French name Ambre

[name_m]Hi[/name_m],
We are a [name_u]French[/name_u] couple living in Australia for the last years. We might come back to [name_u]France[/name_u] eventually… not sure yet. I’m expecting a girl and we have a crush on a name which is really common in [name_u]France[/name_u]. However we are wondering if that sounds weird for Australians/English speakers. The name is « [name_f]Ambre[/name_f] ». What do you think ? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you know that bae and is it hard to pronounce in [name_f]English[/name_f] ? Our sons both have [name_u]French[/name_u] names as well. Thanks for your advise.

I am not an [name_f]English[/name_f] speaker natively and I don’t come from an [name_f]English[/name_f] speaking country. But I still want to give some advice.

It is fine but might get confused with [name_f]Amber[/name_f].

Other ideas:

[name_f]Anna[/name_f]
[name_u]Romy[/name_u]
[name_f]Joséphine[/name_f]
[name_u]Louise[/name_u]
[name_u]Jade[/name_u]
[name_u]Rose[/name_u]
[name_f]Pauline[/name_f]
[name_f]Emma[/name_f]
[name_f]Constance[/name_f]
[name_f]Esmée[/name_f]
[name_f]Violette[/name_f]
[name_f]Elinor[/name_f]
[name_f]Minna[/name_f] / [name_f]Minerva[/name_f] / [name_f]Minnie[/name_f]
Cordélia
[name_f]Anaïs[/name_f]
Tess(a)
[name_f]Faustine[/name_f]
[name_f]Laura[/name_f]
[name_u]Marion[/name_u] / [name_f]Manon[/name_f]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f]
[name_u]Alma[/name_u]
[name_f]Bea[/name_f] / [name_f]Béatrice[/name_f]
[name_u]Alba[/name_u]
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]
[name_u]Alma[/name_u]
[name_f]Juliette[/name_f]
[name_f]Margot[/name_f]
[name_u]Céleste[/name_u]
[name_f]Anouk[/name_f]
[name_f]Elsa[/name_f] / [name_f]Elsie[/name_f]
[name_f]Julia[/name_f]
[name_f]Flora[/name_f] / [name_u]Florence[/name_u]
Clémentine
[name_f]Nora[/name_f]

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I had a kid called [name_f]Ambre[/name_f] at work once (in the UK) and it worked :slight_smile: It might be said [name_f]Amber[/name_f] somethings, but I don’t think it’s too hard to pronounce

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Thanks a lot ! 5 names are in our short list too. Interesting :slight_smile: :smile:

Many thanks !! Good to hear :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:So many beautiful girl names but still our heart on this one even if that might not be the easiest one here in Australia…

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Congrats on baby girl! :heartpulse:

Native [name_f]English[/name_f] speaker, albeit of the Midwest USA variety.

I cannot speak for Australia but I don’t think too many in the US would have a hard time pronouncing it, although it would probably come out more like “Ombre.”

I think it’s lovely!

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I adore [name_f]Ambre[/name_f], and I actually only came across one when I was living and teaching in [name_u]France[/name_u]! my concern would be that the “re” sound in [name_u]French[/name_u] doesn’t exist in [name_f]English[/name_f], and is difficult for an [name_f]English[/name_f] speaker to say. (I speak [name_u]French[/name_u] and I struggle with it.) I think it would end up being pronounced like [name_f]Amber[/name_f] in an [name_f]English[/name_f] speaking place. although, I’m not in Australia so I can’t speak for Australians!

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Thanks for your feedback :pray:[name_u]True[/name_u]. We also love [name_f]Iris[/name_f] , [name_f]Juliette[/name_f] and [name_f]Margaux[/name_f] … easiest names for a bilingual /bicultural child :slight_smile:

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Im not familiar with it but am familiar with [name_f]Amber[/name_f]. [name_f]Do[/name_f] they sound very similar?

I would name her [name_f]Ambre[/name_f] and present her as [name_f]Amber[/name_f] to [name_f]English[/name_f] speakers, it’s better than people pronouncing it Am-bray because of the unusual spelling. I think it should work well especially if you’re in a diverse area where people are used to having different names anyway.

Yes that makes sense … Indeed we live close to [name_u]Sydney[/name_u] and my sons both are going to a local public school where half of the students have parents from overseas (Us, Europe, [name_u]South[/name_u] [name_u]America[/name_u] etc). [name_f]My[/name_f] sons have classic [name_u]French[/name_u] names (like [name_u]Gabriel[/name_u], Arthur…). People pronounce them with their own accent and we love it :smiling_face_with_three_hearts: However [name_f]Ambre[/name_f] might be a bit tricky… with the « R » sound at the end that’s why we hesitate even if it would fit very well in our family :heart_eyes_cat:thanks for the comments - it really helps to process the idea :bulb:

[name_m]Hi[/name_m]! Yes they do. The [name_u]French[/name_u] version [name_f]Ambre[/name_f] sounds very sweet and light. This is in the top 10 most given name in [name_u]France[/name_u] for the last years so it is getting very common. However I wonder if « [name_f]Amber[/name_f] » sounds like a name stucked in the 80s for Australians. Never heard that name at school or extra activities :smiley:For the prononciation I believe Australians will say « Am- Brey » with first syllab said « è » like in « [name_f]Ella[/name_f] ». I would prefer than « am- ber » as « ber » means butter in [name_u]French[/name_u] :joy:

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Aussie (Francophile) here: you’ll need to educate a few parents and teachers on the name but I don’t think it’s too difficult to say if you’re OK with almost a “bray” instead of “brrre” (with a soft guttural R sound). The people who know you and your daughter well will start saying it closer to the [name_u]French[/name_u] “Bre” sound. I think the “Am” sound which is closer to “Om” (not quite but close) will be easy to train people on - but I do think the average school parent might say “Om-bray” at least for a while (including because most know ombré from the hair trend.)

I really like the name! I think you should continue with the [name_u]French[/name_u] names you like. :ribbon:

I’m an Aussie I think you should use the name you love but be prepared to correct the pronouncation or have a nickname that she can go by when people are struggling with the full name. I’m learning [name_u]French[/name_u] myself but i would struggle to be confident with the pronouncation. Looking at the name is want to call her [name_f]Amy[/name_f] as a nickname or [name_f]Amber[/name_f] or you could go with something like [name_f]Gem[/name_f] which would relate to name but be easy an Aussie to say.

All the best

[name_f]My[/name_f] first language is french and people around me only speak french so I’m of no help here but I did want to say that I really love the name [name_f]Ambre[/name_f], it’s quite rare where I live though but I think it’s gorgeous!! And I would love to see it being used more internationally! Good luck on this naming journey!

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Thanks for your lovely comment :smile: Where do you live ? We are still hesitating with [name_f]Juliette[/name_f], [name_f]Iris[/name_f] or [name_f]Ambre[/name_f]. As you said this is a journey … but [name_f]Ambre[/name_f] seems obvious (despite the fact we are currently living in [name_m]Oz[/name_m] ah) . Enjoy your day !

I’m from [name_f]Canada[/name_f]. [name_f]Juliette[/name_f] and [name_f]Iris[/name_f] are lovely names as well so you can’t go wrong here!