Can any French-English MNers help me name DD3?

[Zaziedanslemetro]

We are a French/English family currently living in Germany, and have just found out I'm expecting a 3rd DD! We are having trouble finding another girl's name which "works" in both French and English, and is at least pronouncable for Germans.
DDs 1 and 2 are Esther and Madeleine, and we would like to continue with these sort of classic/traditional/not-massively-overused names.

We both really like Constance, but there is a dilemma re. our surname. It sounds like "No". Just that, one syllable. If you say "Constance No" out loud, does it sound silly in English? I think it's fine in French, and we are unlikely to go and live in England, but still... Would be interested to know what people think!

Also, I love Josephine, but French DH thinks it's a bit to "cutesy" with the -ine ending. Any other suggestions would be very welcome.
Thanks for any help!

[IAlwaysThought]

I love Capucine. Pronounced Ca-poo-sin

[tigrou]

Some French/German girls I know are called:
Elisa
Alma
Lina
Eva
Olivia
Alice
Jenny
Emma
all of which work well in English too.

[tigrou]

Oh, and also a Luz, which I love, although she is German/Spanish, living in France

[frozentree]

Coline
Amandine

[Zaziedanslemetro]

I like a lot of these, but unfortunately many have already been used in our family. Laughing at the poster who would remarry a Frenchman just for the naming possibilities! There are so many lovely "English rose" type names that I can't use (Rosamund, Cordelia, Meredith, Octavia...) and plenty of chic French ones that don't sound good in English (Garance, anyone?). So it's hard!

Re. potential shortening to Connie -I was concerned about this too, although I'm not sure this would happen in France (don't know about Germany yet). DD2 is never Maddy, only Madeleine -the French don't seem to have the same short nicknames as the English.

NomdeClavier -interestesting you think Josephine may be due a revival -I have never met one in all my years in France, but perhaps it's a regional thing too. I might have to concede that you and my DH are right, it IS cute in French, whereas I would say more elegant to English ears.
From your list I would consider Violette, Aliénor and Clemence, thanks.

[NomDeClavier]

I doubt it's regional as they're not families from the region (if that makes sense).

I love Violette but our surname begins with a T.

[Zaziedanslemetro]

Ah, OK. Looking at your list I was seeing "Figaro-chic", and imagining you in a "naice" area of Paris

[NomDeClavier]

Haha! No I live in deepest darkest Normandy - practically England - and of that list there are 4 local, 2 from Brittany, 3 from around Lyon (2 are Franco-American), 4 from Paris, 1 from Nimes, 2 from Bordeaux, 3 from Toulon, 1 Belgian/French and 1 Brit/French. But they all live here for one reason or another either long-term or on a posting.

The only ones of which there are only one are Félicie, Ondine and Violette! And then there are lots of Maries etc and some other names that I wouldn't count as traditional or underused! I just gave you a selection that happened to fit your criteria.

[BoyMeetsWorld]

We had the same problem, but for boys names.

For a girl...I think Josephine is beautiful and not too cutesie at all. Some other ones I like...

Katia
Brigitte
Sylvie
Celeste
Juliette
Elise
Blondine
Amandine
Helene

[gotthemoononastick]

I give you our little girls (always passed on) family name from the Bourbon Isles ( Reunion)

Lyontine.

[doodlyfiddly]

What about Ariana? Elise was going to be my other one, but it's been mentioned.

[JamNan]

Beatrice? It means 'happy'.

[lookatmybutt]

I quite like Adrienne and Vivienne because I think they sound pretty but sophisticated.

I really like Etienne, but that would be a bit odd

[AbiRoad]

Vivienne
Axelle (I know a half-French Axelle living in England and think it is a fab name)

[Toomuch2young]

Magali?
Lily?
Océane?

Some pretty names i know of French girls having.

Or how about a name which works as an English name with a French spelling such as Aimeé or Emile.
Good luck.

[GraduallyGoingInsane]

Chloe? Ines? Clemence? Mathilde?

[LoveAndDeath]

It's celtic rather than French but what about Isolde?

[brackengirl]

Whatever you choose I'm sure it will lovely as you have excellent taste (DD2 is named Esther Madeleine!)

[sashh]

Josephine is a great name.

Catherine?

I think a long name that can have different nick names in different countries / with different friends might be the way to go.

[lookatmybutt]

Yseult is the French version of Isolde. It's a fine, ancient name. I knew an Eseld (Cornish version).

[frenchfancy]

In France the Genvieves I know are in their 50's, the Sylvie's in their late 40's and the Celine's in their late 30's.

At our school we have

Garenne
Sarah
Mary-Lou
Angèle
Flora
Charlotte
Mylène
Laura
Maïtena
Chloé
Elena
Louise
Éloïse
Emma
Lali

[frenchfancy]

Sorry first should read Garence

[AuldAlliance]

I know 2 Josephines, one is 14, the other 8. One in the S-W, one in Provence.
Both get called JoJo...

[Belgianchox]

Lucie, Hélène, Alice, Sophie, Emma, Anna, I quite like Maureen in French I realise I may be alone in that...