Names which work in French and English

[Lexylizard]

We have a list of names which might work in French and English (oh Is French), albeit not many boys names. Which do you like, or have you any to add?

Mathilde (Tilly)
Maeva (Maeve)
Emeline
Florence
Elodie (Edie)
Cecile

Hugo
Miles

Apparently we're the same person now

My friend is French with an English husband and they chose Claire and Philip for their children. They are 19 and 23 now and the names work well for both families

Maëva is pronounced My-Ava. We’re an Anglo French couple and we seriously considered Miles. Just tell people “comme Miles Davis “, it will be fine.

Marcel
Xavier

Btw keep the suggestions coming, some of them have great comedy value ...

Think most have been said now but (unless I've missed them upthread)
Madeleine
Monique
Eleanor(e)
Helen(e)

Gabriel
Phillip(pe)

Pascal - love this name so much and really works in English and French.

I know a lovely French Pascale (woman).

In France, Pascal (m) and Pascale (f) were popular for our parents' generation (peaking around the 1960s) and much less now. Possibly due a revival but probably not quite yet!

Many of the French names that English speakers think of will be seen as "middle-aged" names in France. The tastes and trends are for more classic or modern names, or for names of the older, grandparents' generation (as in the UK).

Of course that doesn't mean you shouldn't choose a name anyway if you love it. I just think it's important to be aware that names will have certain associations in each country.

Sophie

Alex

Celine
Isabelle

Samuel
Max

Sylvie

Michelle
Chantelle
Yvette
Amelie
Helena
Leon
Leo
Oscar
Frederick
Arlo
Sam

^Monique
Michelle
Chantelle
Yvette^

work nicely if you're planning to give birth to a sixty-five-year-old lollipop lady...

@SheWranglesRugRats

^Monique Michelle Chantelle Yvette^

work nicely if you're planning to give birth to a sixty-five-year-old lollipop lady...

That's too funny!

Definitely get a French baby names book if you haven't already

Seriously OP don't get too hung up on the "what works in both language" thing. Just choose names you like. My kids in French school have classmates called names like Salsabil, Durka, Elvis, Dexter, Sojoud, Kilian, and no-one bats an eyelid.

a French baby names book

a recent French baby names book

🤣

Etienne

@OverTheRainbow88

Etienne

I always loved Etienne for a boy too❤️Sounds better in French than English though imo.

Arthur is lovely in both!

Really like Abel too.

Gabriel?

Gabrielle?