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Original poster

Can you let me know what your first reaction/thoughts are on this name (for soon-to-arrive dd2)?

129 replies

MrsFogi · 07/09/2007 12:23

Daphné

What's your initial reaction/what sort of person does it conjure up. We're trying to find something that works in France and England. I know how it sounds to a French person but wonder what image it conjures up to an English person. I'm a bit concerned it would end up as something awful like Daff. Also, I can't work out whether it's an upstairs or downstairs name - any views?
Fwiw the other alternative is Victoire (but dh objects as that doesn't really work in English he tells me).

OP posts:
Hulababy · 07/09/2007 16:09

Daphné - I think of Scooby Doo and Neighbours.

Victoire - TBH I would, on paper, be expecting to see a boy.

TellusMater · 07/09/2007 16:11

Yes. I can only think of water fleas too (Biology teacher...).

I think you should choose a name because you love it though. Do you love it?

And do people really think about whether a name is "upstairs or downstairs"?

MaryAnnSingleton · 07/09/2007 16:12

Counting...love Aurelie and Mathilde from your list !
We know a half French girl who is called Eve

dmo · 07/09/2007 16:14

my sister in laws dog is called daphne sorry had to let you know

Neverenoughhandbags · 07/09/2007 16:36

Emilie
Aimee(with an acent)
Solange
Katrine
Claire

Daphne WILL be shortened but is a pretty name.
I always remember a wise old Obstetrician saying to a new mother that she should consider when she named her baby how it would sound:
when his/her teacher calls her, when his/her spouse calls him/her, and when his /her boss calls him/her:

Names do matter!
Can you see a Kylie as Prime Minister? (Apologies to anyone called Kylie)

choufleur · 07/09/2007 19:26

like loads of those names and if i'd had a dd (have a ds) would have called her amelie - although that's becoming very popular now.

Don't think Aurelie works in English - people will think it's orally.

Anna8888 · 07/09/2007 19:27

LOL choufleur at orally

choufleur · 07/09/2007 19:31

seriously - i did french at uni and had a french friend called Aurelie and loads of English people though it was hilarious . It's not the same said with an english accent.

weebleswobble · 07/09/2007 19:36

Please don't do Daphne. It's a name we use at work when we don't want to be identified.

Scotia · 07/09/2007 19:37

I don't dislike the name, but just another suggestion if you haven't made up your mind yet - Nathalie works in both English and French. I really like that name, but of course it depends on your surname as well. It definitely wouldn't go with mine!

pooka · 07/09/2007 19:41

I rather like Victoire. Not so keen on Daphne.
What about something Helen related.
Helene
Elena
Helena
Alina

Anna8888 · 07/09/2007 19:41

Nathalie and Isabelle are very, very old hat. They are of the same generation as Rebecca and Katherine IYSWIM.

TellusMater · 07/09/2007 19:42

Old hat?

Upstairs or downstairs?

Clearly I was not giving enough thought to naming my children...

stealthsquiggle · 09/09/2007 16:44

Which generation do Rebecca and Katherine belong to, Anna?

MrsBadger · 09/09/2007 17:25

the 1970s
fabulous name-popularity-over-time tool here (US admittedly - UK name trends are generally 5-10 yrs ahead))

collision · 09/09/2007 17:29

It is awful and I am sure she will not thank you for it.

Daffy, Daft, Daffers.....she will get so many names called her.

So many beautiful names that would work in french/english but not Daphne.

ninja · 09/09/2007 17:33

Am I missing something - isn't it a posibility now that there will be LOADS of Victoires (that is the name of the Fleur/Bill child in Harry Potter isnt it?) At least Iimagine lots of people will know it's a girl's name.

As for old fashioned, who can tell how it will sound in a few years. I'm Abigail which was very old-fashioned when I was a child!

Anna8888 · 09/09/2007 17:46

Mid-1960s - my school classes were always full of Rebeccas and Katherines.

Thanks, Mrs Badger, for the time tool.

LoveAngel · 09/09/2007 19:22

Daphne and Victoire - horrid.

Elodie is pretty.

Alambil · 09/09/2007 19:50

I'm Rebecca (born in the 80s!) and there were loads of us in my school.

Victoria is a nice name too

Not sure what other french/english names there are but am sure you will come up with something lovely

Anna8888 · 09/09/2007 20:14

Victoria was the 85th commonest first name given to girls born in France in 2003.

lapsedrunner · 09/09/2007 20:16

Daphné ....awful, don't do it

babyblue2 · 09/09/2007 20:22

Sorry, but no

poppysocks · 09/09/2007 20:41

Not sure about Daphne. There are lots of names that work well in English and French.

We have a French surname and DH has family there so we wanted to come up with a name that worked in both languages. DD is Madeleine and will go for Isabelle if we have another girl.

ThreeGs · 09/09/2007 21:43

Daphne = Frasier .

I went to school with one and she was a Daffy but had such a big personality, that it was pure affection for her.

Remember names change with the person they come with, but if you really hate Daffy don't use Daphne.