New Post
Search
HelpLittle French Girls
What do you think of these French girl names? I already have a daughter named Eva (EY-va), would any work for baby sister's name?
Miette
Lilou
Anneau
Viviette
Anouk
I love them all, but are they too ridiculous to use? I really like Sophia as a middle name for all of them. Would they be better as middle name for Sophia?
Thanks!
Miette
Lilou
Anneau
Viviette
Anouk
I love them all, but are they too ridiculous to use? I really like Sophia as a middle name for all of them. Would they be better as middle name for Sophia?
Thanks!
Archived Thread - replies disabled
1
Replies
The best one by far is Viviette. It might be a little bit of a mouthful with Sophia, but I think it could work. Lilou is all right but really cutesy, and it might be too unfamiliar to English speakers to use, along with Anouk. I speak French, and Miette sounds really funny as a name to me because it means "crumb". Anneau also reminds me of "panneau" (panel). So I think Viviette would be your best bet. :)
1
I love Viviette and Anouk - Anouk used to be one of my favourite names and Sophia works well in the middle name spot for both :)
I think Lilou, Viviette and Anouk are all easily usable. I'm not so sure on Miette though i do like it and Anneau (then again Anne is well know and it has the same ending as Beau so not uncommon)
I think Lilou, Viviette and Anouk are all easily usable. I'm not so sure on Miette though i do like it and Anneau (then again Anne is well know and it has the same ending as Beau so not uncommon)
1
They definately aren't ridiculous to use, they're all very pretty :) Anouk, Anneau and Miette are my favourites :)
1
The only one I really like from this list is Viviette... and it really needs to be prn'd the Fr. way to sound right. I'm not a fan of Sophia, so I won't comment on that except to say, if paired w/ 1 of the A names, Sophia should be the mn and not the fn even if the child goes by Sophia... for flow reasons.
Also, where are you living country-wise? That could affect how well people say the names... Anouk has the potential to be severly butchered by people who don't know about not pronouncing final consonants in Fr. Could wind up w/ people who thinks it rhymes w/ Nanook and making Anouk of the North jokes.
Also, where are you living country-wise? That could affect how well people say the names... Anouk has the potential to be severly butchered by people who don't know about not pronouncing final consonants in Fr. Could wind up w/ people who thinks it rhymes w/ Nanook and making Anouk of the North jokes.
This message was edited 9/22/2011, 7:19 PM
1
Miette is cute, but it means "crumb", so I don't think it works well as a full name. It would be fine as a nickname, however.
Lilou - A bit cutesy for me, but it's cute as a nickname.
Anneau - I hadn't seen this before. I like it.
Viviette - A sweet name.
Anouk - I like this as well.
I like Viviette Sophia and Anouk Sophia. Viviette would sound the best with Eva, but Anouk could work as well. Sophia is incredibly popular where I live, but if it's not as popular where you're at or you're not too concerned about popularity, it would be a good choice, especially since it works beautifully with Eva.
Lilou - A bit cutesy for me, but it's cute as a nickname.
Anneau - I hadn't seen this before. I like it.
Viviette - A sweet name.
Anouk - I like this as well.
I like Viviette Sophia and Anouk Sophia. Viviette would sound the best with Eva, but Anouk could work as well. Sophia is incredibly popular where I live, but if it's not as popular where you're at or you're not too concerned about popularity, it would be a good choice, especially since it works beautifully with Eva.
1
Miette means crumb in French. I cannot tell you how many times I have had to tell people this here.
It might be cute on La Cité des Enfants Perdus, but in real life i doubt it could be taken seriously.
Even if it didn't mean crumb, I would not like it, as it would remind me of the tacky parents who choose poodle names like Mia and Mimi.
It might be cute on La Cité des Enfants Perdus, but in real life i doubt it could be taken seriously.
Even if it didn't mean crumb, I would not like it, as it would remind me of the tacky parents who choose poodle names like Mia and Mimi.
This message was edited 9/22/2011, 4:02 PM
1
Mustn't forget Fifi and Foofoo and stuff like that... :-P
1
I honestly thought I had made the name vivette up. I like it.
1
Does Anouk sound weird to most American's?
Personally, Anouk reminds me of the beautiful old actress Anouk Aimee. I think of her elegance, sophistication, and of course how exotic she is.
I've received feedback from a lot of people saying that it sounds Asian, and like an Eskimo (I'm sure they are thinking of the Inuit name Nanook).
Does Anouk sound weird to most American's?
Personally, Anouk reminds me of the beautiful old actress Anouk Aimee. I think of her elegance, sophistication, and of course how exotic she is.
I've received feedback from a lot of people saying that it sounds Asian, and like an Eskimo (I'm sure they are thinking of the Inuit name Nanook).
Does Anouk sound weird to most American's?
1
It does to me, but I'm only one person.
1
I think it would, but they'll get over it. Like, little Anouk might get a few puzzled looks, but nobody would make fun of her for it. Like someone said, Americans, at least in urban areas, are pretty used to unusual names.
1
I think saying NOBODY would make fun of her for it may be a bit of a stretch. Kids can be cruel.
1
Yes, I think so. As others have mentioned, it sounds like Chinook or Nanuq or "a nuke".
1
It sounds totally weird in South Africa. I taught a very quiet, conventional Anouk once, and this seemed incongruous - Anouks should fizz with originality!
Also, I can't think of another -ouk fn. Chinook and, as you say, Nanook aren't really part of the naming heritage we're most familiar with, and so many actress (and actor) names are made up that people assume the worst. Right now, the assumption might well be that it's a shortened form of Anneka, which it probably was originally.
Also, I can't think of another -ouk fn. Chinook and, as you say, Nanook aren't really part of the naming heritage we're most familiar with, and so many actress (and actor) names are made up that people assume the worst. Right now, the assumption might well be that it's a shortened form of Anneka, which it probably was originally.
1
Yes.
1
It does to me. It sounds like "a nuke", as in a nuclear weapon.
1
I also thought it was Indian
As in Asian-Indian, not Native American. I know an Indian family and the youngest boy is named Anoup. So the two names appeared similar to me.
As in Asian-Indian, not Native American. I know an Indian family and the youngest boy is named Anoup. So the two names appeared similar to me.
1
I think it would. I'm American and it sounds weird to me, and I think if I went around asking random people, most of them would think it was weird too.
1
Anouk is my favorite name and I am an American. ( via British/Australian parents)
I discovered it via the glamourous actress Anouk Aimee's films.
It certainly does not sound weird to me. I hate to generalize but most urban areas have a plethora of unique names and Anouk would certainly fit in. I live in NYC, I can't speak for small town America.
I discovered it via the glamourous actress Anouk Aimee's films.
It certainly does not sound weird to me. I hate to generalize but most urban areas have a plethora of unique names and Anouk would certainly fit in. I live in NYC, I can't speak for small town America.
This message was edited 9/22/2011, 5:29 PM
1
The problem w/ basing assumptions of people recognizing the name from Aouk Aimee's films is that since she was a Fr. actress, it could very much be a class distinction between those who watch foreign films and those who don't... Those not into that style of film could very well have no clue who she is... esp. among those who pay little attention to things and people beyond their own borders. (whether deliberately or incidentally)
1
Thing is, I doubt that all Americans would know about the actress Anouk Aimee and since such a small percentage know Fr, I could see th prn. being easily butchered by those who don't live in elite cities and prning it to rhyme w/ Nanook like in Nanook of the North.
This message was edited 9/22/2011, 7:25 PM
1
I'm from small town America. I had to look up Anouk Aimee to find out who she is after so many people mentioned her. I think there's a difference between being weird and sounding like it's a legitimate name from a certain culture. There's a girl named Fox where I work, and we have new girls named Ayanelly and Leocadia. I think an Anouk could fit in here.
1
I like it, but unfortunately, my grandmother thought it was horrendous when I mentioned that it was a fave of mine back when I was in my teens. It doesn't sound similar to names that are popular in the States, so the unfamiliar sound might be a turnoff for at least some, particularly if they aren't familiar with French names.
1
Me too. Anouk Aimee's timeless beauty is what I think of foremost.
I'm in the U.S. so I hope I can answer this accurately. I agree with Llewella that "Chocolat" made the name Anouk / Anoushka (sp?) much more visible. I see Vianne pop up every now and again on these boards and I can only think of the same influence being responsible. Personally it sounds more Dutch than French. But for most Americans the French / Chocolat connection is what will come to mind, if anything.
That said, we also give names to children like L'mauisfwe89r3ijbfs and pronounce it Ava. (I should talk. I'd name a nn Niamh, Aoife, Sinead or Mairead.) So why would an Anouk feel out of place in all of that? Why bother worrying about what a name looks or sounds like in an atmosphere of, "We named her Desstineigh because it's yooneek." At least Anouk's pronunciation is apparent from the spelling.
If you're still not completely comfortable, you could name her Anne and use Anouk as a nn. Or not.
I'm in the U.S. so I hope I can answer this accurately. I agree with Llewella that "Chocolat" made the name Anouk / Anoushka (sp?) much more visible. I see Vianne pop up every now and again on these boards and I can only think of the same influence being responsible. Personally it sounds more Dutch than French. But for most Americans the French / Chocolat connection is what will come to mind, if anything.
That said, we also give names to children like L'mauisfwe89r3ijbfs and pronounce it Ava. (I should talk. I'd name a nn Niamh, Aoife, Sinead or Mairead.) So why would an Anouk feel out of place in all of that? Why bother worrying about what a name looks or sounds like in an atmosphere of, "We named her Desstineigh because it's yooneek." At least Anouk's pronunciation is apparent from the spelling.
If you're still not completely comfortable, you could name her Anne and use Anouk as a nn. Or not.
This message was edited 9/22/2011, 4:08 PM
1
I'd say Eskimo too. When I think of French names, I think of something more elegant and sophisticated, but this seems more like something I'd see on a map of Alaska.
1
It definitely sounds Inuit, and I wouldn't guess it were French if I had never seen it before. I only know of it from Chocolat, and so I only associate it with that little girl and thus it's a very youthful name. I can't really picture it on an adult. I don't think it would be unusable in the US though.
1
Is Chocolat a movie or a play? How old is it? This conversation is the first I've heard of it. Living overseas means I'm rather out of the loop re: current entertainment (that and not really giving a rip about such). Also, was the production done by people who know and speak Fr. or by En. speakers who may butcher prn. of some names and words.
This message was edited 9/22/2011, 7:32 PM
1
Chocolat is a film from 2000, starring Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp and Judi Dench. It was directed by Swede Lasse Hallstrom, and filmed mostly in France and the interiors in the UK. (it's based on a UK author Joanne Harris' book) .
It became quite an unexpected hit in the usa and was nominated for oscars etc. Anouk is Juliette Binoche's daughter in the film.
In film, Anouk is pronounced correctly Anook or (Ah-Newk) the long oo vowel sound as in Anoushka or the sound of the letter U in Uma or Flute.
I would also say more people in the usa do recognize the name (if they recognize it at all) from Chocolat rather than from the French actress, as it is more of their generation now, than the 1960's when Ms. Aimee had her heyday.
It became quite an unexpected hit in the usa and was nominated for oscars etc. Anouk is Juliette Binoche's daughter in the film.
In film, Anouk is pronounced correctly Anook or (Ah-Newk) the long oo vowel sound as in Anoushka or the sound of the letter U in Uma or Flute.
I would also say more people in the usa do recognize the name (if they recognize it at all) from Chocolat rather than from the French actress, as it is more of their generation now, than the 1960's when Ms. Aimee had her heyday.
1
Does it have more of a light touch on the k sound? I automatically read the vowel soond to be more like ew than Nanook... just realize some others might not read it that way... With the k being pronounced it sounds quite unappealing... even if I pronounce it w/ a Fr. accent.
1
Yes I would say there is a light touch on the k sound. Although what may be appealing to one person is not to another etc.
This is how it is pronounced (audio of native speakers)
http://www.forvo.com/search/anouk/fr/
I am also 99% sure it is said like the above in Chocolat as well.
This is how it is pronounced (audio of native speakers)
http://www.forvo.com/search/anouk/fr/
I am also 99% sure it is said like the above in Chocolat as well.
This message was edited 9/23/2011, 1:47 PM
1
Ok... yeah... really not liking it w/ that hard k...
1
I don't know how it's said for realz in French, but in Chocolat it's said like ah-NOOK. Not an ew sound. Unless I'm totally remembering wrong, which is possible!
This message was edited 9/23/2011, 10:36 AM
1
It's also a book
But I (and probably most people) have only seen the movie. It's one of my favorites too!
But I (and probably most people) have only seen the movie. It's one of my favorites too!
1
Chocolat introduced me to the name. I fell in love with it, but you're right that it doesn't sound all that French. I probably would have thought it was Inuit if I didn't know anything about it.
1
My favorites are Miette and Lilou.
1