Classic Girl Names like Louise and Marie

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MAYBE WE’RE FRENCH NOW?

Sarah writes:

We have two daughters.

• Louise was named for my English great-grandmother and my husband’s family name Lewis. Her middle name is Elizabeth, because we spent so much time agreeing on her Louise that we used the first middle name that we thought of, but we really like how Louise Elizabeth is timeless.
• Marie Evelyn is because we have Maria, Mary, and Anne-Marie on both sides of our families. Evelyn is from our parents’ initials: Eric, Valerie, Leslie, and Neil.

Now we’re expecting a third daughter and realize that we have a theme. We sound French! I don’t hate it at all, but I wouldn’t have planned it that way, either. I didn’t exactly notice until others suggested names like Genevieve.

To make it clear, I’m not in any way of French descent. But our honeymoon was in Montreal, I took French in high school and college, and my husband’s mom recently told us that her mom’s family came to the US from a small town on the border of France and Belgium in the 1860s.

None of this makes us French, but maybe it explains how we ended up with Louise and Marie?

CURRENT FAVORITES

I’ve always liked names like Sadie, Edie, and Ellie, but my husband doesn’t really care for them, and now I agree that they don’t really sound like a sister for Louise and Marie. He likes Charlotte, but it’s just too popular. (Though I agree it’s perfect with Louise and Marie otherwise. It’s just that I can count five little girls named Charlotte from our girls’ classmates/our friends.)

Our last name sounds like Softener with an H.

One more thing: we call our girls Lulu and Mimi/Mim at home, so I feel like every name I hear I’m imagining what we’d shorten their names too. While I’m sure this would work itself out, and we didn’t plan for the nicknames, I do find myself thinking about it.

Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.

MORE GIRL NAMES LIKE LOUISE AND MARIE

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your third daughter!

I mean … I’m tempted to say félicitations, because yes … sisters named Louise and Marie do sound gently French.

They also sound timeless, a little unexpected, delightfully classic and restrained. So there are other qualities we could match.

Also worth noting: very French names probably go too far in the other direction. Capucine and Clemence would also feel like a mismatch.

Because my guess is that most people hear your daughters’ names and don’t feel like they’re being hit over the head with a crusty baguette. They’re familiar in English, easily pronounced, and – clearly – names any family could settle on for lots of reasons other than some connection to France.

So let’s see if we can thread that needle one more time.

I did look at this list of French girl names for inspiration, but I made an effort to find the most cross-cultural choices. Also, I’ve avoided L and M names, though I do think there are some options that might be worth consideration. Lily, maybe? Lucie?

FRESH SUGGESTIONS

AIMEE

Amy was a smash hit about fifty years ago. At the time, the French spelling Aimee trended, too. But it was never nearly as popular, and it’s fallen out of use in recent years. Still, if you love names like Sadie, I wonder if Aimee isn’t a good compromise? English actress Aimee Lou Wood appeared on the most recent season of The White Lotus, raising the name’s profile.

CAMILLE

Maybe this name feels traditionally French. But Camila is a Top Ten name in the US, and Cam names like Cameron have been big for years. Louise, Marie, and Camille are perfectly matched, but don’t repeat sounds.

CLAIRE

One of the first names that came to mind. Claire is spare, strong, and traditional.

ELODIE

My first thought was Eloise, but of course that’s Louise all over again. I’m putting Elodie on the list instead. I’m not sure it’s quite the right vibe, but nickname Ellie might appeal.

JOSEPHINE

An alternative to Charlotte rich with nickname potential.

ROSE

Like Claire, a strong name that combines feminine appeal with a straightforward sound.

SOPHIE

Sophia is the most popular form of this enduring name, but Sophie is an equally valid option, preferred in French, but also common elsewhere in Europe.

VIVIENNE

Another choice in the key of Josephine and Charlotte, this one slightly less popular.

Overall, I’m wondering if you might use Charlotte as this daughter’s middle name? I love the sound of Claire Charlotte, and it might give you nickname options. (Lulu, Mimi, and Cece, maybe?) But I wonder if Sophie Charlotte blends both of your preferences while still sounding like Louise and Marie’s sister. Or possibly Aimee? And I love the sound of Aimee Eleanor if you’d rather choose another traditional E name for this daughter’s middle.

Readers, over to you! What would you name a sister for Louise Elizabeth and Marie Evelyn?