Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Camille - pretty or pretentious?

42 replies

Aphria · 25/08/2011 08:37

We were deciding between Erica & Clara and Clara had the edge. Now thinking between Clara & Camille and I think I prefer Camille? But I'm wondering if it's a bit too French for around these parts and therefore pretentious?
We have 2 boys already so it would be Toby, Leo & Clara or Toby, Leo and Camille. Whaddaya reckon?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
DoubleDegreeStudent · 29/08/2011 01:03

I love Camille, and also Clara. Would you pronounce Clara Claara or Clare-a? I always heard it as Claara but there was a Clare-a at school and although she had to correct people, I thought it was such a lovely name.

GoingToHelenaHandcart · 28/08/2011 23:14

And if you like Cecille,what about the event prettier Cecily or Cecilia?

GoingToHelenaHandcart · 28/08/2011 23:13

Camille is lovely.

But I really, really love Erica too.

tobearornottobear · 28/08/2011 21:35

Camille sounds just lovely. Maya is bit meh, ever since that cindy beale woman named her daughter maia it just killed the name for me....

Idreamofsunshine · 28/08/2011 21:34

I much prefer Camille to your other suggestions. Its a lovely name. I also know a Cecille if that appeals to you?

Bandwithering · 28/08/2011 20:53

maia is boring in comparison tbh and you're right back where you started with pronounciation problems as it can be my-ah or may-ah (and some people will mix it up with mee-ah).

Clara is lovely but Camille is gorgeous!

pointydog · 28/08/2011 19:38

I'd get fed up with the pronunciation mix-up. Cameeyeh if french, cameel or camill if not.

Clara much much better.

fannybanjo · 28/08/2011 19:30

DD2 is Maya pronounced May-A not Mya - I love it and she is a sweetheart.GrinWink You must have similar taste to me! Have to say to be honest Camille a bit more unusual but love them both. Haven't met many Maya's either.

Original poster
Aphria · 28/08/2011 17:12

Thanks for the feedback, I think I've gone off it!
I thought it was a pretty straightforward pronunciation but some of the replies show that it isn't. I was also having to persuade DH about it too and it just seems like hard work!
What do you think of Maya/Maia?

OP posts:
swingingcat · 28/08/2011 16:36

Only Camille I've ever met was a very big busted common woman from Liverpool.

sorry!

Italiangreyhound · 28/08/2011 16:26

Camille is really lovely.

Bandwithering · 28/08/2011 15:45

Lovely, much prefer it to Camilla.

Thumbwitch · 27/08/2011 07:23

I tend to think of it as more of a boys name but only because of literature - it's a nice name though. I don't like Erica but do like Clara.
I suppose you've already ruled out Carmel/Carmela?

notlettingthefearshow · 27/08/2011 06:46

Spelling looks nice, but without the French accent, isn't the pronunciation the same as Kamil, which is a boys' name?

itsohsoquiet · 26/08/2011 23:06

Love love love Camille. Beautiful. It's one of my favourites but I already know one so can't use it Sad

ticklebumpkin · 26/08/2011 21:44

I had a french friend who pronounced it like this: Cah-meel-yah.

Which confused me as I always thought it was Cah-meel.

I think it's pretty but I have a mega soft spot for Clara too, I just think it's adorable.

rachel1970 · 26/08/2011 21:35

Camille is lovely. I'd pronounce it Cam-ee (French way) but a lot of English will probably say Ca-mill, which is worth bearing in mind.

wigglesrock · 26/08/2011 21:32

I love Camille, ps I think Clara is a lot pretentious Grin and its the name of the friend in Heidi, I've never been able to shake that association, didn't like her.

Ephiny · 26/08/2011 21:30

I like it, very pretty and elegant. Much much nicer than Erica, and while I quite like Clara, Camille is even better!

Some people might tend to pronounce it Ca-mill, possibly, with a short i? It shouldn't be too much of a problem though, there are plenty of worse names for pronunciation!

bigbluebump · 26/08/2011 21:25

Just thought I'd add that in German Kamille (pronounced Ka-mill) means camomile.

bigbluebump · 26/08/2011 21:24

I think Camille (pronounced Cam-ee) is much nicer than Clara or Erica.

Hulababy · 26/08/2011 21:00

I have a friend called Camille. Pronounced with the l on the end.

thisisserious · 26/08/2011 20:58

It's very pretty and not at all pretentious.

cumbria81 · 25/08/2011 16:08

it's pronounced Cam-eee, strictly speaking.

I prefer Camilla

RueyBoey · 25/08/2011 15:43

Well I like it, Then it is my Dsis name (and we are actually french/irish) and she never had a problem with it. She uses Camee. (doesn't mind Cameel if people just reads it but does try to correct them). But If you aren't actually french/french background then It doesn't really matter.

I actually have a cousin (male in france) who is Camille. It is unisex in french. Camee is female pronounciation Cameel is male. But I think that only applies if you are actually in france or a place that speaks french.

I prefer it over Clara and it goes with the other names.

Swipe left for the next trending thread