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Original poster

Boy's name - work in French and English

87 replies

LeBFG · 19/10/2012 17:45

My mum can't pronounce anything vaguely French but we live in France. So, we're looking for boys names that work in both languages and are pronounced vaguely the same for ease of switching.

Problem is, last time round, we struggled like hell and finally settled on Leon just after DS's birth - very last minute. Found out a few weeks ago we're expecting another boy. A girl's name would be soooo much easier Hmm....

Any help appreciated.

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BikeRunSki · 20/10/2012 20:44

Darius

BananaPhone · 20/10/2012 20:45

Theo

caz05 · 20/10/2012 20:50

Louis and Beau both French I believe and both great boys names.

othersideofchannel · 20/10/2012 21:45

Our English friends in France have a Quentin and Sebastian which are both lovely imo.

Original poster
LeBFG · 21/10/2012 09:24

Sebastian has been suggested a few times. My main problem is what would be the nn? I dislike Seb.

Some family have suggested Theo so this will go onto the shortlist I think.

Yes Jux it is about finding a sensible middle road and compromising. It is our little storm in a tea cup...but it is terribly paralysing. Last time, I gave birth 7 weeks early, we had no name prepared so DS's paperwork were all humorously "BOY BFG" and we had to make a quick bedside decision because of the three day registration rule in France - a decision made under v stressful conditions I might add. This time I want to be prepared well in advance!

OP posts:
cuillereasoupe · 21/10/2012 15:27

You can't call a French kid Beau - what if he wasn't?! And I'm afraid Rael wouldn't go down very well either because of the Raelian cult.

Original poster
LeBFG · 21/10/2012 15:32

Just googled Raelian cult. Yes, all associated names to be vetoed too - thanks for the tip Wink. Oh my word, what a bunch of weirdos!

OP posts:
cuillereasoupe · 21/10/2012 17:15

My thoughts would be Pierre (I can't believe anyone would find that hard to pronounce!), Félix, maybe Marc (though that's kind of a 40-year-old's name), Lucien, Paul, Emile, Yann.

tittytittyhanghang · 21/10/2012 21:28

oooh, dp shares the same name as a cult, interesting. He was named after some character off of a Genius Album

tittytittyhanghang · 21/10/2012 21:29

switched off after reading ufo religion. Pffft, for the crazies only!

thewhistler · 21/10/2012 21:47

Edmund/Edmond
Giles/Gilles
Christopher/Christophe
Victor
Oliver/ Olivier. Not too hard. Your mother would be able to do olivier because of the actor Laurence olivier.
Albert

I like Max, and Maximilian is another

cuillereasoupe · 22/10/2012 07:15

William is used in France with more or less the same pronunciation. I think you need to take into account the differences in fashion on both sides of the Channel too - George is popular in the UK but no-one in France under the age of 70 is called Georges, for example.

NerdAmigo · 22/10/2012 07:22

Pierre
Marc
Luc
Christian

Original poster
LeBFG · 22/10/2012 07:36

That is a good point cuilerasoupe. I've only got my immediate entourage for advice. I was hoping to tap into the MN massive to help a bit with that!

OP posts:
cuillereasoupe · 22/10/2012 09:04

Names like Marc, Luc, Christian, Gilles, Olivier, Philippe, and Pascal sound like forty-to-fifty year-olds to me, like calling an English baby Trevor (or indeed Philip) - and grandpa chic names really haven't caught on on this side of the channel.

How about Hugo? It's used for kids and goes nicely with Leon IMO.

cuillereasoupe · 22/10/2012 09:18

You might also need to know that Biblical names such as Samuel, David, and Simon will immediately lead French people to assume that you're Jewish.

Bonsoir · 22/10/2012 09:19

It's the Old Testament names that carry the assumption that you are Jewish, not the New Testament names.

cuillereasoupe · 22/10/2012 09:24

Yes, true.

Original poster
LeBFG · 22/10/2012 12:45

Just found Mikayil - to be shortened to Mic, or Mika.

DH is still in love with Jethro. THis is on NCIS which the French love.

Any ideas how these suggestions might be received in France?

OP posts:
caramelwaffle · 22/10/2012 12:47

Olivier. Oliver.

tiredteddy · 22/10/2012 13:25

My cousin has a DS they live in Brussels so wanted a name that works in both languages also. He is called Nicolas and known as Nico.

cuillereasoupe · 22/10/2012 14:37

Jethro would be an, um, unusual choice. The TH sound is nigh on impossible to pronounce for most French people, so it'd be Jetro or Jessro.

Original poster
LeBFG · 22/10/2012 18:08

Yes, they say Jetro on TV. Not sure it's a goer. I can't dissociate from Jethro the cornish comedian...

OP posts:
eversomuch · 22/10/2012 21:21

My top choice for a boy's name is Cedric, which I think is a name known in France. Unfortunately, DH has vetoed it. :( Ten days left to convince him otherwise ...

A friend of mine who lives in France has a Joshua and an Adam -- names they chose bc they work in both English and French.

Good luck to you!

oneortwoorthree · 23/10/2012 13:09

Nico? Seems a popular choice for people here who need a name that works in English, Catalan and Spanish...