Julia is looking for a name for her third daughter, to join Chloé and Léonie.
Julia writes: "I am French and my husband is English and we are looking for a French name as this is important for us to make this origin part of their identity, especially with a traditional British surname.
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To be honest, when I first read the first few lines of your email, the name Zélie came straight to mind before I read that it was your first choice. I think it's perfect. Soft, feminine, chic and stylish, effortlessly French and yet not too difficult for Brits.
I truly don't think Zélie is too close to Léonie. Yes they both end in -ie, with the second 'é', but the two-syllables versus three-syllables gives both a different rhythm for me. Félix, on the other hand, is rather close in sound, but the future is uncertain, and feelings towards names shift. What you have to ask yourself, I think, is if it is worth letting go an name you love for the sake of a name that may never come to be.
Margot is another fantastic choice, and one I would certainly have suggested for you. I feel the same way about Margot that you do. It is my favourite spelling of the name, but I too find that final -t troublesome for my English-speaking mind. The good news is that, though Margot is the traditional French form, the spelling Margaux is actually the most popular spelling of the name for babies born today in France and Belgium.
End with -e:
If you like names to be different, but your husband likes the similarity, why not embrace the fact that -- though they are distinct in sound -- both Chloé and Léonie end with the letter -e. Your third daughter could share this pattern while still having a distinctive name from her sisters.
Camille – While Camilla has an upper-class quality in Britain, the French form Camille is sweet and gentile.
Eloise – Both Eloise and Heloise (or Éloïse and Héloïse) are Old French names which have had centuries of use in France and a romantic heritage. At #101 in England and Wales it is also as familiar a French choice as Chloé and Léonie to Brits.
Rosine – This French diminutive of Rose has all the appeal of Rose and Rosie but with an elegant twist.
Juliette – This French diminutive of Julie is the original basis on which Shakespeare's famous Juliet is based.
Josephine – It may have been adopted into English thanks to the wife of Napoleon, but Josephine's origins are thoroughly French and perfectly sweet.
Soline – A versatile variant of Solange which ranks in France's top 100 currently. Also worth considering is alternate form Solène.
Méline – The same ending of Apolline and Phillipine is echoed in mellifluous Meline -- The French form of Melina -- currently at #105 in France.
Célestine – This 'heavenly' name shares the same style and rhythm as Phillipine but with a lighter feel.
Lucienne – Lovely Lucie is a top 20 staple at the moment, but you may find it a little too close to Léonie. Longer form Lucienne retains all of Lucie's sweetness with added elegance and flourish.
Sabine – Sabine peaked in the 70s in France which means that it more commonly found as the names of French mothers rather then their children at the moment. Despite this, Sabine has a distinctly unique and chic style in Britain.
Delphine – Like Sabine, Delphine reached its peak in the late 1970s in France but in Britain it is a sophisticated and stylish choice.
Odette – Pretty princess name Odette is elegently French in style. In Britain it is easy to pronounce but also exotic.
Ariane – Ariana is hot right now in the UK, so how about using the French version Ariane? Just as much appeal but more individual.
Oriane – Similar in sound to Ariane, Oriane/Orianne derives ultimately from the Latin aurum "golden."
Émeline – The French diminutive form of the Germanic name Amalia which was introduced to Britain by the Normans. Victorian Britons revived it in the form Emmeline, giving it a gentile vintage style.
Lunève – This is a bit of a wild card, I admit. A combination of Luna and Eve, this is a very rare name which is starting to get mention on French baby forums and even ranked in Quebec in 2015.
Other Ideas:
Lilou – Lilou is to France what Isla is to Britain. Back in 1997, it didn't rank in the French top 500 but by 2002 had broken into the top 100 and was #8 by 2010. With its short and sweet bouncy vowels, Lilou has just as much potential for success in Britain.
Maëlys – A French feminine form of the Breton name Maël meaning "chief, prince, ruler." Maelys (without the tréma) was in the French top 20 from 2007 to 2010 but it now ranks at #185 while Maëlys (which entered the top 100 in 2010) has now replaced it as the most popular spelling at #34 (plus Maëlle at #93, Maëlyne at #223, Maëlya at #227, Maëly at #261, Maëlie at #291 and Maëline at #295).
Maylis – Similar to Maëlys, Maylis is the name of a French town which also doubles up as a girls' name in France. The spelling Mailys is a little more popular currently for French parents.
Magali – If you love Margot but aren't sure, consider Magali -- a French (Occitan) form of Magdalene.
Camélia – The French form of Camellia -- a lovely colourful flower. Not only does it look like an elegant twist on the #1 English name Amelia but also brings to mind the play and novel La Dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas.
I hope you find the perfect name for your daughter. Best of luck.
