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Baby names

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

Original poster

Claude Quentin or Quentin Claude

143 replies

MumThree3 · 06/12/2023 12:49

Baby name conundrum!

Baby 3 was a boy and he would have always been Vinny but a close friend used it and I’d rather not use the name now, she would rather that too!

so we are down to Claude Quentin or Quentin Claude and the family name will be Bonfrer! French heritage but we are British.

what are your thoughts on Claude as the first name or Quentin as a first name? I like both but have doubts about both. Namely, is Quentin too posh? We are normal income people. My other children are Jasper and Connie.

I also like Raphael/Raphy but my husband thinks it’s too Spanish to use.

I have until tomorrow am to choose between Claude or Quentin!

any feedback welcomed! Or other names but probably will be veeto’d by my other half as he wants me to decide asap!

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CornflakesOnTheSolesOfHerShoes · 07/12/2023 11:18

I think Claude would be tricky in the UK because it’s the go-to French stereotype name. It conjures up a cartoon of someone in a Breton top and a beret with a baguette, rather than a real person.

I wouldn’t choose Quentin myself, but with a French connection and alongside your other children’s names I actually really like it. I can’t see it being an issue at school (my kids’ state primary is full of Winifreds, Millicents, Wilfreds and Leonards - don’t see why Quentin would raise an eyebrow!) and Quentin Blake is a great namesake. Quentin Letts maybe less so…

Gnomegnomegnome · 07/12/2023 11:13

I prefer Quentin Claude with Jasper and Connie but love both names equally. Also remember that having two first initials names in the house can be confusing (Connie and Claude).
I like Clement but it’s not as nice as Claude or Quentin.

How about Marcel?

theduchessofspork · 07/12/2023 11:03

MumThree3 · 07/12/2023 10:40

Thanks! Just throwing out Clement as another potential as I like the nicknames Clem and Clemmie.
Thoughts on Clement?

FYI Clementine nn Clemmie/Clem is very popular for girls

But Clement nn Clem is OK - I prefer it to Claude or Quentin

Still much prefer Raphael though!

LaurieStrode · 07/12/2023 10:57

resm · 07/12/2023 10:45

I don’t think Clem or Clemmie are great shortenings for a boy, sound quite feminine to me.

Agree.

StamppotAndGravy · 07/12/2023 10:54

FuckHonestlyKnows · 07/12/2023 10:42

Why would it sound ridiculous? It's a perfectly well-known name!

Show quote history

Because it a very clearly French combination of names which together would be pronounced Cloud Kontan, not Clawd Kwentin. To pronounce it the British way would be as ridiculous as a French family deliberately picking two very English names and pronouncing them the French way (first not good example I can think of John Billy pronounced Jean Bi-i, better examples exist, but equally ridiculous). If you want the British pronunciation, only choose 1 French name to make it obvious that it's the British version.

resm · 07/12/2023 10:45

I don’t think Clem or Clemmie are great shortenings for a boy, sound quite feminine to me.

FuckHonestlyKnows · 07/12/2023 10:43

Clement sounds a bit unfinished...like Clementine but missing the lovely flourish at the end.

Quentin is ace!

FuckHonestlyKnows · 07/12/2023 10:42

StamppotAndGravy · 07/12/2023 08:48

If you can him that he'll sound ridiculous if you don't use the French pronunciation, which is unpronounceable for Brits. So I'd skip Quentin.

Why would it sound ridiculous? It's a perfectly well-known name!

Original poster
MumThree3 · 07/12/2023 10:40

Thanks! Just throwing out Clement as another potential as I like the nicknames Clem and Clemmie.
Thoughts on Clement?

OP posts:
GoodOldEmmaNess · 07/12/2023 09:42

Oh, yes, QC is a great set of initials. If he becomes a senior barrister and all the male heirs to the throne die out, he coud be QC Surname QC.

SirSidneyRuffDiamond · 07/12/2023 09:27

Quentin is great and I prefer the initials QC to CQ. I also adore the nickname Tintin too.

StamppotAndGravy · 07/12/2023 08:48

If you can him that he'll sound ridiculous if you don't use the French pronunciation, which is unpronounceable for Brits. So I'd skip Quentin.

purpledahlias · 07/12/2023 08:44

Quentin sounds great and is much easier to pronounce in English than Claude - it might become Clawd or Clohd...

NoraLuka · 07/12/2023 08:41

Also I agree with everyone saying Claude is very old fashioned and usually hyphenated like Jean-Claude or Marie-Claude or something. I used to know an old lady Claude who lived in an old windmill and had a horse instead of a car so I like it for that reason!

NoraLuka · 07/12/2023 08:34

Off topic but this name has serious Famous Five vibes because in the French translations of the books there’s uncle Quentin and George is called Claude.

I think Quentin Claude if in the UK.

Ellmau · 07/12/2023 08:34

I love Raphael.

I don't see why you couldn't have Vincent as the middle name, even if you feel you can't as the first name.

I think Quentin rather than Claude as it goes better with your other two IMO.

purpledahlias · 07/12/2023 08:32

Jasper, Connie and Quentin is a lovely sounding sib set!

purpledahlias · 07/12/2023 08:27

We have a Quentin too! He's 17 now and likes his name - Q is a cool initial and nickname. We're definitely not posh and our kids went to the local primary/secondary.

Quentin is well known, timeless but not overused (only about 30 babies a year) and most people's reaction seems really positive.

We have family in Germany and France and the name is actually much more popular over there.

I'm less keen on Claude, especially if not pronounced in French.

GoodOldEmmaNess · 07/12/2023 08:24

I prefer Quentin Claude. Usually I don't like names that are too 'out there' but these seem rather distinguished. I think your son will have an Oxford degree by the time he is 14 and will be an internationally renowned physicist by age 23.

This might be because my only reference point for Quentin is Uncle Quentin in a particular series of Enid Blyton books, who was a rather austere academic type.

Claude makes me tink of the TinTin stories for some reason??

QuentinsMum · 07/12/2023 07:59

We have a Quentin. Not remotely posh. No bullying because of his name. It’s great, people know the name, but it’s not overused.

My very working class father did raise an eyebrow at it. But then he also was sniffy about Alexander and Albert when family members used those. As for his children - we have horrific 80s stereotype names so I’m not sure his approval would be considered a ringing endorsement of good taste.

Claude is also lovely. I had Clyde on our shortlist and really wanted to use it, but DH vetoed it in the end.

NewShoes · 07/12/2023 01:03

Quentin is fab. Quentin Claude has a good flow to it and I prefer both to Raphael, personally.
I agree with not naming him the same as your best friend’s little boy.

theduchessofspork · 07/12/2023 00:36

Snugglemonkey · 06/12/2023 22:45

I love Quentin. I know a 15 year old Quentin, who us often k own as Tintin. I don't know if that is a common nn, or if it would bother you. It suits him though!

I do not think Claude sounds good with any UK accent I can think of.

Tintin is great actually.. a lot better than Quentin

theduchessofspork · 07/12/2023 00:35

Can I go for Raphael Claude ? Raphael is lovely and quite popular - so not too Spanish at all.

I don’t think Claude works well for a boy in the UK (probably because Claudia is the only popular form), and I just don’t like Quentin.

4kidsx · 06/12/2023 23:38

Out the two I prefer Quentin.

I love Raphael too.

That said I would actually use the name Vincent. I think it's something you could regret especially if you end up drifting apart from this friend as the kids get older etc.

KnickerlessParsons · 06/12/2023 23:04

Isn't Claude a girls' name in France?