Message: "Re: Need a French Girl Name Please"

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[Opinions] Re: Need a French Girl Name Please

by RoxStar

6/4/2013, 7:27 AM

Well, Luca isn't really a French name, not in the same traditionally French way as Jean-Benoit. Luc maybe.

Adrienne
Aimee
Angelique
Aurore
Beatrice
Bernadette
Camille
Caroline
Catherine
Charlotte
Cecile
Celine
Christine
Claire
Claudette
Colette
Danielle
Desiree
Diane
Dominique
Denise
Elise
Emilie
Eugenie
Francoise
Gabrielle
Georgette
Giselle
Genevieve
Helene
Isabelle
Irene
Jacqueline
Janine
Jeanne
Jeannette
Josephine
Julie
Juliette
Justine
Lucie
Lucille
Louise
Leonie
Laure
Madeleine
Manon
Marianne
Marie, and Marie-Anything at all
Marguerite
Michelle
Mireille
Monique
nathalie
Nicole
Patrice
Pauline
Antoinette
Sophie
Suzanne
Sylvie
Stephanie
Therese
Valerie
Veronique
Virginie
Yvonne
Yvette

Replies

- Siân (Sharley) +6

6/4/2013, 8:49 AM

Heyyy.... Do you know your stuff?

I am aware Luca and Jean-Benoit are not the same style exactly. The boys have different mothers and are twenty years apart in age so I felt a bit of a change was necessary. Luca is commonly used in France (I'm told) so I figured it was fine to use. I just know very little about French boy names and even less about French girl names (Or for that matter, what's common in France vs French-Canada, etc).

If you know anything about French girl names, would you mind helping me out a bit?
The family moved to the UK for business recently and wanted something French to tie their daughter to France easily, but still pronouncable to English speakers.
What would you suggest works best with that in mind and to pair with Luca?

- sambchop +2

6/4/2013, 10:05 AM

Lucas would be more traditional than Luca in French. I'm not from France, but I am Franco-Ontarienne, and although Luca is definitely used, Lucas is far more common. Keep in mind that Luca and Lucas are pronounced the same way in French.

Checking out the popularity lists for France is probably your best bet. If you're interested in French Canadian names, there isn't a list for each French-speaking group; however, the province of Québec does have its own list (http://www.rrq.gouv.qc.ca/Interactif/PR2I121_Prenoms/PR2I121_Prenoms/PR2SPrenoms.aspx). It's important to note, though, that there are English people in Québec just as there are French people outside of Québec.

Here are some young-sounding feminine names:

Léa
Camille
Juliette (Julie and Julia are also popular)
Clara (This name is adored atm, but it would depend on how old the character is)
Louise
Charlotte
Amélie
Margot
Maëlle
Clémence
Noémie
Émilie

- Rachel Shaina (Evil) +1

6/4/2013, 4:45 PM

Both Lucas and Luca are in the top 100 in France (as of 2010, anyway). You're right that Lucas is more popular-- it's #2 to Luca's number 100, but they're both there, so Sian can get away with naming her character that.

http://www.behindthename.com/top/lists/fr/2010

- sambchop

6/4/2013, 8:19 PM

I never said she couldn't. I was just trying to explain the nuance between Luca and Lucas that exists for French speakers. Both are used, but Lucas is more traditional. Luca is more modern.

- Libra Starshine XoX (blaaarg) +2

6/4/2013, 9:56 AM

Francine. heh heh

- Tassiegirl +1

6/4/2013, 10:07 AM

Actually, pretty good!Francine is nice, and easily pronounced.

In French -speaking Canada, the name France is sometimes used, usually in combination with Marie, Marie-France. Probably not in the country of France, though.

- Fiammetta (lady murasaki)

6/5/2013, 8:52 AM

I think it's used too, but sounds very middle aged to me.

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