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Baby names

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

Original poster

French female names

110 replies

Rororowmeboat · 20/03/2013 11:03

I like Madeleine and Cecile but not 100% happy with them - does anyone have any suggestions for similar?

OP posts:
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LemonBreeland · 20/03/2013 16:10

Ottilie and Mathilde are my favourites.

Starfishkiss · 20/03/2013 16:10

Berenice?

WormCanner · 20/03/2013 16:46

Many of the names that are currently popular for babies in the UK sound "dated and frumpy" to me.

Everhopeful · 20/03/2013 16:53

Ornelie and Collette

puds11isNAUGHTYnotNAICE · 20/03/2013 16:57

Bonsoir perhaps you could contribute some more up to date names then Confused

Xiaoxiong · 20/03/2013 17:04

Ha I was just thinking the same puds Smile

happyhorse · 20/03/2013 17:16

Don't the French have a glut of teenage Kevin's? They obviously don't care how names are thought of in other countries.

Manoodledo · 20/03/2013 17:41

I also know of a little French Brian, which made me laugh...

MortifiedAdams · 20/03/2013 17:42

Fabienne
Ariadne

LeslieWink1e · 20/03/2013 17:46

Bonsoir, the french list is awful. lilou !? that is not as nice as names listed.

pollypanic · 20/03/2013 17:50

The OP is free to chose any name she wishes, but at least it is good to know how it is perceived in the country of origin. Surely you'd be keen to know that if you are so fond of French names?

Anyhoo, my choices are

Jeanne
Agathe
Agnes
Clara
Mathilde
Camille
Juliette
Louise
Annie (it is dated)
Salome
Aurelie

  • as spoken by the French!
LeslieWink1e · 20/03/2013 17:55

After a quick look at the french list which includes marion and pauline, i would rather the names we think of as french.

sara11272 · 20/03/2013 17:55

I've always liked Anne-Sophie

Umlauf · 20/03/2013 17:58

Jade is number 2 in France? How do they pronounce that? Shaaaadde?

Dated and frumpy names are coming back in the UK so by the time the OPs DD visits France she will probably be thought of as modern and cool.

Not that it matters how she is perceived in France, or anywhere, as she will be a person not a name.

frozentree · 20/03/2013 17:59

I have 3 daughters at school in France. Here's a selection of their classmates names...

Flavie
Amandine
Coline
Ludivine
Eva
Elsa
Louise
Chloe
Jade
Ines
Matilde
Julie
Segolene
Victoire
Loanne
Sarah
Claire
Emma

Hope this helps

NonnoMum · 20/03/2013 18:03

Camille

pollypanic · 20/03/2013 18:07

There are a lot of currently popular names in France that I think will really date (Lilou, Lou) and others that aren't very appealing to our ears.

More beautiful names...

Violette
Clemence/Clementine
Ines
Charlotte
Sylvie

MrsSchadenfreude · 20/03/2013 18:12

DD2 is named for an ancient relative... her name is definitely an old lady's name in Germany, but seems to be seen as a "posh Mumsnet" name on here.

Badvoc · 20/03/2013 18:12

Solange
Brigitte
Sophie
Clara
Manon

AvonCallingBarksdale · 20/03/2013 18:13

Chantal?

PipkinsPal · 20/03/2013 18:17

I had a penpal called Corrine. Esmeralda is French isn't it? Grin

MrsSchadenfreude · 20/03/2013 18:18

The DDs' French friends are: Amytis, Sonia, Lisa, Julia (x 3), Zoe, Chloe, Serena (x 2), Ines, Rachel, Pauline, Nathalie (x 3) and Sophie.

Franup · 20/03/2013 18:19

Bonsoir - ironically the names on the French list are dated UK names! But seem to have the cache we give to dated French names.

Two of the names on the French top ten list are names my mum had in reserve for me as a baby and I am nearly 40!

Tillylils · 20/03/2013 18:34

How about Sidonie?

MrsSchadenfreude · 20/03/2013 18:40

The top 10 girls' names in Paris all begin with "A"!