Re:US boy names that became girl names and vice versa
by pkhuong on Monday November 02, 2026 @10:18PM
(#50347598)
Both are pretty rare now, but Danielle is the more common spelling. It also matches the way the -elle is used as a suffix in many diminutives (e.g., cervelle, ruelle, passerelle)
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Re:US boy names that became girl names and vice versa
by thaumasiotes on Tuesday November 03, 2026 @03:01AM
(#50349304)
Is -elle still a living suffix in French? I was under the impression that -ette is the standard.
-elle is pretty clearly descended from one of the usual Latin diminutives (also visible in e.g. Spanish tortilla). -ette seems to come from a much rarer one?
There's a fun map on Spanish wikipedia of which diminutive forms are preferred in which parts of Spain: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archivo:Diminutivos_del_espa%C...
Re:US boy names that became girl names and vice versa
by kergonath on Tuesday November 03, 2026 @09:09AM
(#50352196)
> Is -elle still a living suffix in French? I was under the impression that -ette is the standard.
Yes, both are used commonly. In names, there are Gabrielle, Cyrielle, Annabelle, Axelle, and many others. I am not sure there is any rule.
Re:US boy names that became girl names and vice versa
by ButlerianJihad on Tuesday November 03, 2026 @09:18AM
(#50352309)
-elle is not necessary a diminutive. In theophoric names such as "Michelle" and "Gabrielle" it is derived from the Hebrew El, a name for God.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabrielle_(given_name)
Another commenter believes, in Romance languages, that the "-a" feminine gendered suffix is diminutive compared to "-o" masculine or neuter suffixes, but that is not true. Not for Latin, or Spanish or Italian or even Greek.