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Baby names

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Original poster

How do you say Camille (UK)

54 replies

Emz555 · 19/12/2022 20:27

I'd love to use it for my second daughter, but the pronunciation is what's giving me second thoughts.

I know that the correct French pronunciation is Ka-me, but if you're not French and live in the UK can you adopt that do you think?

Then there's the Ka-mil vs ka-meel debate, it just doesn't seem an easy name choice but I still love it!

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Notonyournellykelly · 20/12/2022 09:43

It gets pronounced ka-meel where I am (I work in a secondary school and we have one).

I don't think she will get the French pronunciation at an English school even if she gets it at home.

I know a little johaan whose parents pronounce it yo-hahn but he still gets jo-han at school. Ditto Heloise (hell-louise at school), Amelie (amerly), Elodie (Ellerdy)

If you want a name which won't get destroyed, I think you're better going for a name which works in both cultures like Emma or Charlotte.

TallulahBetty · 20/12/2022 09:41

I know a little Ka-MEEL. Lovely name

Twoshoesnewshoes · 20/12/2022 09:38

Ka MEEYL

TrixJax · 20/12/2022 09:36

Ka-meel. Emphasis on second part
I'm in Scotland

SalviaOfficinalis · 20/12/2022 09:33

Ka-MEEL

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 20/12/2022 09:27

I'd say Cam-eel, although I do know the French pronunciation from watching Death in Paradise. I'd guess the anglicised pronunciation first, unless you were actually French — I'd guess Dzhenna-veev for Genevieve first too.

ErrolTheDragon · 20/12/2022 09:25

Kam eel, same as in 'camellia'

Luredbyapomegranate · 20/12/2022 09:20

cah-MIL

with the emphasis on the second syllable, which I think is standard in the UK. Some UK accents will butcher further eg estuary - cuh-MEE-UL

I think Camilla does work better in most UK accents.

CharlotteSometimes1 · 20/12/2022 08:55

My Sister’s SIL has this name and is known as Camel, it’s a nickname, but nonetheless it would put me off.

Tripsabroad · 20/12/2022 08:50

I would say KA-me because that's how the person I know with the name pronounce it. Like a cami top. She isn't French. As far as I know, she hasn't had a big problem with people calling her Ca-MIL since she introduces herself as KA-me.

Purplemagnolias · 19/12/2022 23:13

Kameel is a popular boys name in Arabic

KeepingTheWaterOut · 19/12/2022 22:08

Ka -meel, with the stress on the second syllable.

Reindear · 19/12/2022 20:56

Cah- meal but the emphasis on the meal

Purplemagnolias · 19/12/2022 20:55

Ca me (don't pronounce the L) as it's a French name.

Camilla is the English version

NuffSaidSam · 19/12/2022 20:41

PicturesOfDogs · 19/12/2022 20:35

Almost as if the second syllable had a y in it? Like meeyl?

Show quote history

Actually this is how I pronounce it 'ca-meeyl'

PicturesOfDogs · 19/12/2022 20:35

MolesOnPoles · 19/12/2022 20:32

Ka-Meel.

The ‘meel’ bit is longer then the sound in milk, but not quite two syllables.

I know a fabulous Camille (with Francophone heritage), who is sometimes a Cam. Agree with PP that Meely isn’t very nice!

Almost as if the second syllable had a y in it? Like meeyl?

NuffSaidSam · 19/12/2022 20:35

Ka-meel

emmathedilemma · 19/12/2022 20:34

ka-meal rather than ka-mill

TearsNReindeers · 19/12/2022 20:34

I know one who pronounced it Ca-meel. Emphasis Ca-MEEL.

pretty name.

lovenaps · 19/12/2022 20:33

Ka-mill, emphasis on 'Ka'

Cakeandslippers · 19/12/2022 20:32

My friend has this name and goes by ka-meel which seems to be the most common pronunciation around here.

Usee8789754 · 19/12/2022 20:32

Ca meel

lovely name

MolesOnPoles · 19/12/2022 20:32

Ka-Meel.

The ‘meel’ bit is longer then the sound in milk, but not quite two syllables.

I know a fabulous Camille (with Francophone heritage), who is sometimes a Cam. Agree with PP that Meely isn’t very nice!

RunningFromInsanity · 19/12/2022 20:30

Ka-Mill
Its a beautiful name

PicturesOfDogs · 19/12/2022 20:30

ka-mil and ka-meel are pronounced the same to me. I would say mil like milk without the k.

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