Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, one reader’s name questions will be discussed.
We’re relying on thoughtful comments from the community to help expectant parents narrow down their name decisions. Thank you in advance for sharing your insight!
Corbynn writes:
I am a long time fan of this name site and I believe you can help me! I currently have three daughters, Vivienne (Vivi) Estelle, Caroline Nicole, and Margot Michelle.
We are hoping to add another baby to our family within the next year but I am stuck on names for more children. I tend to love vintage, formal, traditional, and old-English names the most, but we somehow ended up with a French theme.
I am kind of 50/50 on keeping the French going. It would be nice, but I do think my daughters’ names sound English enough that we don’t have to stick with French.
My favorites for girls include Harriet (Hattie) and Katherine (Kate). My husband doesn’t love Harriet and although I love Katherine, it does feel a little boring with my other girls names.
We have only ever had one boy name and that is Wells. I have loved this name for decades but we are are wary of potential trendiness and would love more options. Other than that I love Theodore (Theo) but there are so many. I am thinking maybe something like Louis or Remy to fit the French theme?
Thank you so much! I completely trust your advice and I can’t wait to hear your suggestions!
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Abby replies:
It’s always exciting to think about names for future children, and the planner in me loves that you’re thinking ahead!
While I can see a thread of French linking Vivienne, Caroline, and Margot, it’s not overwhelming. Yes, you could lean into it with siblings called Colette and Remy and Jules and Manon … but really, I don’t think that’s necessarily your style.
In fact, I might call your list “current classics.”
They’re names that we love right now, choices that feel a little bit interesting and different from what we knew growing up.
Through that lens, a name like Theodore makes just as much sense as Harriet.
Still, let’s see if we can find some current classics that feel ever so gently French, too – because that might be the best of both worlds!
BROTHERS for VIVIENNE, CAROLINE & MARGOT
FREDERIC
Frederic is the French spelling of Frederick. Freddie is the adorable short form currently big in England. (It’s ranked in the Top 20 for the past eight years and counting.) Neither spelling is particularly popular in the US right now, but it fits nicely with names like Alexander and Theodore.
GABRIEL
Gabriel, on the other hand, has been a Top 100 favorite in the US since the 1970s. Does that make it too popular? It’s a classic with an a slightly French feel, which does seem perfect with your girls’ names.
HUGO
Nicely international, Hugo can be heard almost anywhere in the western world.
JULIAN
Strictly speaking, the French form would be Julien. But the -ian spelling is much more common in the US, so I’d probably suggest opting for that spelling.
NICOLAS
Nicholas dominated the 1990s, a Top Ten favorite. But drop the H and Nicolas is the name’s European brother. Use the name in full – Nicolas not Nick – or shorten it to Nico instead – and it’s nicely updated.
RAPHAEL
I suggest Raphael often in these #namehelp posts. That’s because it checks so many boxes – familiar but uncommon, nicely international but easily accessible in English. Shorten it to Rafe or use the name in full. Either way, it’s a handsome choice for a son.
SISTERS for VIVIENNE, CAROLINE & MARGOT
ADELAIDE
Lots of little girls answer to Adeline, Adelynn, or some other spelling of the name. But Adelaide feels more distinctive.
COLETTE
In French, Nicole is the feminine form of Nicolas. And the -ette ending, and it’s Nicolette. Drop the first syllable, and you’ll have the delightfully tailored and still nicely French Colette. Like your older girls’ names it works perfectly in English while still feel just slightly French.
LILIANE
As Vivienne is to Vivian, Liliane is to Lillian. It’s rare in the US – and a little out of favor in France today – but Lily names are having a moment.
NOEMIE
Old Testament name Naomi gets a European makeover as Noemie.
ROSALIE
None of your girls’ names end with an -ie sound, so many Rosalie isn’t your thing. But it fits nicely with Vivienne, Caroline, and Margot.
SIMONE
From Nina Simone to Simone de Beauvoir, this is a smart, edgy kind of name with plenty of strength.
Overall, my favorites are Raphael and Rosalie. They’re gently French, but also current classics – names that match your older children in many ways, but still feel distinctive and different.
I forgot to mention Juliet.
Vivienne (Vivi) Estelle, Caroline Nicole, and Margot Michelle and Isabelle Fleur
Vivienne (Vivi) Estelle, Caroline Nicole, and Margot Michelle and Eleanor Adele
Vivienne (Vivi) Estelle, Caroline Nicole, and Margot Michelle and Wells Olivier
Vivienne (Vivi) Estelle, Caroline Nicole, and Margot Michelle and Wells Sylvain
For a girl I like:
Anneliese
Beatrice
Camille
Celeste
Daphne
Edith — Edie is so sweet.
Giselle
Helena
Jocelyn
Josephine
Sophie
For a boy I like:
August
Felix
Grant
Gregory
Louis
Philip
Spencer
Theodore — Theo
Thomas
Wells — it’s not uncommon for parents to prefer a different style of name for boys than they do for girls. If you’ve always liked Wells, I say go for it!
I do love this set and I wonder what you call Caroline? 🙂
If it were me I’d totally continue the mainstream French theme. Love a lot of the suggestions and how about:
Louise
Eloise
Adele
Esme
For a French boy name I love Louis! And how about Pascal?? Little Cal! Or Leon? I like Leo (and two French friends have chosen that for their boys – pronounced Layo) but I like him having his own ending from Margot.
I think I’d do a name that leads to Wells as a nickname and then see how it feels! My fave would be Bramwell because I LOVE both Bram and Wells. Maxwell would be more classic (?) but repeats an initial with Margot.
Voting for a little Louise or Bramwell! Good luck with number 4.
Agree with the suggestion of Audrey! Also with this group I like: Linnea, Delphine, Laurel, Daphne, Celeste, Cecile, Helena, Teresa (Tess).
For a few more boy name ideas – Dominic, Robert, Alexander, Felix, Nathaniel, Victor (wanted to suggest Vincent but too close to Vivienne). I like the suggestions of Gabriel, Raphael, Julian, Nicolas too!
Your girls names almost feel more old Hollywood to me than french flavored so I feel like Audrey would fit so perfectly along with Vivienne, Caroline, and Margot. I love that each name has its own initial and ending sound. Or maybe Greta or Etta?
For boys, I love Louis from your own list along with the suggestions of Julian, Raphael, and Xavier. The following names have a handsome gentleman vibe that would compliment your daughter’s names well too: Clark, Grant, Dean, Leo, Elliot, Zane, Jude, Adrian
Gorgeous sibset! Since she likes Theodore/Theo, what about Theodora/Thea? Other suggestions:
Celeste
Iris
Stella
Clara
Sabine
Zelie
Louise/Louisa
Clémence
Clementine
Mathilde
Heloise/Héloïse
Anaïs
I think your style isn’t French names, it’s more like long and romantic names, so:
Felicity
Penelope
Evangeline
Aurora
Violet
Gwendolyn
Josephine
—-
Xavier
Sebastian
Finnian
Felix
Magnus
Benjamin
I Iike Genevieve, Evelyn and Matilda for your girls names. The history and European vibe but established anglo use seems to fit well.
Lucius Wells feels like a good option for a son. He can shorten to Luc/Luke if he wants later. But you keep the luscious romantic feel of the older European names.
Vivienne, Caroline, Margot and Lucius
For a girl, since you mentioned Katherine, if you went with the Catherine spelling that would fit better with the French theme.
For a boy, keeping with the French theme, I’ve been liking Lucien lately (as well as the more common form in English, Lucian).