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Baby names

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

Original poster

Thibault

108 replies

Diggersandloaders · 22/10/2021 06:39

I am part French but live in the UK, as will our child. Does this name work in English (pronounced tee bow)? I guess a nn would probably be Thib or Bo or something, though we would let that naturally evolve.

The main alternative currently is Felix, though I have a real soft spot for Ludovic.

Please help!!

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CalamariGames · 22/10/2021 08:28

I think a lot of English people would think it was pronounced Tybalt but once explained would like TeeBo. It is very easy to say and sounds a bit like a rockstar nickname.

daisypond · 22/10/2021 08:26

I didn’t know it was a French name, and I’m a French speaker. I’ve never come across it before. I prefer Ludovic as being more international.

sunglassesonthetable · 22/10/2021 08:26

English people learn to pronounce Niamh, Aoife and Sian in England. So why not a boy named Thibault? Yes, he'll be forever teaching and correcting people. Does that matter?

Yes!

It's a lovely name. We are all learning all the time. Go for it.

Blubells · 22/10/2021 08:18

Once told how to pronounce Thibault, people will remember- it's easy to say!

Clandestin · 22/10/2021 08:15

Oh, I only just noticed you’re spelling it Thibault, not Thibaud, which I’ve never come across. The people I know in anguish-speaking countries are both Thibauds.

NeverTheHootenanny · 22/10/2021 08:08

I work with a Thibault, some people did pronounce it incorrectly at first (“Tibb-olt”) but generally people get it right once corrected.

I think it’s a lovely name, but also like Felix.

Disfordarkchocolate · 22/10/2021 08:05

I'd have no idea how to pronounce it but you'd only have to tell me once and I'd be chuffed I could now pronounce it properly.

Lovely name, Ludovic is great too.

Clandestin · 22/10/2021 08:05

I love it, despite having once au paired for an incredibly disruptive little Thibaud in the South of France. I know an adult Thibaud in London and one in Ireland and people manage fine, once they hear the pronunciation once.

Kollamoolitumarellipawkyrollo · 22/10/2021 08:05

I dislike the pn and would have definitely got it wrong. But I’d only get it wrong once and wouldn’t let that put me off a name.

Blubells · 22/10/2021 08:02

Thibault is great.

I know one (in UK) and people generally pronounce it correctly (Tee bo).

I also like Tybalt (but I've not read Romeo and Juliet).

I don't like Felix - it's a brand of cat food.

Kanaloa · 22/10/2021 08:02

I would also have thought Tybalt as in R&J. I’m not so keen on the sound if it’s pronounced TeeBo. I much prefer Felix and really don’t think he’ll be negatively affected by it’s popularity.

Original poster
Diggersandloaders · 22/10/2021 07:57

Very mixed responses! Thank you to everyone who has answered.

I also have a name whose pronunciation often needs clarifying. It hasn't harmed me though I have been surrounded by more French speakers than my child is likely to be.

I secretly love Tybalt, though the Shakespeare character troubles me (and everyone studies romeo and juliet).

However the popularity of Felix also troubles me. Especially as he gets older and moves into the world of work.. The cumulative effect means that there'll be lots of Felixes, surely!

OP posts:
Balloondog · 22/10/2021 07:31

I absolutely love the name Thibault! I have a non British, unusual name which I have to spell regularly but to be honest it's far less hassle than the fact that my middle name has always been used rather than my first name - now that causes all kinds of bother with official documentation! To be honest, I like that my name is different and it's very handy professionally as I'm easily recognisable (my family name is one of the most common English surnames so not distinguishing at all).

Dilbertian · 22/10/2021 07:26

English people learn to pronounce Niamh, Aoife and Sian in England. So why not a boy named Thibault? Yes, he'll be forever teaching and correcting people. Does that matter?

PiratePetespajamas · 22/10/2021 07:25

The “tee-bo” pronunciation will be manageable - but the question is, will anyone know that’s how it’s pronounced? I looked at it and thought it was the french version of “Tibalt” (aka in Romeo and Juliet - never heard it used as a name in real life, but pretty cool). Which I’m assuming it is but I would have pronounced it “Tibalt”. So: it’s a lovely name but it depends whether you want your son to have to constantly explain its pronunciation?

WaltzingBetty · 22/10/2021 07:22

Great name

I know one in the UK and he copes fine.

Yes there'll be some pronunciation corrections, but that applies to a lot of UK names too (especially Scottish names)

The UK is pretty multicultural and many kids have names from other parts of the world and do just fine.

tbtf · 22/10/2021 07:17

I love it- use it!

I've got a short very common Welsh name that's gets mispronounced and it hasn't done me any great damage, it's usually a nice ice breaker.

AuntDympna · 22/10/2021 07:16

Go for it and use the spelling Tibo as "preferred name". It's a good name.

Gettingthereslowly2020 · 22/10/2021 07:10

I'd have pronounced it as Tibult before seeing your post saying it's pronounced Teebo.

He'd definitely have a lifetime of people pronouncing it wrong and spelling it wrong but I suppose that's the case with a lot of names nowadays.

ofwarren · 22/10/2021 07:08

I also would have pronounced it Tybalt.
More people will pronounce it wrong that right I think.
Nice name though.

PumpkinCrumble · 22/10/2021 07:05

Yeah i thought it was Tybalt…,Blush

GrandPrismatic · 22/10/2021 07:00

Well you learn something new every day! I’ve seen this name before and presumed it was pronounced like Theobold. I like Tee-bo pronunciation much better but yes I agree that he will spend his entire life in the UK correcting people mangling his name.

Piggy42 · 22/10/2021 06:59

My initial thought was Tybalt from Romeo & Juliet too. I think I’d go with felix or ludovic.

Rainallnight · 22/10/2021 06:59

I love Thibault. I speak French, though.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 22/10/2021 06:57

That name doesn’t exist in English. If you remain in the uk, your child will spend his life dealing with mispronunciation and spelling.

My parents were in a similar situation and deliberately chose names that existed in both languages (English and another language) to avoid that.

I like Felix and Ludovic.

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