Hello there! My DH and I are in a serious name pickle. After TTC for quite some time, we are expecting twins at the end of [name]August[/name] and cannot come up with a name for our baby boy. DH and I both have children from previous marriages. When we married four years ago his son [name]John[/name]-[name]Paul[/name] [name]Alexander[/name] III (JP) was six, and my daughter, [name]Tuesday[/name] [name]Pearl[/name] was three. As you can see, we had quite different naming styles. JP is named after my DH [name]John[/name]-[name]Paul[/name] [name]Jr[/name]. I simply loved the name [name]Tuesday[/name] and [name]Pearl[/name] was my ex’s grandmother’s name. I’m personally not huge on family names, so for these babies were not focusing on those. My DH’s father is French and DH grew up there, so names that can by translated into French or are easily said in French are important.
We’ve decided to call our baby girl [name]Patience[/name] (in French, [name]Patience[/name] translates to [name]Patience[/name], how simple!). We both love the name, and literally have had to have a ton of patience in our attempts TTC. Her middle name will be something identifiably French. We’re thinking [name]Manon[/name], [name]Lilou[/name], [name]Maelle[/name], [name]Madeline[/name] or [name]Eloise[/name].
However, when it comes to boys names we’re truly stumped. We want something that fits with [name]Patience[/name] and [name]Tuesday[/name], but also flows well with [name]John[/name]-[name]Paul[/name]/JP. The only requirement we have is that it work in English and French and it goes with our last name, [name]Bernard[/name]. I like unusual names and DH is pretty open. Basically we need a name that will stand up next to [name]Patience[/name] but isn’t too matchy. We live in a very urban area in the Northeast so unusual names don’t get much scrutiny here.
We both like [name]Emile[/name], but think it’s too close to [name]Amelia[/name], which is popular here. Other names we like but have ruled out for family and other reasons are [name]Pierre[/name], [name]Roman[/name], [name]Sebastien[/name], [name]Noel[/name] and [name]Olivier[/name]. Otherwise, we’re pretty much out of ideas. Any help/suggestions are desperately needed!
I think my faves would either be [name]Patience[/name] and [name]Bretton[/name], or [name]Patience[/name] and [name]August[/name].
Are you really set on using [name]Patience[/name] as the fn for the girl? Although it is very handy that is easily translated from english to french, i much prefer some of your other options that you picked out for middle names (they just seem more fresh to me!). [name]How[/name] about using [name]Maelle[/name] [name]Patience[/name] or [name]Eloise[/name] [name]Patience[/name] instead? I love the idea of [name]Eloise[/name] and [name]Etienne[/name] as brother and sister or [name]Maelle[/name] and [name]Benoit[/name]…very darling combos!
Thanks for the feedback. Yes, we are set on [name]Patience[/name]. As much as we both love French names our children will not be raised in [name]France[/name], and so we need names that are easily said in French though even more so in English. Sorry that wasn’t as clear in the first post. We’re afraid something like [name]Maelle[/name] or [name]Benoit[/name] will get mispronounced by our children’s peers, teachers, future co-workers, etc. I do like [name]August[/name] and [name]Bretton[/name]! I’ll definitely bring those to DH’s attention! Thanks again.
I love [name]Patience[/name]! It’s great. You’re lucky to live somewhere that unusual names are accepted. I remember suggesting [name]Amity[/name] for my girl (I’m having boy/girl twins too!) to someone, and their reaction was, “Like the Amityville Horror? Is she going to be the evil twin? haha” … I was pretty upset.
Congrats on twins! I love [name]Patience[/name] (and [name]Tuesday[/name]!), so original and sweet. I love all the middle name options. [name]Patience[/name] [name]Manon[/name], [name]Patience[/name] [name]Madeline[/name] and [name]Patience[/name] [name]Maelle[/name] are my favorites. Oh, and can I suggest [name]Ophelie[/name] as a possible middle name? It’s my favorite French name. [name]Patience[/name] [name]Ophelie[/name] is gorgeous.
With [name]Patience[/name] I would choose a boys name that is uncommon yet familiar and definitely something strong and masculine, since [name]Patience[/name], imo is very girly and delicate. Based on the other names you’ve liked here are some ideas:
[name]ARCHER[/name] - I like this a lot with [name]Patience[/name]. It’s earthy but still strong and masculine.
[name]BARTHOLOMEW[/name] - kind of fanciful but strong. I like it with [name]Patience[/name] a lot, plus it has the religious connection and is easily translated into French.
[name]BASIL[/name] - Oh how I love this name. Again it’s kind of earthy and European.
[name]BEAU[/name] - short, sweet, masculine, French. Perfect. If it’s too short for your liking you could lengthen it to Beaumont, Beaufort or [name]Beauregard[/name]. Though those are all a bit heavy.
[name]CABOT[/name] - Apparently it means “to sail” in French. Nonetheless, I quite like this name. Most Americans will think surname, but it’s not too surnamey imo.
[name]DABNEY[/name] - if you can get past the [name]Dabney[/name] [name]Coleman[/name] association, this name is fabulous and French.
[name]EDMUND[/name] - a bit serious with [name]Patience[/name] but not a bad thing. I think it goes wonderfully with [name]John[/name]-[name]Paul[/name] and is just fancy/exotic enough to work.
[name]GABLE[/name] - I love [name]Patience[/name] with [name]Gable[/name]. It’s kind of a word name, but also is French and reminds me of [name]Clark[/name] [name]Gable[/name].
[name]GILBERT[/name] - I love how this name sounds in French. It’s super cute in english too. A bit out there, but that’s the point, right? [name]Gil[/name] is a great nickname as well.
[name]LYLE[/name]- Simple and sweet with [name]Patience[/name].
[name]MONTGOMERY[/name] - Old fashioned and strong. [name]Monty[/name] is tres cool.
[name]PERCIVAL[/name] - If you don’t mind alliteration [name]Percy[/name] and [name]Patience[/name] could be so cute together. Very old french with the Knightly connection.
[name]REGIS[/name] - If you can get past [name]Regis[/name] [name]Philbin[/name] this is a great French name that is pretty unusual.
[name]SYLVESTER[/name] - cute, strong, goes well with [name]Patience[/name]. Nickname [name]Sly[/name] is super cute.
[name]Patience[/name] [name]Delphine[/name] (love love love)
[name]Patience[/name] [name]Mireille[/name] (love love love)
[name]Patience[/name] [name]Noemie[/name]
[name]Patience[/name] [name]Cosette[/name]
I also really like [name]Patience[/name] [name]Manon[/name].
For your daughter I would like to use [name]Genevieve[/name] but not as [name]Patience[/name]
[name]Genevieve[/name] but as [name]Genevieve[/name] [name]Patience[/name]. I think [name]Genevieve[/name] works really well with both your children’s names, and the nn’s work well too eg [name]Jen[/name] or [name]Vivi[/name].
For a son I think the handsome [name]Charles[/name] would fit beautifully, [name]Charles[/name] [name]Paul[/name].
[name]Patience[/name] and [name]Tuesday[/name] are so cute I really like [name]Sylvester[/name] with [name]Patience[/name] as well as your other kids names. Some more:
I like [name]Patience[/name] [name]Madeline[/name] for your girl.
[name]Nicolas[/name] would be a great boy’s name since that is the French variation and using the whole name and not just resorting to “[name]Nick[/name]” would be a little different. And then for a middle name, pick one that is undoubtedly French like [name]Marcel[/name] or [name]Pierre[/name].
I really like [name]Sylvester[/name] with [name]Patience[/name] as well as your other kids names. Some more: