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Help[Opinions] 17 French Baby Names That Are Prime For An American Takeover
The link: http://www.purewow.com/entertainment/French-Baby-Names
In case you don't want to read the article, here are the names:
1. Aveline (f)
2. Lilou (f)
3. Fleur (f)
4. Kais (m)
5. Coralie (f)
6. Bastian (m)
7. Elize (f)
8. Luc (m)
9. Solene (f)
10. Mathis (m)
11. Anaelle (f)
12. Marielle (f)
13. Remi (m)
14. Louna (f)
15. Kylian (m)
16. Melina (f)
17. Leandre (m)
Thoughts? I really like Aveline, Coralie, Marielle, Melina, and Leandre. I'm a bit surprised to see some of these names used in France (Kais, Kylian) and I'm really surprised to see the Elize spelling. I found it amusing to see Marielle described as "chic, modern" when I've only heard of it as being outdated in France.
In case you don't want to read the article, here are the names:
1. Aveline (f)
2. Lilou (f)
3. Fleur (f)
4. Kais (m)
5. Coralie (f)
6. Bastian (m)
7. Elize (f)
8. Luc (m)
9. Solene (f)
10. Mathis (m)
11. Anaelle (f)
12. Marielle (f)
13. Remi (m)
14. Louna (f)
15. Kylian (m)
16. Melina (f)
17. Leandre (m)
Thoughts? I really like Aveline, Coralie, Marielle, Melina, and Leandre. I'm a bit surprised to see some of these names used in France (Kais, Kylian) and I'm really surprised to see the Elize spelling. I found it amusing to see Marielle described as "chic, modern" when I've only heard of it as being outdated in France.
This message was edited 11/8/2015, 7:16 PM
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
Some input from a Frenchman...
To be honest, I can't see any of these names becoming popular in America anytime soon. Not that many Americans speak French, and a lot of Americans think that we're all named Jacques, Pierre, Jacqueline, Michelle, and Fifi. (The last one is a nickname only, yet I've never met a single person named Fifi even as a nickname.) Americans aren't familiar enough with contemporary French culture for names to be popular there. For example, I've never heard of a single American named Florian, a name ultra-popular in my age group.
I hate Lilou. There's way too many little French girls with this name. Two of my cousins named their daughters Lilou. I'm also sick of Louna and Mathis.
Bastian is usually spelled Bastien here.
I've never seen Elize used here.
Kylian's actually pretty common here. There's two at my school in the grade below me.
Kais is not a French name, it's an Arabic name, specifically from the Maghreb. A lot of the names on the popularity charts (such as Rayan, Ilyas, Sami, Inaya, Anissa, and Kenza) are mostly used by North Africans, not ethnic Frenchmen. We have tons of North African here - I have quite a few friends of North African heritage. I knew a guy named Kais a few years ago - he was Tunisian.
Marielle is definitely old-fashioned here.
I have a cousin named Leandre.
To be honest, I can't see any of these names becoming popular in America anytime soon. Not that many Americans speak French, and a lot of Americans think that we're all named Jacques, Pierre, Jacqueline, Michelle, and Fifi. (The last one is a nickname only, yet I've never met a single person named Fifi even as a nickname.) Americans aren't familiar enough with contemporary French culture for names to be popular there. For example, I've never heard of a single American named Florian, a name ultra-popular in my age group.
I hate Lilou. There's way too many little French girls with this name. Two of my cousins named their daughters Lilou. I'm also sick of Louna and Mathis.
Bastian is usually spelled Bastien here.
I've never seen Elize used here.
Kylian's actually pretty common here. There's two at my school in the grade below me.
Kais is not a French name, it's an Arabic name, specifically from the Maghreb. A lot of the names on the popularity charts (such as Rayan, Ilyas, Sami, Inaya, Anissa, and Kenza) are mostly used by North Africans, not ethnic Frenchmen. We have tons of North African here - I have quite a few friends of North African heritage. I knew a guy named Kais a few years ago - he was Tunisian.
Marielle is definitely old-fashioned here.
I have a cousin named Leandre.
This message was edited 11/10/2015, 3:23 PM
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Cool, thanks for your input, Florian! It was very helpful.
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Oh, well ... I did wonder why his name wasn't spelled Florien.
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I, too, am surprised at that description for Marielle. Danielle and Vivienne are both seen as "old-fashioned" in France (to my knowledge), but Vivienne is gaining popularity in Anglophone countries and Danielle was super popular in my generation in the U.S. (90s baby). We seem to like older French names, whereas many current popular French names (Enzo, Louis, Jules, Raphaël; Manon, Inès, Louise, Louna) are barely on our radar.
Of this list I really like Aveline (first heard it in Dragon Age and thought it was beautiful), Coralie, Bastian, Elize, Luc, Solène (I also like Solenne), Mathis, and Melina.
Whenever I hear Lilou, though, all I can think of is, "MULTIPASSSSSSSS!"
Of this list I really like Aveline (first heard it in Dragon Age and thought it was beautiful), Coralie, Bastian, Elize, Luc, Solène (I also like Solenne), Mathis, and Melina.
Whenever I hear Lilou, though, all I can think of is, "MULTIPASSSSSSSS!"
This message was edited 11/9/2015, 11:24 AM
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These pop up on my feeds all the time. Some I think make sense (Aveline is already getting momentum, but I don't think people are choosing it for is French-ness).
Lilou makes sense with the trends of Lily, Lila, Lola and Luna... but I don't see it getting huge.
Fleur is becoming more popular because of Harry Potter, but I am sure it has never really been off the radar.
Solene (while I adore this name!) I do not see rising at all, because the pronunciation is simply un-natural for Americans to say. That is the reason we didn't use it ourselves.
Bastian, Coralie, Luc, Mathis, Remi and Leandre have been around for a while and people are not necessarily considering the origins when they choose it. I would say Remi gets chosen a lot because of the footballers with the name, Coralie is standard trend right now, Bastian is honoring generations of Sebastians already, etc.
Elize I could see bumping up, Kais for sure (uber trendy), Louna maybe and Melia sure. Kylian will not push out Killian or Cillian.
Marielle will stick to the same lit-friendly crowds I think. I agree that it is a dated choice and not sure it will seem cool just yet.
All in all though - I like this list better than most of the "Upcoming French Names" lists.
Lilou makes sense with the trends of Lily, Lila, Lola and Luna... but I don't see it getting huge.
Fleur is becoming more popular because of Harry Potter, but I am sure it has never really been off the radar.
Solene (while I adore this name!) I do not see rising at all, because the pronunciation is simply un-natural for Americans to say. That is the reason we didn't use it ourselves.
Bastian, Coralie, Luc, Mathis, Remi and Leandre have been around for a while and people are not necessarily considering the origins when they choose it. I would say Remi gets chosen a lot because of the footballers with the name, Coralie is standard trend right now, Bastian is honoring generations of Sebastians already, etc.
Elize I could see bumping up, Kais for sure (uber trendy), Louna maybe and Melia sure. Kylian will not push out Killian or Cillian.
Marielle will stick to the same lit-friendly crowds I think. I agree that it is a dated choice and not sure it will seem cool just yet.
All in all though - I like this list better than most of the "Upcoming French Names" lists.
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Some of these names are just beautiful, and even where I recognize tradition--even with a subtle twist, these names still seem new! It would be great for the US to inherit these names; which in general it already would among a distinct few, but the masses of White-America, methinks, would be too strongly dependent upon the familiar customs of its youth - wherein novelty is raised to praise not by merit but by customs of peers within its own social class, which to me is utterly sad and deplorable.
This message was edited 11/9/2015, 2:47 AM
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I disagree. I think the "masses of White-America" are becoming more apt to adopt exotic names that they think hold value in that culture. I am seeing more and more Krea8tive, foreign, or dusty choices on the middle and upper class these days. Not to mention the proliferation of unusual noun-names like Rainbow and River.
The majority of Americans (to me) seem to want to stray from tradition or the "customs of its youth" rather than embrace them. Other than honoring, I am not seeing standard name choices anywhere.
I am enjoying the diversity actually.
The majority of Americans (to me) seem to want to stray from tradition or the "customs of its youth" rather than embrace them. Other than honoring, I am not seeing standard name choices anywhere.
I am enjoying the diversity actually.
This message was edited 11/9/2015, 5:53 AM
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I enjoy diversity too; and I still hope that more grow to accept non-traditional "white-names" than those who have already embraced them.
I would tend to think that, if a standard were set to ratio, though many may or may not concur on a fixed calibration, the numbers would reflect lesser favor toward non-traditional "white" names, yet while I hope more would accept "non-traditional standard white names than previously, I still fear we still have many leagues to travel before we arrive at full acceptance.
However - I hope that you are correct and that my thoughts are inaccurate. However, am a guy with a name attributed to females; yet I find this to be a blessing.
I would tend to think that, if a standard were set to ratio, though many may or may not concur on a fixed calibration, the numbers would reflect lesser favor toward non-traditional "white" names, yet while I hope more would accept "non-traditional standard white names than previously, I still fear we still have many leagues to travel before we arrive at full acceptance.
However - I hope that you are correct and that my thoughts are inaccurate. However, am a guy with a name attributed to females; yet I find this to be a blessing.
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I think if we consider the differences in opinion between those who are past the age of having children, versus those who are currently choosing names for babies... we find a disparity.
Those who have chosen names already and are aging I see a consistent reaction in favor of traditional names and against the foreign, krea8tive, and alternative.
Those naming kids right now, seem (to me) to be up for almost anything!
Those who have chosen names already and are aging I see a consistent reaction in favor of traditional names and against the foreign, krea8tive, and alternative.
Those naming kids right now, seem (to me) to be up for almost anything!
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That is wonderful! I find little difference when I mention my name while in formal situations; however, this would often be among an aging generation--though not by any means, exclusively, as a few younger folks would often be present. I will admit that folks in their twenties have little or at least lesser difficulty with the unique assignment of my name, so this part has grown easier; although some folks of any generation absolutely love it.
This message was edited 11/10/2015, 3:57 PM
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I like
5. Coralie (f)
9. Solene (f)
10. Mathis (m)
11. Anaelle (f)
13. Remi (m)
17. Leandre (m)
I'm wondering if Bastian wouldn't be considered to close sounding to " bastard" and if Remi wouldn't be considered too feminine.
Trendy-ish K-names are becoming popular everywhere I guess, hence the likes of Kais and Kylian.
Marielle doesn't sound very modern, nor a name that would be given to a little girl now-either in France or the US
5. Coralie (f)
9. Solene (f)
10. Mathis (m)
11. Anaelle (f)
13. Remi (m)
17. Leandre (m)
I'm wondering if Bastian wouldn't be considered to close sounding to " bastard" and if Remi wouldn't be considered too feminine.
Trendy-ish K-names are becoming popular everywhere I guess, hence the likes of Kais and Kylian.
Marielle doesn't sound very modern, nor a name that would be given to a little girl now-either in France or the US
1