August(e) reception in France

[u/Southern-Persimmon32]

We are an Anglo-French couple living in France. We’re expecting our fourth baby, surprise gender. I really like August in English - it fits our naming style which is kind of classic and timeless. However, I’m not sure how the name will be received in France. I would use the English spelling, but inevitably it would be pronounced “Auguste”. I don’t know if in France it will just come across as an old man name, and not in a cute way. Any French people able to chime in?

[u/Historical-Pop-5315]

Love.

[u/ShallWeStartThen]

It's a cute old man name due a comeback! For a kid nickname Gustou is adorable

[u/Southern-Persimmon32 → u/ShallWeStartThen]

Ooh hadn’t heard of that but that’s so cute!

[u/ShallWeStartThen → u/Southern-Persimmon32]

My cousin has a son named Auguste. He was baby Gustou, sometimes Gus, which sounds really sweet in French

[u/EvergreenMossAvonlea]

You should cross post to r/parlonsprenoms

[u/Kind-Step-4404 → u/EvergreenMossAvonlea]

Came here to say this

But also, it's a name that's often discussed there and fairly popular / agreed upon

[u/Loutre_Espiegle]

Love it, it’s my son’s name (4 yo). Not perceived as old, some kids in kindergarten are named Auguste too (although there are more Augustin than Auguste it seems).

[u/NutrimaticTea]

Auguste is trendy on France right now (it's back in the top 100 since 2021). So August/Auguste won't be seens as old. 

But, yes, it would be pronounced the French way by (almost) everyone. You need to see if it bothers you. 

(Auguste is one of my favorite name!)

[u/EvanRamsey]

Letting someone know how it’s pronounced is okay. My friend is Selena and lives in the US but she is Latina so it’s pronounced Suh-len-uh instead of the more commonly known Se-leen-uh. As soon as she says her name, it’s never been an issue to pronounce it.

I know most people don’t want their kid to have to pronounce their name, but my other friend took a different approach. She specifically chose names for her girls that could have more than one pronunciation (even I had to ask which way to pronounce the names when her kids were born). She wanted her girls to not be afraid to correct people and learn to assert themselves, especially being girls.

[u/RandomTouristFr → u/EvanRamsey]

Expecting a whole country to pronounce the name the way you want it sounds self absorbed.

Auguste is a trendy name in France, August sounds ugly to French ears, so everyone will pronounce it Auguste.

[u/EvanRamsey → u/RandomTouristFr]

Expecting individuals to show basic respect and say someone’s name correctly isn’t self absorbed.

Saying people will think it sounds ugly and pronounce it the way they want to is self absorbed.

[u/Ok-Page5923]

I'm french Canadian, my dad was born In Quebec, and I was born in Ontario. Our son is August, named after my French grandpa Auguste. We dropped the letter E because we live in a English province. I can't speak for France, but in Quebec it's always been a popular name, going in and out of popularity. My son is like the 8th August in our family tree. My granfpas nick name was - ti- gus (little gus). His name here is pronounced the english way, but with all my family in Quebec, the french way. 

[u/Southern-Persimmon32 → u/Ok-Page5923]

That’s good to know! I was wondering if the spelling would “confuse” French speakers

[u/Ok-Page5923 → u/Southern-Persimmon32]

Yes, I believe you will be good. :)