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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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FuckHonestlyKnows · 06/12/2023 15:53

That's no bad thing, it's still very classic and everyone will recognise the pronunciation @wherethewildtbingsgo

KitchenAngst · 06/12/2023 15:52

Yaros · 06/12/2023 15:50

Claude sounds wonderful in French much less so in English. I like Quentin.

That is absolutely true about Claude sounding far less nice when not being said in French. 'Clawed', as in 'the cat clawed the scratching post' or 'she clawed his back in the throes of passion' is not a particularly nice sound.

Hecksonaplane · 06/12/2023 15:52

Might your husband go with Rafe if he’s not a fan of Raphael?
of your two choices I like Quentin and I love your surname!!

Yaros · 06/12/2023 15:50

Claude sounds wonderful in French much less so in English. I like Quentin.

KitchenAngst · 06/12/2023 15:48

Quentin at a push.

Claude conjures up either Debussy or Monet, or the villainous archdeacon from The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

beetr00 · 06/12/2023 15:45

@FuckHonestlyKnows fair point 🙂 Could change spelling to Kongtan?😉

wherethewildtbingsgo · 06/12/2023 15:42

FuckHonestlyKnows · 06/12/2023 15:00

I think saying it's 'too mature' for a boy is strange when we've got plenty of boys named Stan, Albert, Ted, etc.

It's much nicer than any of those typical 'old man' names. And of course it isn't unique - if it was unique there would literally be only one in the world...

I said "unusual to the point of unique" by which I meant he may well be the only little Quentin born in 2023 or 2024 in the UK.

FuckHonestlyKnows · 06/12/2023 15:41

beetr00 · 06/12/2023 15:25

Love Quentin first, especially if french pronunciation used

although vid unable, you can still hear it.

Edited

That's a lifetime of correcting people though.

I know someone who in German, her son was born in the UK and she gave him a name that works in both languages but insists that we all pronounce it the German way. We all sound a bit ridiculous tbh!

beetr00 · 06/12/2023 15:25

Love Quentin first, especially if french pronunciation used

although vid unable, you can still hear it.

Doubleespresso33 · 06/12/2023 15:21

Bobbybobbins · 06/12/2023 13:20

Prefer Raphael to either!

Me too!

LaurieStrode · 06/12/2023 15:20

Raphael
Sebastian

I guess Quentin; i like Claud but it sounds older-mannish

bleuclair · 06/12/2023 15:10

I think Quentin's a great name by the way, just slight personal preference for Claude.

Ambleen · 06/12/2023 15:02

Quentin Claude flows well and sounds great

user1492757084 · 06/12/2023 15:02

I love both!
Bonfrere QC has an esteemed ring to it.

Quentin Claude Bonfrere

Claude is harder to say with Bonfrere.
Raphael is also handsome.

FuckHonestlyKnows · 06/12/2023 15:00

I think saying it's 'too mature' for a boy is strange when we've got plenty of boys named Stan, Albert, Ted, etc.

It's much nicer than any of those typical 'old man' names. And of course it isn't unique - if it was unique there would literally be only one in the world...

PickledScrump · 06/12/2023 14:58

Quentin is a great name, fits with your other children’s names and Quentin Claude flows better. It’s a cool name.

Claude just makes me think of a crab. Sounds more posh than Quentin.

Raphael is great too but if you can’t get DH on board with that then go for Quentin

bleuclair · 06/12/2023 14:57

MumThree3 · 06/12/2023 14:38

Is it because it’s posh or you don’t like the sound? Just wondering what the dislike is for Quentin x

Word association I thought of Quentin Crisp, but had to look up why. Young people won't have that reference I don't think, though I don't think it's negative in any case anyway.

I prefer Claude.

Catandsquirrel · 06/12/2023 14:54

I rather love Claude. Raphael is beautiful for a middle name with it, Quentin lovely. I would have thought Rafael was the Spanish spelling too but perhaps your DH means the pronunciation generally.

I feel as though Quentin makes it a cool, calm, reflective sort of name whereas Raphael adds a bit of fire. Just my impression of the personality of the names!

BabyYoshke · 06/12/2023 14:51

I find Claude really wet. Quentin is cooler and Raphael is the best of all.

wherethewildtbingsgo · 06/12/2023 14:48

MumThree3 · 06/12/2023 14:38

Is it because it’s posh or you don’t like the sound? Just wondering what the dislike is for Quentin x

It's very posh and almost a cliche of a posh name...a bit like Tarquin. Also maybe a bit too mature for a small boy. And unusual to the point of being unique.

The sound I like. And the name I like too putting aside any connotations or context.

InviteIsAVerb · 06/12/2023 14:47

Maybe I'm being influenced by Quentin Blake but Quentin is quite a spiky name to me, like Agatha for a girl.

Original poster
MumThree3 · 06/12/2023 14:43

I think I do too, but I can’t get it past my OH

OP posts:
Bloom15 · 06/12/2023 14:42

I prefer Raphael to be honest!

Original poster
MumThree3 · 06/12/2023 14:38

Is it because it’s posh or you don’t like the sound? Just wondering what the dislike is for Quentin x

OP posts:
FuckHonestlyKnows · 06/12/2023 14:06

Claude is forever ruined for me because a character in a book once watched someone 'blow a clod of bogey from their nose' and now I can't unhear it.