I have an MC in Paris, 1880s, who has a baby girl and she needs to name her. She wants to honor a family friend, who's name is Raoul, so originally I went with Raoulette for the baby's middle name, but my beta, who has lived in France, says that naming laws are very strict and you can't just invent a name for your baby. I'd never heard of this, so I'm rather dismayed.
Apparently a feminine version of Raoul doesn't exist. So what am I to do? My beta suggested a couple of alternatives, such as Ragna, which has the same meaning as Raoul, or Ralphina, which sound similar. But with either, I would have to explain how the name relates to Raoul, that it's honoring him, and I hate to break up the flow of the scene where the name is revealed by inserting an explanation. As it stands now, the mother refuses to name the baby until she's about to leave France, and you don't find out the baby's name until she lands in another country and has to sign the customs' register. She signs the name and then you find out what it is. And it's clear by "Raoulette" that she's honoring the family friend. But if I have to change the name, it ruins the poignancy of the scene.
Any suggestions? I'm trying to think of an alternate name that would still have some personal meaning, but I'm coming up blank. I never mention the woman's parents' names in the story, although I guess I could slip them in somewhere, if necessary, and name the baby after her grandmother. But I thought I'd check here first and see if anyone has any other ideas.
Apparently a feminine version of Raoul doesn't exist. So what am I to do? My beta suggested a couple of alternatives, such as Ragna, which has the same meaning as Raoul, or Ralphina, which sound similar. But with either, I would have to explain how the name relates to Raoul, that it's honoring him, and I hate to break up the flow of the scene where the name is revealed by inserting an explanation. As it stands now, the mother refuses to name the baby until she's about to leave France, and you don't find out the baby's name until she lands in another country and has to sign the customs' register. She signs the name and then you find out what it is. And it's clear by "Raoulette" that she's honoring the family friend. But if I have to change the name, it ruins the poignancy of the scene.
Any suggestions? I'm trying to think of an alternate name that would still have some personal meaning, but I'm coming up blank. I never mention the woman's parents' names in the story, although I guess I could slip them in somewhere, if necessary, and name the baby after her grandmother. But I thought I'd check here first and see if anyone has any other ideas.
