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HelpRe: Francophile names
in reply to a message by Dianatiger
That's an interesting idea! Hmm, maybe using names that can be found in literature and history, especially more fanciful stuff, or famous surnames as first names? Like Eponine, Haydée, Cosette, Colette, Antoinette, Javert, Fantine, Marius, Hermine, Albine, Matisse, Cézanne, Héloïse, Abélard, Gaspard? Or popular names given a very obvious French treatment, like insisting on Chloé, Léo, Aimée, Maximilien, Sébastien, etc.
Or perhaps names that are considered very old fashioned and uncool by modern French standards, but very glamorous and Super French to non French people, like Étienne, Marie, Sylvie, Pierre, etc? I remember I once told my French coworker how handsome and exotic I thought Étienne was and she wrinkled her nose and said "What a boring name, it's just STEVE".
Or perhaps names that are considered very old fashioned and uncool by modern French standards, but very glamorous and Super French to non French people, like Étienne, Marie, Sylvie, Pierre, etc? I remember I once told my French coworker how handsome and exotic I thought Étienne was and she wrinkled her nose and said "What a boring name, it's just STEVE".
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I would second what you said about Eponine, Cosette, Javert, Marie-Antoinette, and the likes. These are not names that French people use at all and sound more like someone read Victor Hugo once and was smitten. LOL
As for Chloé and Léo... I understand if someone in the US just adds an accent in order to sound fancier, it seems odd. But if the person is of French origin, these are the actual spellings. So I guess it depends.
As for Chloé and Léo... I understand if someone in the US just adds an accent in order to sound fancier, it seems odd. But if the person is of French origin, these are the actual spellings. So I guess it depends.