rinkydinks with names. like chema out of jose maria and chábeli out of Maria Isabel

I think Diertje and Rinkydink are now the frontrunners.

Clémentine (pronounced "teen") ???

yo prefiero rinkydinquero.

HOW do you pronounce Diertje?

My DP is from south of the great rivers and whenever I suggest a name longer than two syllables he says "yes but what will we CALL her?" Grrrrr.

His father is Petrus roepnaam Peter (typical Catholic naming convention), but the rest of the family are known by their given names.

'Diertje' is more or less 'dear-cha'. Well it's not really right but it gives you the idea.

Dear-tche.... Sort of, the soft j is hard to describe really!

Rhian is nice and definitely a girl's name.

I've just come across a ciara in German/French speaking Belgium today.

Ciara would be pronounced Kee-Ah-Rah in Dutch, if people don't know the Irish convention.

How about Linda, Petra, Sylvia, Saskia, Ellen, Ella, Hanna, Anna, Lia (pr: Lee-ah), Nel (as Nell, but with one l, although a second l wouldn't change anything), Trudy, Karen or Karin, Monique/Monica, Miranda, Wendy, Jolanda (pr: Yolanda),

Ava!!

My Anglo-Dutch dd is Audrey. We liked the way it is quite an international name, and then I found out that Audrey Hepburn spent part of her childhood in Holland before moving to the UK, so that was a nice thought.

My SIL is Sietske which I think is a beautiful name.

I would pronounce Ciara Kee-Ah-Rah too, so how would your pronounce it in Irish?

Diertje is too much like 'dirty' in English. You know what will happen at school.

Achillea, it means 'little animal' in Dutch so I don't think the OP is seriously considering it ;)

at the unsuitable names

For what it's worth, as long as the name is pronouncable in both languages (I went to bilingual school in Holland with a guy called Sjoerd.. none of the native English speakers could pronounce that..) I wouldn't worry if they are pronounced slightly differently. My name is Iris and from a very young age I have been addressed with both the Dutch pronunciation (Ee-ris) and the English one (Eye-ris), so to me it's never made a difference (as in, when I hear the English version it's not like I think "that's not my name", it's just.. also my name)

My father pronounces dds name differently to how it's spelled because aside 'thats the dutch pronounciation' and it doesn't bother her or us in the slightest.

I wouldn't worry too much really, as long as it's not unprounouncable in either language it'll work fine!

Thanks for the back-up on Rhian greylady - I do like it but don't know if DH would consider. There is the rolling R to consider too. Might be a bit annoying. Actually I know a Ciara of Irish parentage in the Netherlands, she pronounces it the Irish way and tells people (at creche etc) who say it the more Italian way. It works out fine I think. But I'm not planning on stealing it :)

Thanks for other suggestions too. Ava/Eva is nice. Lots of other lovely ideas too.