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ArchivesRe: Diminutives for these French names
in reply to a message by Bleuette
Take a look at this useful article on Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diminutives_by_language#French (in English)
In summary, French given names can be turned into a diminutive by adding one of the following suffixes to them:
* -el for men and -elle for women
* -et for men and -ette for women
* -in for men and -ine for women
* -on for men and women (see Manon & Marion) and -onne for women exclusively
* -ot for men and -otte for women
* -ou for men and women
It's possible that -il (for men) and -ille (for women) are (archaic) diminutive suffixes as well, since their Latin equivalent should be -illus and -illa and French is descended from Latin. As such, I think it's certainly within the realm of possibility that Frédille is a diminutive of Frédérique.
With that said, I can say the following for the names that you listed:
- Arthurine = this is already a diminutive, as it is the feminine form of Arthurin, a masculine diminutive of Arthur. Still, you could turn it into a double diminutive, in which case Arthurinette seems like the best option.
- Clovis = Cloviset, Clovisin, Clovisot. These would be very old-fashioned though, so you'd be (slightly) better off with something like Clovet, Clovin and Clovon instead.
- Gratien = Gratiennet, Gratiennot. These would be very old-fashioned though, so you'd be (slightly) better off with something like Gratin, Graton and Gratou instead.
- Frédérique = Frédériquette. This is obviously quite a mouthful, so it would be better to go for something shorter instead, such as Frédette, Frédine, Frédonne and Frédou.
- Micheline = this is already a diminutive, as it is the feminine form of Michelin, a masculine diminutive of Michel. Still, you could turn it into a double diminutive, in which case Michelinette seems like the best option.
- Napoléon = Napoléonet (alternatively Napoléonnet). This is a bit of a mouthful, so you might want to consider Napolin instead.
- Victoire = Victoirette and Victoirine, though I prefer Victorette and Victorine instead.
- Victorique = Victoriquette. This is quite a mouthful, so something shorter like Victorine would be preferable.
I hope that helped! :)
"How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on... when in your heart you begin to understand... there is no going back? There are some things that time cannot mend... some hurts that go too deep... that have taken hold." ~ Frodo Baggins
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diminutives_by_language#French (in English)
In summary, French given names can be turned into a diminutive by adding one of the following suffixes to them:
* -el for men and -elle for women
* -et for men and -ette for women
* -in for men and -ine for women
* -on for men and women (see Manon & Marion) and -onne for women exclusively
* -ot for men and -otte for women
* -ou for men and women
It's possible that -il (for men) and -ille (for women) are (archaic) diminutive suffixes as well, since their Latin equivalent should be -illus and -illa and French is descended from Latin. As such, I think it's certainly within the realm of possibility that Frédille is a diminutive of Frédérique.
With that said, I can say the following for the names that you listed:
- Arthurine = this is already a diminutive, as it is the feminine form of Arthurin, a masculine diminutive of Arthur. Still, you could turn it into a double diminutive, in which case Arthurinette seems like the best option.
- Clovis = Cloviset, Clovisin, Clovisot. These would be very old-fashioned though, so you'd be (slightly) better off with something like Clovet, Clovin and Clovon instead.
- Gratien = Gratiennet, Gratiennot. These would be very old-fashioned though, so you'd be (slightly) better off with something like Gratin, Graton and Gratou instead.
- Frédérique = Frédériquette. This is obviously quite a mouthful, so it would be better to go for something shorter instead, such as Frédette, Frédine, Frédonne and Frédou.
- Micheline = this is already a diminutive, as it is the feminine form of Michelin, a masculine diminutive of Michel. Still, you could turn it into a double diminutive, in which case Michelinette seems like the best option.
- Napoléon = Napoléonet (alternatively Napoléonnet). This is a bit of a mouthful, so you might want to consider Napolin instead.
- Victoire = Victoirette and Victoirine, though I prefer Victorette and Victorine instead.
- Victorique = Victoriquette. This is quite a mouthful, so something shorter like Victorine would be preferable.
I hope that helped! :)
"How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on... when in your heart you begin to understand... there is no going back? There are some things that time cannot mend... some hurts that go too deep... that have taken hold." ~ Frodo Baggins
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