what girls' names do the French middle classes turn their noses up at?

[NatureAbhorsAHoover]

What would the haute bourgeoisie think of as a tacky/trashy name for a baby girl? I speak french but have no idea what sounds déclassé to a French ear.

Not looking to vilify; am interested in the tonal sounds, themes and signifiers that surely exist just as much in France as here?

IME, if the French do shorten names, it's to give slightly childish/cutest nicknames.

My poshest French friends are called things like Cécile, Laure, Edme, Augustin. They have kids called Sixte, Thibault, Odon and Marthe.

Years ago I knew a Katel, but have never heard of one since.

cutest = cutesy

Not sure re cutesey either in terms of shortenings! I know amongst others a Math(ilde), a Manu, an Eugé (nie), a Cath(erine), and a JJ (jean-jacques) - neither cutesey, childish nor unusual as far as I can tell.

Though admittedly the latter is weirdly anglicised to 'jéjé', ok that counts as cutesey I guess!

Coralie, Aurelie, Sandrine, Anne-Dorothée and Raphaelle were the posh students in my French university fifteen years ago, as well as the spectacular Charles-Louis, and a few Etiennes. How do those names stand the test of time?

Great thread, I'm really enjoying it.

My French cousine, (well, Anglo-French really but has pretty much always lived in France) has called one of her daughters Swann.
Is this some sort of Proustian hommage?

I am 31 and there were lots of Célines when I was at school in France (Céline Dion influence?). Also lots of Martins

My favourite is Claire-Agnès - claire is of a certain period for now in the UK so possibly also in france?

Laquila - I once knew a Katel too. I'm fairly sure it's a Breton name.

My (Irish Catholic) bourgeois forebears had names like Eléonore-Marguerite and Marie-Louise. These ladies would have been born in the late 1800s. I have a DD with a name in similar vein.

Wondering about the names Stéphanie and Antoine, and also Antoinette. Stéphanie was a French exchange student who exchanged for two years with my Dsis back in the late 70s.

Other names I am curious about - Félicie, Gaston and Gautier.

Also Claire?

Can't help feeling a bit miffed that English and Irish names are all declasse (can't do accents) apparently to the French. Whereas we think that a French name like Isabelle or Madeleine is quite classy!

I expect Poppy caused mirth because of Popi the monkey, a character from a magazine for pre-schoolers.

www.amazon.fr/Doudou-peluche-Nounours-Bayard-Jeunesse/dp/B0112BTWUE

Loana!

Can't help feeling a bit miffed that English and Irish names are all declasse (can't do accents) apparently to the French

There was point (late 90s?) when Kevin, in particular, was very trendy. But now those names seem dated. There is also a complex snobbery in France about borrowing from other languages - it is sometimes cool and aspirational, at other times, it is seen as naff.

What would the name Jolie say about someone? What an interesting thread! I love France.

Mireille is at least 70.

I wanted to call DD Mireille as I have French roots, but DH vetoed it as our surname is VERY English

I've only met one Mireille in real life, and she was a teenager. That was about ten years ago, so she'll be twenty-something by now. She wasn't French, but from the Channel Islands, so maybe had some French roots.

Here in England I know people who sound as if they would be 'bobo' in France and they have kids called things like:
Elodie
Celeste

How do they translate in France?

There were about 5 Élodies in my year and I'm in my 30s

Frogsoup the diminutifs or surnoms will be used by family or close friends, never at school, for example. Very unlike GB.

I'm intrigued to learn that names are only shortened within the immediate circle. We had a French mother at school explain to us that her child's name must never be shortened within school. The diminutive was for family alone.

I now understand her request so much better!

Actually thinking about it - as DSs old school there were a lot of French kids and they went by their full names. The other kids used pet names though (especially the Italians).

@SelmaAndJubjub - not Dorset, South Kensington! (told you it was a posh prep! )

not Dorset, South Kensington

Ah, well makes sense as that's virtually French soil these days :-)

Yes I'd agree shortenings are only used by family/friends. Hadn't even occurred to me that they'd be used in school I grew up in the French system, just goes to show - I take its formality totally for granted! Though tbf in the UK my kids also go by their full names at school, their nicknames by friends, and by whatever I think up that day at home

Yes to not shortening names at school.

I remember asking (French) DH what we should tell the school DS1's name is : the full name (as he is called by DH) or the diminuitive (as I call him).

DH looked at me blankly and said all teachers always use the full name.

DS1 and his friends are 6 and entering their 4th year at school together and have just started giving each other shortened names:

Maxime = Max
Baptiste = Bap
Benjamin = Benj
Joseph = Jojo

It is really funny though when 2 DC have the same name in the class. They are known by their full names not just "Jules C"

So DS1 whose best friend is called Jules, by the second year he was always calling him "Jules Tessier"* at home rather than just Jules.

*names changed to protect the innocent

And Mireille is definitely in her 70s. I can think of 2, both 70+. Never encountered a younger one. Shame, it's a nice name!