French names that work in USA

[xoDelphine]

Ahhh , hello again Nameberry forums ! You are all so kind I have posted a couple times before about my first child, a daughter that I am expecting in [name_u]June[/name_u] . [name_f]My[/name_f] due date is the 11 [name_u]June[/name_u] which might sound far away , but my pregnancy has been flying by and the women in my family tend to have very premature births , even for first children !

Quick summary of backstory : I am [name_u]French[/name_u] , my husband is first-generation American ( his mother is from [name_f]France[/name_f] and father is from [name_u]England[/name_u] ) . Our surname is “Eve” , pronounced like the «first woman» . We live half the year in [name_f]France[/name_f] and half the year in [name_u]America[/name_u] . We both agreed that our child(ren) will have [name_u]French[/name_u] names as we both have grown up very proud of our «Frenchness» .

I have posted before and picked [name_f]Margot[/name_f] ( but my SIL is also pregnant and apparently chose [name_f]Margo[/name_f] ) and then [name_f]Bérénice[/name_f] ( but some of you have said that the name will turn into «Bernice» in the US and I don’t like that tbh ) so… we’d like to get this in stone as soon as possible !!

I know this is a «big ask» but … which [name_u]French[/name_u] names for girls do you like that don’t sound weird in [name_u]America[/name_u] ? They preferably shouldn’t end in «-ique» as we’ve already decided her middle name is [name_f]Frédérique[/name_f] ( for a beloved family member I made a promise to ) and anything with an «Eve» sound as our surname is [name_f]Eve[/name_f] . The good news about the 1 syllable 3 letter surname is that we can «go wild» with the given names

I truly hope I dont sound so demanding . Looking for any suggestions please and thanking you heavily in advance !

[Strawberry.Bunny]

[name_f]Odette[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f]
[name_f]Claire[/name_f]
[name_f]Adele[/name_f]
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]
[name_f]Genevieve[/name_f]
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f]

[liberty.mairead]

I unfortunately don’t know if these would be considered dated in [name_f]France[/name_f], but some I like are:

[name_f]Genevieve[/name_f]
[name_f]Corinne[/name_f]
[name_f]Zélie[/name_f]
[name_f]Thérèse[/name_f]
[name_f]Colette[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliette[/name_f]
[name_f]Coralie[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucie[/name_f]
[name_f]Eloise[/name_f]
[name_f]Amelie[/name_f]
[name_f]Adele[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f]
[name_f]Madeleine[/name_f]
[name_f]Sophie[/name_f]

[GreenEyes375]

A few ideas:
Rosamée
[name_f]Esme[/name_f] / [name_f]Esmée[/name_f]
[name_f]Vivienne[/name_f]
[name_f]Julienne[/name_f]
[name_f]Adrienne[/name_f]
[name_f]Eliane[/name_f]
[name_f]Orianne[/name_f]
[name_f]Odette[/name_f]
[name_u]Claude[/name_u]
[name_f]Seraphine[/name_f]
[name_f]Arabelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Prudence[/name_f]
[name_f]Sistine[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Aurelie[/name_f]
[name_f]Ophelie[/name_f]
[name_f]Felicie[/name_f]
[name_f]Raphaelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Murielle[/name_f]
[name_f]Meline[/name_f]
[name_f]Marine[/name_f]
[name_f]Madeleine[/name_f]
[name_f]Noelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucienne[/name_f]
[name_f]Giselle[/name_f]
[name_f]Angeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Louna[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucille[/name_f]
[name_f]Cecilie[/name_f]
[name_f]Emilie[/name_f]
Lilliane
[name_f]Adele[/name_f]
[name_f]Ariane[/name_f]
[name_f]Arielle[/name_f]
[name_u]Camille[/name_u]
[name_f]Celia[/name_f]
[name_f]Cloe[/name_f] / [name_f]Chloe[/name_f]
[name_f]Christiane[/name_f]
[name_f]Estelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Cosette[/name_f]
[name_f]Corinne[/name_f]
Ursalie
[name_f]Eugenie[/name_f]
[name_f]Euphemie[/name_f]
[name_f]Alexandrie[/name_f]
[name_f]Anastasie[/name_f]
Tatienne
[name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliette[/name_f]
[name_f]Violette[/name_f]
[name_u]Zoe[/name_u]
Vesperine
[name_f]Perrine[/name_f]
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] / [name_f]Phebe[/name_f]
[name_f]Sylvaine[/name_f] / [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f]
[name_f]Ondine[/name_f]
[name_f]Octavie[/name_f]
[name_f]Oceane[/name_f]
[name_u]Miel[/name_u]
[name_f]Morgane[/name_f]
[name_f]Emeline[/name_f]

[Victory55]

[name_f]Lea[/name_f]
[name_f]Jessamine[/name_f]
[name_u]Simone[/name_u]
[name_f]Annette[/name_f]
[name_f]Martine[/name_f]
[name_f]Justine[/name_f]
[name_f]Avril[/name_f]
[name_f]Amelie[/name_f]
[name_f]Renee[/name_f]
[name_f]Janette[/name_f]
[name_f]Nanette[/name_f]

[xoDelphine]

Wow !! You went above and beyond !! Thank you kindly so much !! Some of these are on our list and some are beautiful additions ! Either way , they are all beautiful . Husband is pickier than me and prefers names that don’t end in “ee” sounds because our surname is [name_f]Eve[/name_f] which is heavily “ee” , so here are what we agree on !

Husband and I love : [name_f]Eliane[/name_f] , [name_f]Orianne[/name_f] , [name_f]Seraphine[/name_f] , [name_f]Sistine[/name_f] (!!! I really like this!) , [name_f]Raphaëlle[/name_f] , Gisèle , Lucienne/Lucille ( nickname Lucie/Lucy works perfect in either [name_f]France[/name_f] or [name_u]America[/name_u] ! ) , [name_f]Liliane[/name_f] (nn [name_f]Lili[/name_f] ), [name_u]Camille[/name_u] ( a classic ) , [name_f]Christiane[/name_f] , [name_f]Estelle[/name_f] ( always one of my faves ) , [name_f]Euphemie[/name_f] ( nickname [name_f]Effie[/name_f] ) , [name_f]Juliette[/name_f] , Vesperine , but you have reminded me to a very obscure but beautiful [name_u]French[/name_u] name : [name_f]Perrine[/name_f] ! I think [name_f]Perrine[/name_f] would work in [name_f]France[/name_f] and the US , maybe nickname [name_f]Perri[/name_f] I think it is darling !! Thank you so much again !

[xoDelphine]

Wow I love these ! We have Juliet / Juliette , Adele , Geneviève on the list . Adding Odette , Claire , and Guinevere ! Thanks so much for your help !!!

[xoDelphine]

Thank you so much for your wonderful help !!! You wondered if they are dated , but while some are dated , IMO dated isn’t “ bad “ ! ( For example , the commonly «super French» name “ [name_u]Simone[/name_u] “ is an «old-lady name» in [name_f]France[/name_f] but I find it to be so beautiful and very elegantly [name_u]French[/name_u] )
We love [name_f]Geneviève[/name_f] ( pronounced both the [name_u]French[/name_u] and [name_f]English[/name_f] ways ) , [name_f]Zélie[/name_f] , [name_f]Thérèse[/name_f] , [name_f]Juliette[/name_f] , [name_f]Lucie[/name_f] , [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] , [name_f]Adele[/name_f] , & Élodie ! ( I have a niece named [name_f]Amélie[/name_f] and another named [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] , otherwise they would be on the list too ! ) Thank you kindly so much , you’re a great help and I so appreciate you taking your time to help us

[xoDelphine]

Wow thank you so much Some of these are on our list , but some not and I’m glad you shared them ! They are beautiful names ! [name_f]Jessamine[/name_f] is gorgeous , for example . But I must say we both absolutely adore [name_f]Léa[/name_f] ! It’s so simple yet very gorgeous and I don’t see [name_f]English[/name_f] nor [name_u]French[/name_u] speakers struggling with it , or making things confusing for our daughter when we go from country to country . Thank you so much , [name_u]Victory[/name_u] !!

[janeybaby]

[name_f]Juliette[/name_f]
[name_f]Seraphine[/name_f]
[name_u]Léonie[/name_u]
[name_f]Justine[/name_f]
[name_f]Nicolette[/name_f]
[name_f]Françoise[/name_f]
[name_f]Zerline[/name_f]
[name_f]Sabelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Zobel[/name_f]
[name_f]Lenora[/name_f]
[name_f]Audrey[/name_f]
[name_f]Brigitte[/name_f]
[name_f]Aveline[/name_f]
[name_f]Nathalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Marceline[/name_f]
[name_f]Angeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Angelina[/name_f]
[name_f]Angelica[/name_f]
[name_f]Catherine[/name_f]
[name_f]Adela[/name_f]
[name_f]Monica[/name_f]
[name_f]Ardith[/name_f]
[name_f]Hélène[/name_f]
[name_f]Zara[/name_f]
[name_f]Antoinette[/name_f]
[name_f]Delia[/name_f]
[name_f]Mercy[/name_f]
[name_f]Victorie[/name_f]
[name_f]Victrice[/name_f]
[name_f]Viviette[/name_f]
[name_f]Olivet[/name_f]
[name_f]Annabella[/name_f]
[name_f]Gemma[/name_f]

[Greyblue]

[name_f]Amelie[/name_f]
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f]
[name_f]Delphine[/name_f]
[name_f]Desiree[/name_f]
[name_f]Fifine[/name_f]
[name_f]Georgette[/name_f]
[name_f]Aurelie[/name_f]
[name_f]Colette[/name_f]
[name_f]Estelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Celeste[/name_f]
[name_f]Josette[/name_f]
[name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f]
[name_f]Celine[/name_f]
[name_f]Adele[/name_f]
[name_f]Nadine[/name_f]

[SparkleNinja18]

I’m an American currently working as a teacher in [name_f]France[/name_f] so this is just up my alley! I’ll consult my rosters for ideas…

Depending on where you are, some states don’t allow diacritics to be registered in official documents but I’m including them for my list:

[name_u]Léonie[/name_u]
Cléo
[name_f]Sidonie[/name_f]
[name_u]Camille[/name_u]
[name_f]Lucie[/name_f]
[name_f]Adèle[/name_f]
Joséphine
[name_f]Lilou[/name_f]
Améline
[name_f]Manon[/name_f]
[name_f]Séraphine[/name_f]
[name_f]Léa[/name_f]
[name_f]Inès[/name_f]
[name_f]Salomé[/name_f]
Éloïse

[name_f]My[/name_f] favorite name that I’ve discovered while in [name_f]France[/name_f] is [name_f]Romane[/name_f] but I’m still trying to figure out how/if I could make that work in the US. [name_u]Romy[/name_u] is an adorable nickname!

[Ehrob1]

There have been so many gorgeous names suggested ! I really like

[name_u]Camille[/name_u] [name_f]Frederique[/name_f] Rve
Lucille/ [name_f]Lucia[/name_f] [name_f]Frederique[/name_f] [name_f]Eve[/name_f]
[name_f]Giselle[/name_f] [name_f]Frederique[/name_f] [name_f]Eve[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliette[/name_f] [name_f]Frederique[/name_f] [name_f]Eve[/name_f]

[name_f]Perri[/name_f] is also Sooooo cute and I love that !!!

The only names I can think of off the top of my head I haven’t seen mentioned are

[name_f]Danielle[/name_f] / [name_f]Daniela[/name_f] [name_f]Frederique[/name_f] [name_f]Eve[/name_f]
[name_f]Annalise[/name_f] [name_f]Frederique[/name_f] [name_f]Eve[/name_f]
[name_f]Amabel[/name_f] [name_f]Frederique[/name_f] [name_f]Eve[/name_f]

[AES]

[name_u]Léonie[/name_u]
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f]
[name_u]Camille[/name_u]
[name_f]Mireille[/name_f]
[name_f]Léa[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucie[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f]

[name_f]My[/name_f] favorite is [name_f]Léa[/name_f]

[liberty.mairead]

You’re welcome! I love [name_u]French[/name_u] names! And you’re right, [name_u]Simone[/name_u] is super elegant!

[Stabyhoun]

[name_f]Adrienne[/name_f]
[name_f]Amélie[/name_f]
[name_f]Annette[/name_f]
[name_f]Angeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Angelique[/name_f]
[name_f]Antoinette[/name_f]
[name_f]Aurélie[/name_f]
[name_f]Aveline[/name_f]
[name_f]Celeste[/name_f]
[name_f]Chantal[/name_f] / [name_f]Chantel[/name_f]
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]
[name_f]Colette[/name_f]
[name_f]Danielle[/name_f]
[name_u]Dominique[/name_u]
[name_f]Esmée[/name_f]
[name_f]Estelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Giselle[/name_f]
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]
Gwenaëlle
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Jeannette[/name_f]
[name_f]Jolene[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliette[/name_f]
[name_f]Leonie[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucille[/name_f]
[name_f]Marguerite[/name_f]
[name_f]Marianne[/name_f]
[name_f]Marielle[/name_f]
[name_f]Morgaine[/name_f]
[name_f]Nicole[/name_f]
Noëlle
[name_f]Odette[/name_f]
Odille
[name_f]Rosalie[/name_f]
Roselle/Rosette
[name_u]Simone[/name_u]
[name_f]Sylvaine[/name_f]
[name_f]Veronique[/name_f]
[name_f]Victoire[/name_f]
[name_f]Vivienne[/name_f]
[name_f]Yvette[/name_f]
[name_f]Yvonne[/name_f]

[xoDelphine]

Wow, what a beautiful list of names!! Thank you so much darling ! [name_m]Even[/name_m] the names that aren’t [name_u]French[/name_u] are gorgeous and would be on our list if we weren’t specifically looking for [name_u]French[/name_u] names !

I love [name_f]Juliette[/name_f], [name_f]Seraphine[/name_f], [name_u]Léonie[/name_u], [name_f]Françoise[/name_f] ( I have always loved [name_f]Françoise[/name_f] [name_m]Hardy[/name_m] !! ) , [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] / [name_f]Brigitte[/name_f] (which were already on our list! ) , [name_f]Aveline[/name_f] , [name_f]Nathalie[/name_f] , [name_f]Marceline[/name_f] ( my grandmother’s name , so a perfect honour name !!! ) , [name_f]Angeline[/name_f] , [name_f]Hélène[/name_f] (pronounced eh-LEN in [name_f]France[/name_f] , probably he-LEEN in [name_u]America[/name_u] says my husband) , [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f] ( I have met American girls with that name that goes by [name_u]Toni[/name_u] which I find adorable ! ) ! I have never heard of [name_f]Victrice[/name_f] , [name_f]Viviette[/name_f] , and only have heard [name_f]Olivet[/name_f] as a place name so I think they might be a little unusual when we are in [name_f]France[/name_f] but they are beautiful names nonetheless . [name_f]Olivet[/name_f] is actually the name of the place where my husband’s grandfather is buried so that could be a beautiful honour name . I also love [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] but the pronunciations are too different between [name_f]English[/name_f] and [name_u]French[/name_u] , and I obviously love all of the other names too (Zara , sweet [name_f]Zara[/name_f] ! I’ll always love that one ! )

You’ve really got me thinking !! Thank you so much !!

[xoDelphine]

Greyblue ! You commented on my very post here and made me feel very welcome !! And I always love the names you post in the forums and the suggestions I have seen you give to others ! Thank you for contributing again and giving your wisdom What a gorgeous set of names
[name_f]Amélie[/name_f] , Élodie , [name_f]Estelle[/name_f] , [name_f]Celeste[/name_f] , [name_f]Céline[/name_f] , and [name_f]Adele[/name_f] are gorgeous and some on our list already !! We have “ Joséphine “ on the list but not “ [name_f]Josette[/name_f] “ – I think [name_f]Josette[/name_f] could be interesting in [name_f]France[/name_f] , unique but a little edgy and cute at the same time ! In [name_f]France[/name_f] , sometimes people turn their names up at names ending in -ette but I personally think most of them are very beautiful . [name_f]Delphine[/name_f] is actually my real name , so I’ll just say thank you for that suggestion hehe !

I appreciate your help so much ! Thanks again ! x

[xoDelphine]

Oh my goodness ! [name_u]An[/name_u] American nameberry user living in [name_f]France[/name_f] ! This thread was practically made for you ! I hope you’re enjoying teaching here ! I’m not sure where exactly you are , but I hope you have a good impression of us and the locals are treating you well . I always loved the Americans who came to teach [name_f]English[/name_f] , they know how to have the most fun .

Our other home is in [name_u]California[/name_u] , and unfortunately they do not allow anything other than the « 26 letters in the [name_f]English[/name_f] alphabet » , so diacritics will exist in [name_f]France[/name_f] but be dropped on her American passport / when she’s in [name_u]America[/name_u] ( for example her middle name is going to be [name_f]Frédérique[/name_f] , I have already accepted that it’ll become [name_f]Frederique[/name_f] in [name_u]America[/name_u] ) .

• [name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_u]Léonie[/name_u]
• Cléo and [name_u]Camille[/name_u] are classics , IDK how I didn’t have Cléo on the list !
• [name_f]Lucie[/name_f] is great ( I was thinking of it as a NN for [name_f]Lucille[/name_f] or [name_f]Lucienne[/name_f] )
• have [name_f]Adèle[/name_f] and Joséphine on our list
• I love how hip [name_f]Lilou[/name_f] is and while I used to think it’d work mainly as a NN it’s growing on me as a « new generation [name_u]French[/name_u] name » that works on its own
• Améline is gorgeous and I hadn’t considered it before .
• I truly absolutely LOVE [name_f]Manon[/name_f] , it’s beautiful and especially very trendy here in FR right now , but admittedly American [name_f]English[/name_f] speakers make it sound much less pretty . It goes from the delicate ma-NOH(very soft , almost non-existent N) to the harsh MAN-on or MAN-in which I worry would cause problems for her .
• [name_f]Séraphine[/name_f] , [name_f]Léa[/name_f] , and [name_f]Inès[/name_f] are on the list
• I had never considered [name_f]Salomé[/name_f] but I have always loved that name and it has great nickname potential ( I could see her becoming a [name_f]Sally[/name_f] or maybe a [name_f]Mae[/name_f] in the US )
• Have Éloïse / [name_f]Héloïse[/name_f] on the list , would definitely use the Éloïse spelling !
• [name_f]Romane[/name_f] is a darling name to me , I love it too I have the exact same feeling about it as you and have previously pitched it to my husband . Unfortunately he is very against it , saying she will be targeted for jokes about [name_f]Romaine[/name_f] lettuce , which really bothers me because like I say , I have always loved [name_f]Romane[/name_f] . It’s such a classy name . [name_u]Romilly[/name_u] does not feel the same . I love the idea of using [name_u]Romy[/name_u] or [name_f]Romi[/name_f] as a nickname as well ! Maybe I’ll speak to my husband again about [name_f]Romane[/name_f] and we’ll see if we can re-open that possibility !

Thank you so much for your amazing , generous help ! You have super taste ! I am so appreciative of your time devoted to helping us with our girl

[xoDelphine]

I know right , there have been some incredible names suggested here ! Funny enough , your list of favourites are in our top favourites of this thread ( We have so many names we love on here , that my husband is going to make me narrow it down to 10 and then we can decide the perfect one ) ! I love your additions too ! [name_f]Annalise[/name_f] [name_f]Frédérique[/name_f] [name_f]Eve[/name_f] sounds like such a classy girl . [name_f]Amabel[/name_f] is beautiful , I have never heard it before but I do love it ! Thank you so much for your beloved help and time