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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Girls names with French origin

68 replies

AmIGoingMad · 13/02/2013 16:38

Hello!
I'm a bit of a Francophile and would love to get some inspiration here for some names of French origin. Only thing is that the area can be a bit 'judgy' so I'm looking for something not too 'in your face' French. Strange brief I know! For example, I love Amelie but that would be looked at strangely here.
Any ideas please?
Thanks!

OP posts:
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ditavonteesed · 13/02/2013 16:39

Charlotte
Genevieve

monal · 13/02/2013 16:41

Madeleine?

devonsmummy · 13/02/2013 16:43

Aimee
Sophie

monal · 13/02/2013 16:44

Anne
Louise
Marie
Isabelle
Céline? Maybe that's too French, if Amélie is.
Mathilde?

LineRunner · 13/02/2013 16:44

Madeleine
Bernadette
Eleanor

badtime · 13/02/2013 16:45

Elodie
Camille
Juliette
Marianne
Celine
Simone
Anne
Adele
Colette
Gabrielle
Jacqueline
Josephine
Madeleine
Manon
Sophie

And my favourite, Elise.

badtime · 13/02/2013 16:46

(I put Manon as it is also Welsh)

iwillsleepagainsomeday · 13/02/2013 16:47

chloe
charlotte
sophie

AmIGoingMad · 13/02/2013 16:51

Thanks for these!
I like Genevieve but think I might have a battle trying to get people to pronounce it gen vee ev. Think I prefer the two syllable names as my DS has a two syllable name.
Also love Aimee but think that lots of people would decide I'd gone down popular route of altering a classic name's spelling rather than seeing it a French spelling.
As I'm reading back through what I'm writing I'm realising that I'm both too concerned of what others will think, and a bit 'judgy' myself in assuming they won't 'get' the name. Oh dear!
Please do keep the ideas coming whilst I try to give myself a talking to!

OP posts:
AmIGoingMad · 13/02/2013 16:52

Wow- lots of suggestions while I was typing that! Thanks- will read through now.

OP posts:
LineRunner · 13/02/2013 16:56

Odette
Edith

FirstTimeForEverything · 13/02/2013 17:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Atavistic · 13/02/2013 17:01

Vivienne
Vivian
Vivien
I have one of the above and get compliments all the time.

Branleuse · 13/02/2013 17:04

my daighter is Anaïs as shes half french

My friends daughters are Mathilde and camille

ariane5 · 13/02/2013 17:04

Ariane Smile

Coffeeandabun · 13/02/2013 17:05

Marcelle
I was at school with a girl called Marcelle and I always thought what a nice name it was :)

2beornot · 13/02/2013 17:10

FWIW I know a few Amelies and don't think it is too in your face French at all.

Oh and someone suggested Chloe, but that's Greek not French

gastrognome · 13/02/2013 17:18

DH is French and we live in a French speaking country.
Here are some of the girls' names (young and old!) in our entourage:

Sophie, Charlotte, Daphné, Anaïs, Elisa, Elodie, Marine, Céline, Emilie, Chloé, Noémi, Louise, Eloïse, Aude, Maude, Mathilde, Béatrice, Liliane, Lisette

AmIGoingMad · 13/02/2013 19:11

There are some really beautiful names here. Thank you! I've always loved Elodie and hadn't thought of Emilie, Anais and many of the others you've suggested. I've now got a lovely load of ideas to discuss with DH as I really didn't know where to start before! Thanks for taking the time to suggest and if anyone has anymore then please keep them coming. Smile

OP posts:
LineRunner · 13/02/2013 19:14

Francine. Obvs.

Claxonia · 13/02/2013 19:35

I live in France. Some girls names I like are:

Lea
Leonie
Anaiis

Here are them post popular names in France

www.quelprenom.com/popularite.php

amandine07 · 13/02/2013 20:11

Oooh I love Celeste! Something quite heavenly sounding about that name :-)
Re Aimee- don't worry about people thinking you've got a made up spelling/you freestyled your own version of the name...it just really shows that person's ignorance of the origins of that name [shrugs shoulders Gallc style]

amandine07 · 13/02/2013 20:12

Cecile is nice sounding too.

Delphine
Severine
Magali- I think is French but not sure

amandine07 · 13/02/2013 20:15

I met a little French girl once who was called Oceane- beautiful name!

EnjoyResponsibly · 13/02/2013 20:20

I love Ottilie.

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