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Original poster

French girl name Capucine in England?

93 replies

ZazieMetro · 26/12/2019 18:33

I’m French living in England, and I have always loved the name Capucine for a girl. It’s a flower name, quite popular in France, but we’re not sure how it will work over here.

What do you think, please? Would you know how to pronounce it and do you like it?

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toddytoff · 26/12/2019 19:13

Cow pussy

MerryMarigold · 26/12/2019 19:17

I know a French Julia and think it's a beautiful name which weeks in French and English.

Maria or Marie.
Claire

Onceuponatimethen · 26/12/2019 19:18

I think something else would be better

Onceuponatimethen · 26/12/2019 19:18

I love Cecile, Celine, Marthe, Emmanuelle

Palavah · 26/12/2019 19:21

It depends where you are but I'd be worries about people calling your daughter Cappuccin.

How about Claudine?

MerryMarigold · 26/12/2019 19:21

Rosalie, Daphne

PenOrPencil · 26/12/2019 19:29

Charlotte
Julie
Juliette
Sophie
Victoria
Marie
Marie + very French second name
Sarah
Elise
Eloise
Elodie
Adele
Laura
Louise
Josephine

OceanSunFish · 26/12/2019 19:33

I love Capucine but agree it would be mispronounced. My French friend living in England named her daughter Manon. I think Cecile is lovely too.

woodwork · 26/12/2019 19:36

There's a Capucine in my 9 year old's class (SE England).

I remember hearing her name in foundation and in my head proncouncing it like the monkey. Until I heard the teacher procnounce it Cap-you-seen.

That was five years ago and I've never thought anymore about it. Never heard of her being picked on over her name and I think it's quite beautiful.

PandancerandRabbitoplh · 26/12/2019 19:41

I would go for a name that's the same / very close in French and English is you are French and he is British.

Names like
Juliette
Isabelle
Sophie
Charlotte
Elise
Lily

You could use your names as middle names.

Original poster
ZazieMetro · 26/12/2019 19:43

woodwork Ah, that’s good to hear! I don’t want her to be bullied for her name, but I don’t know how many children will know about capuchin monkeys or monks.

I do love Manon but it’s my sister’s name!

OP posts:
Original poster
ZazieMetro · 26/12/2019 19:45

Yes, I am thinking about using it as a middle name. I would like a first name that works well in French too.

OP posts:
HRHPrincessMegan · 26/12/2019 19:45

It’s a beautiful name - when pronounced correctly and with a French accent. My sister has an usual French name which has been mispronounced and misspelt by anglophones for the entirety of her life.
Also it’s not nearly as pretty when said by a native English speaker.

woodwork · 26/12/2019 19:47

Honestly, my DC goes to an averagely multi-cultural suburban school in SE England and there are a variety of names from various ethnicities. Capucine is really not out there at all. I quite love it :)

goodluckdontdie · 26/12/2019 19:49

Go and watch a bunch of boys (or men) playing football and you'll hear "Manon" shouted a LOT, lol.

Once you explained the pronunciation, I actually quite like Capucine. But written down it DOES remind me of cappuccino. I wonder whether names are more heard or read.

bridgetreilly · 26/12/2019 19:51

I would go for Clementine instead, OP, sorry.

HRHPrincessMegan · 26/12/2019 19:56

Eloise is equally pretty with both pronunciations and accents.

PandancerandRabbitoplh · 26/12/2019 19:57

Mirabelle?

Halsall · 26/12/2019 19:59

It's a lovely name. I guess not many people nowadays remember Capucine, the French actress of the 1960's, who was just as beautiful as the name. But yes, unfortunately it's unlikely to be pronounced properly.

I'd be tempted to go ahead all the same.... Smile

custardbear · 26/12/2019 20:00

It's lovely! There was one at my children's nursery albeit her mum was French. You wouldn't think twice about Chloe, Isabelle, Helena ... so don't worry about Capucine either 😉

IndianaMoleWoman · 26/12/2019 20:08

Never heard it, when I tried to pronounce it it sounded like porcine.

Having said that, I work in a school and even the wackiest names become normal to you when you use them day to day, so I really don’t think it matters. Everyone who meets her will just get used to it.

Grufallosfriends · 26/12/2019 20:12

I know a lovely French Capucine. It's pretty easy to pronounce for English speakers. Cap u seen.

NearlyGranny · 26/12/2019 20:15

Just googled and it's a nasturtium flower! That's so lovely...

Nobody who understands English would pronounce it like the coffee or the monkey - c followed by e is always the /s/ sound in English.

The more I think about it, the more I love it. It's unusual, it's dainty and utterly charming. It doesn't lend itself to shortening. I say go for it. School friends will get used to it in no time.

OneKeyAtATime · 26/12/2019 20:18

Clémence? I know one (french parents) in Britain and it seems to be working well for them

Is it the ine suffix/ sound you like? How about
Justine
Emmeline
Caroline /Carolyn

Mintjulia · 26/12/2019 20:20

Op, either is beautiful. Don’t worry about other people.

Congratulations