Quebec has released the Top Baby Names for 2009. It’s a great list full of beautiful names with a French twist.

 

I’ll talk about the GIRLS’ NAMES today and the BOYS’ NAMES tomorrow. Read on and enjoy.

 

 

TOP 10 GIRLS’ NAMES

  

LÉA

FLORENCE

EMMA

ROSALIE

JADE

JULIETTE

CAMILLE

GABRIELLE

MAIKA

MIA

 

 

These are really beautiful names, with a delightful French twist. Many of these names are popular here in the U.S. EMMA ranked #1 last year. Others in the Top 100 are MIA (#14) and GABRIELLE (#79). The more common U.S. spelling of LÉA is on our list – LEAH ranked #41.

 

The most surprising name on this list is FLORENCE at #2. I’m not sure it’s ready for a comeback yet in the U.S. Give it a couple generations and it might be back, but today it sounds out-of-date. Nickname FLO doesn’t fare any better.

 

What do you think of MAIKA? It’s not on the U.S. list at all. I think it’s pretty and, at least in the U.S., it would be unique. Do you think it could catch on?

 

 

There were some other pretty picks in the Top 500 I wanted to share with you.

 

More from the Top 500:

 

ADELE

AGATHE

ALESSIA

ALEXANNE

AMELIANE

ANGELIE

AURELIE

BIANCA

CAMELIA

CLEMENTINE

CORALIE

DELPHINE

ELODIE

EUGENIE

EVANGELINE

FELICIA

FREDERIQUE

HELENA

JOLIANNE

LEONIE

MAELIE

MAEVA

MARINE

MELINA

MILA

NADINE

NAOMIE

OCEANE

RAPHAELLE

ROSABELLE

ROXANNE

SANDRINE

SIMONE

SIRENE

VALENTINA

VIOLETTE

VIRGINIE

ZARA

 

 

 

There were also quite a few hyphenated names in the Top 500. I’ve always been intrigued by hyphenated names, so here are some of them ones from the list.

 

Hyphenated Names from the Top 500:

 

ANNE-FREDERIQUE

ANNE-MARIE

ANNE-SOPHIE

AUDREY-ANNE

CHARLIE-ROSE

EMMA-ROSE

EMY-ROSE

EVE-MARIE

KELLY-ANN

LAURIE-ANNE

LEA-MAUDE

LEA-ROSE

LILY-ANNE

LILY-ROSE

MARIE-ANGE

MARIE-EVE

MARIE-JEANNE

MARIE-LAURENCE

MARIE-PIER

MARIE-SOLEIL

MIA-ROSE

ROSE-MARIE

SARAH-EVE

SARAH-JADE

SARAH-JEANNE

SARAH-MAUDE

 

 

How do you feel about hyphenated names? I like them. I think they’re a good way to use popular names, while giving them a unique spin at the same time. It’s also a good alternative for parents who can’t narrow their favorites down to just one name.

 

 

For more on Quebec’s top names:

http://www.rrq.gouv.qc.ca/en/enfants/Pages/banque_prenoms.aspx

 

 

Check back tomorrow for the BOY’S LIST.

 

 

 

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You can also follow me on TWITTER to get up-to-the-minute celebrity baby name news, interesting names I come across and so much more! I’m @babynameauthor!

 

♥  Amanda

 

If you have baby name questions for me, email me at amanda@amandabarden.com.

Your question might appear in a future edition of Ask Amanda.

 

 

 

For more information on baby names and their meanings check out

BABY NAMES MADE EASY: THE COMPLETE REVERSE-DICTIONARY OF BABY NAMES