Comments:

1. 

    

   Dennis Donohue:

   “Manon” has stayed strong. It is an attractive name and one of my favorites. The truth is, any French girl’s name is attractive if pronouned correctly. Even “Hortense,” which doesn’t have a particularly attractive sound in English, has a much better sound in French.

   I very much enjoy your blog, Josh, which I just found a few months ago. Please keep up the good work!

   Bon Chance

2. 

    

   Emma:

   When I was teaching in France I came across quite a few of these names more than once. My favourite though is Eleanore or it’s alternate Eleonore.

3. 

    

   Edward:

   My French wife is called Jacqueline, at one time this was a very popular name, and still is popular in England, but surprisingly in France now it is very rare indeed – see here http://dataaddict.fr/prenoms/#jacqueline – In 2009 only 6 newborns were named Jacqueline in the whole of France! In 1999, 2000 2003 and 2004 apparently there were none at all!

4. 

    

   Willaume:

   Here in this wonderful country of mine, (uncommon, different and unique), name butchering is quite common, so one can probably easily imagine the many, many incorrect varieties I’ve heard over the years when your everyday American citizen tries to pronounce my first name. Although ‘Willaume’, (at least it is my understanding is typically a French surname), I am oftentimes amused when trying to instruct the masses on the correct pronunciation of my first name, only to watch (and listen) to them comically struggle and butcher my name. Ahhhh, gotta’ love those Americans! 😉