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BelleIsa
member
Eleanor Noelle - 18/05/12 Claire Elisabeth - 16/-5/10
Thoughts on a couple French names...
BelleIsa
member
in Baby Names
Laurence & Otillie.
I love both for girls. Laurence is a legit French name for girls (I know a couple), but if you saw this would you automatically assume that it's a boy?
(DH and I are both French and have a French lastname - most of our family speaks no English...)
Otillie is a guilty pleasure name of mine. Do you find it too 'clunky'? Too weird?
Eleanor Noelle - 18/05/12 Claire Elisabeth - 16/-5/10
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Thoughts on a couple French names...
Yes, I would automatically assume "Laurence" is a boy. What does Otillie mean? I studied a little French in high school and college and I'm confused.
What other options did you have in mind?
I would assume Laurence is a boy.
Otillie -- It's just not something I would use. I wouldn't know how to say it correctly.
I would assume Laurence is a boy. I'm not doubting you that it's a girls name in France, but it's not unisex in the US, not yet anyhow.
I have no French background I would have no idea how to pronounce Otillie, nor would I know if it was a boy or a girl.
I would definitely assume Laurence is a boys' name, but I'm not French.
I think Ottilie looks pretty, but I can't pronounce it. I have to look it up every time. However, I think it's attractive enough and I'm a huge supporter of using guilty pleasure names.
This!
I'm a French teacher and love this legit girl's name. I think it would depend on where you live. I see you are in Ontario, would that be eastern or north-eastern Ontario (where there are large francophone communities)? Is she going to go to a French school? If so, I love Laurence.
If you live in an area that is almost all anglophone and she would be going to English school, it might be easier to go with a name that isn't a male name in English.
I knew a girl named Laurence in college. She went by Lo. Otillie is way, way weird.
I don't care for either name.
I would assume Laurence was a boy if I saw the name on a class roster.
I love the look of Otillie but like a lot of the women above I'm not 100% sure how to pronounce it - I think it would take a few reminders to get it right every time.
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I love Otillie too!
Unfortunately all of my fav french names are very very french and, since my background is german & ukranian and hubby is Newfie, I don't think I can get away with using them. Go for it!
Laurence is a tad masculine for a non-French community, IMO, and people would absolutely butcher the pronunciation and spelling of Otillie.
With that said, I think they're both great names. Given that there are so very many beautiful, feminine French names and that you don't live in France, I think I'd keep looking. (ie Maelys, Manon, Simone, Ines, etc.) GL, I like your style!