Melina writes:
My husband and I are expecting our first child on February 15th. We had a name for a daughter so of course, we’re having a boy. I’m French and my husband is English so we were hoping to find a name that worked well in both languages and was unique as well. So far here are our contenders:
1- Rowan (we both like it)
2- Kinsey (my grandfather’s name however I worry it’s a little too feminine now)
3- Remy (or Remi) – I love it, my husband is not a fan
4- Desmond
5- OscarI feel like we’re stuck on these names and don’t seem to be able to think beyond them. We don’t have a middle name either however feel we could combine any of the names above. Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
I don’t know French (despite 2 years of it in high school), so I won’t be able to make a list of names that would work in it, but before turning the question over to the commenters I’ll mention my current favorite French boy name: Pascal. It’s highly unusual, but after a minute’s thought it’s more “Hey, why isn’t this name used more often?”
I like Desmond White and Oscar White. Rowan White is a bit of a mouthful so I wouldn’t use it. Remy White kinda gets stuck on the tip of the tongue too.
Desmond Oscar White is a winner!
I don’t think Rowan White is hard to say. In fact, it’s my favorite.
How about Rowan Charles White, Rowan Louis White or Rowan Paul White?
Rowan is getting more and more used for girls. Remy has an unfortunate slang meaning (see urban dictionary), I don’t know where you live but just thought I’d throw that out there.
I like Desmond and Oscar from your list. I love Rowan but fear it’s being taken over as a girls’ name (not sure this is actually true or just seems that way).
Kinsey is nice because of the family connection. Kinsey Rowan sounds really nice. What about Roman, Rohan or Roan?
Some other suggestions:
Tallis – a French name, and the name of a famous English composer
Adrien – used in France and in the UK/America
Aramis – 3 Musketeers :)
Kiran
Dillon
Cyrus/ Cyril
Kian
Dashiell
I would love to meet a little boy named Desmond with Oscar a close second. I remember another post looking for a works-in-French name, I think they went with Bruno? I’ve also always liked Hugh though that might be better as a middle name with White.
As a girl Kinsey, I feel like I should speak up and say that it is an awfully feminine name these days. Also, there are about a trillion tiny girl Mckenzies running around now, and they tend to be nicknamed Kenzie. (I’m always hearing my name in a store and realizing that it’s a mom calling to a tiny toddler girl.)
I do think Oscar and Desmond are both lovely, though.
I really like Rowan for a boy, but I know more than one Kinsey/kimsey so that definitely seems feminine to me.
hah! our last name is white, and rowan is on our shortlist for girls… also, our dog’s name is remy. :P he is very cute though, and we tend towards people-names for pets.
i love desmond! i would have it on our list, but the husband is trying to curb me of my affinity for names from LOST… however, for you, i love, love, LOVE it! :)
Ronan instead of Rowan? No ambiguity there! :)
Gage
Felix
Isaac
Good luck!
My favorite name from your list is Desmond.
My friend’s husband is Swiss and they decided to go with Henri (French pronunciation for the Swiss family, English pronunciation in America.)
Here are some other names that might also work in French and English:
Lucas
Hugo
Edmund
Leo
Martin
Dominic
Simon
I love Rowan for you. Oscar is my second pick.
I think you’re correct about Kinsey being / becoming a bit feminine, so maybe it would be good for the mn spot. (Since it’s a family name I also think it would be nice as a second middle name? Oscar Desmond Kinsey White, for example.)
Rowan Kinsey White; Oscar Kinsey White. I like them both.
A few other suggestions:
Ansel
Dominic
Elliot
Henri / Henry
Maxim
Simon
Sinclair
Good luck!
I love Desmond from your list! I second the suggestions of Simon and Hugo from above.
Good luck!
To me, and this may not be the case with you, Kinsey is forever linked with that movie about that sex doctor.
This is based on my high school French knowledge, but with the pronounciation of the French “r” is seems like Rowan is a mouthful- it’s hard to connect the “r” and the “w”.
I like Desmond or Oscar; clearly boy names that are easy to pronounce in both languages (and pretty much the same pronunciation).
Love Desmond, nn Dez is so cool! Also love the suggestions of Felix and Simon.
When I hear Rowan, I immediately think girl.
I really like Oscar from your list. It’s a little European sounding.
Another idea: Julien. Julien Kinsey White perhaps?
The only French names I can think of: Claude, Quentin, Philip
Great list! Desmond and Oscar are my favorite. Kinsley and Rowan might be too feminine. I agree Rowan and Remy don’t sound the greatest with your last name.
I also love the suggestion for Julian!
Desmond Oscar White
Julian Remy White
Julian Oscar White
Jude Kinsley White
A friend of mine’s son is named Lucien. Lucien Desmond White, Lucien Kinsey White, works in both languages. Has the N sound that some of your other choices do, and is a bit unusual.
I don’t know if it helps, but these were the most popular names in France in 2007
Prénoms masculins Prénoms féminins
1 Enzo 11 Raphael 2 Lucas 12 Matheo 3 Nathan 13 Maxime 4 Mathis 14 Clement 5 Louis 15 Gabriel 6 Hugo 16 Arthur 67 Thomas 17 Leo 8 Theo 18 Ethan 9 Yanis 19 Jules 10 Tom 20 Noah