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?

Rhiannon

That's true of the UK though, it's why many Welsh/Irish/Scottish names are considered "chavvy".

Commonly called "naughty boy" names -

Rhys - Welsh
Dylan - Welsh
Connor - Irish
Kyle - Scottish

Oh, I expected Jade to be pronounced jzhayde?

no, it rhymes with Chad.

French names are great! Love this thread.

I always loved Marceline and Delphine.

What about Merveille? I have two students with that name .

We also have a Bijou at work (and I have Brooklyn hipster friends who arent remotely French with a little Bijou).

When I was little my childminder was called Marie-Ange, which I thought was the most beautiful name ever when I was 7 .

Also, the lovely midwife who delivered DC2 was called Laurence (female).

I have no idea how these names are viewed by French people...

Thank you madamefrog, gauchecaviar and others!

So pleased I'm not the only one fascinated by all this.

Now, where does Marie-Laure sit? I knew a very stylish, beautiful Marie-Laure in the early 90s. Or was it a name from a Patrick Bruel song...

Merveille and Bijou would be most unusual, I'd imagine them to be from French -speaking Africa. Marie - Ange is nearing retirement, Laurence is a very ordinary early 1970s name.

That makes sense, GaucheCaviar.

The Merveilles and one of the Bijous are indeed French-African. Marie-Ange would be an old lady by now. Laurence would be about my age (40)

I'm in a French speaking country.

Colleagues between 25-60yrs are:
Cyrielle
Athénaïs
Natalie
Fanny
Céline
Constance
Mireille
Mélanie
Anouk
Louise
Sabine
Clotilde
Christine
Gisèle
Laurence
Sophie
Myriam
Anne-Lyse
Virginie
Lise
Joy
Claudie
Samuel
Guy
Erik
Antoine
David
Philippe
Maxime
Théo
Cédric
Didier

The children I know are:

Solena
Meryl
Delfine
Léa
Alia
Julia
Danilo
Keo
Lucas
Leonel
Arthur
Clemence
Eloise

Not sure if any are posh though!!

I know a very glamorous 'Blandine' which I think is a lovely name

My French pen friend was called Chantel! She would be 50 now and came from a middle class family - her father was a doctor! Was it always déclassé?!

Thanks Cote, I would have guessed zha-day so way off!

Alisvolatpropiis, true, although not all Welsh/Scottish/Irish names are considered such.

I always liked Amandine. And did want to call my youngest Severine - overruled. .

How are they viewed?

How are Bridget/Brigitte and Iris perceived over in France. Is Iris used much?

I think this thread is the first place I've ever seen my name mentioned more than once. It's quite exotic in the UK, and quite frumpy in France.

My French exchange partner was called Maïté - her mum was a TV presenter. I'd like to know if that's a common name because I've never heard it since.

Broomstick. I wonder if we have the same name. 🤔

This thread is fascinating. Both my DDs have French names picked as #1 was a family name we were always going to use and #2 was the only name we could agree on. I now know one has a slightly out of fashion name and the other potentially rising in popularity. Not déclassé however, so I can sleep easy
I wish this thread had been around when I was pregnant with #2, there are some beautiful names here that I wasn't familiar with.

I know a 12-year-old Swann-Marie. French, of course

I worked with a Maïté in France - she would be about ?40 now I think

Maïté is a lovely name in a French accent, but I have heard it said in a British accent and it sounds like "matey" which is not so pretty!

Sixtine is Sistine (chapel) in English

My late dgm was called " Albertine " and was of French/German descent.

It's one of my dd's middle names and people always comment on it.

Wonder how that would fare?

Her sisters were Paula/ Ottie / Wilma

SundayOut - I'm twelfth on BonApp's list of colleagues.

Albertine is so old fashioned, it's due a revival.
Apparently Brigitte is also due a revival (because of Macron's wife) but, otherwise Brigitte is in her mid 50s-60.