A famous bearer of the name is French composer Camille San Sans who is most famous for the Carnival of the Animals. He also wrote a famous organ concerto whose theme was used in the movie "Babe".
Cam-ee, the French pronunciation, is so beautiful. I never thought about the double L's being pronounced that way, but it only makes sense. My name is Camille, named after my uncle Camille. I have a niece, named Camille, after me. The woman I love is named Camille. Her best friend in school was named Camille. She also has a niece Camille, named after her and me, who is quite possibly my daughter (a long story).
I like this name because, well, it is my name. Even though everyone else pronounces my name "kah-meel". I think the way the French pronounce Camille is prettier. I didn't know Camille could be a guy's name too.
Camilla (ka-MEEL-ah) (Latin) Feminine form of the old Roman family name Camillus, of obscure origin. May possibly be traced back to the young girls who assisted at pagan religious ceremonies. According to tradition, recorded by the Roman poet Virgil, Camilla was the name of a warrior maiden, Queen of the Volscians, who fought in the army of Aeneas. The heroine of Alexandre Dumas's famous play "Camille" was actually named Marguerite (see Camellia). Literary: in Virgil's "Aeneid", Camilla was a swift-running warrior maiden. Friend of royalty Camilla Parker-Bowles. [Cam, Cama, Camala, Cami, Camila, Camile, Camille, Camillia, Cammi, Cammie, Cammilla, Cammille, Cammy, Cammylle, Camyla, Camylla, Camylle, Kamila, Kamilia, Kamilka, Kamilla, Kamille, Kamyla, Milla, Mille, Millee, Milli, Millie, Milly] I found this information at a website.
-- Anonymous User 11/8/2005
There was a hurricane Camille in 1969. She was said to be stronger and worse than hurricane Katrina.
Camille Claudel (December 8, 1864 – October 19, 1943) was a French sculptor and graphic artist. She was the older sister of the French poet and diplomat, Paul Claudel.
-- Anonymous User 11/8/2005
Camille Anna Paglia (born April 2, 1947 in Endicott, New York) is a social critic, author, and self-described Amazon-feminist.
Everyone above is both right and wrong. In France, Camille is pronounced "Cah-mee", but only in the feminine. The male is pronounced "Cah-meel". This is per my friend who was born and raised in France.
I love this name -- partially because it's my own name. I'm very proud of its history, whether feminine or masculine. I'd like to say that a lot of Camille's, especially girls, prefer the pronunciation Ca-MIL with a short I. I prefer it myself, because Ca-MEEL sounds harsh to me. Ca-MEE is a gorgeous pronunciation, though. I also have received information that it can be rooted to a Roman surname Camillus which probably means innocent.
"Camille" is the title of a classic Greta Garbo film, based on a novel by Alexandre Dumas.
-- Anonymous User 12/19/2006
My cousin named her daughter this. I think it's not suitable for a little girl. It sounds like a snobby old woman who wears a wig and too much jewelry. Odd comparison but that's what I think of everytime I hear the name. Also, people give nicknames like Cam and Cammy which are really awful in my opinion.
-- Anonymous User 12/28/2006
I think this is way prettier than Camilla. It's a lovely name and it isn't being over-used.
-- Anonymous User 2/26/2007
I've known two Camilles who both pronounce it Cah-MEEL, since they are American. I think it is a beautiful name that sounds adorable on a little girl and perfect on an adult as well. Maybe it's just because I've grown up with a Camille (litteraly, we've known each other since she was born) but, to me, a girl named Camille is very happy, smart, understanding and all around fun.
-- Anonymous User 2/26/2007
French revolutionary and journalist, Camille Desmoulins. Executed with the Dantonists during the Terror.
-- Anonymous User 6/29/2007
I hate this name. Not only because I abhor unisex names, but also because it looks like camel.
-- Anonymous User 10/13/2007
Camille Javal is the birth name of Brigitte Bardot.
-- Anonymous User 11/17/2007
I know someone named Camille who pronounces it ka-MEE. I don't really like this name, it sounds too delicate.
My sister's name is Camille and she answeres Cah-mee or Cah-meel because we have grown up with people with a French influence and other people with a more British influence. But she won't answer you if you call her Cah-mil or Camilla. When she was younger she really didn't like her name because people always said it wrong or just didn't seem to know it. But now she loves her name. So I guess the pronunciation depends on the individual. I have another friend whose mother always called her Cah-meel but she would rather be called Cah-mee.
My name is Camille and I've mostly loved it. Pronounced "KAH-meel" in the US, something I don't really like, but it's how my family pronounces it. I don't think you can force Americans to pronounce it "KAH-mee" - you'd be correcting EVERYONE. If you want to use this name in the US, get used to the American pronunciation; it's still a lovely name and I give it a 9/10.
My name is Genevieve, but my mother said Camille was her second choice. I like my name better, but Camille is very lovely, and it would have suited me. I think both pronunciations are lovely.
I love this name! (probably because it's mine) I don't really think it matters how you pronounce it, both sound pretty to me. Plus it may sound delicate but names are not everything, honestly I'm more of a tomboy than anything, and the only insulting nicknames for it are camel and kameleon. Unique but not to weird that people look at you funny when you tell them your name.
-- Anonymous User 1/15/2010
I think "Camille" is pretty, but it's an unusual name in Hong Kong! People think that it sounds so delicate, so they may pronounce it as "com-MEAL".
My best friend's name is Camille Mackenzie and she hates the way our English teacher pronounces it, "cam-MIL". She's perfectly fine with "Kah-MEE" and "Ca-MEEL" but can't stand "Cam-mil". She can't really pronounce her name "Kah-MEE" so she usually goes by "Ca-MEEL" which she loves. I personally don't think "Ca-MEEL" sounds very masculine, it could be, but I don't favor it as a masculine name.
I like this name! It sounds elegant but can also be nice for a girl next door type. Also I like the nickname "Cam" I think it's real cute. Or maybe even "Cammy".
Although it's pretty rare in the United States to see any male "Camille"s walking around, I honestly cannot see this name being used on a girl! It's so masculine and very handsome on a boy, I think.
My name is Camille Maelys and I love it, especially when pronounced by a Frenchman. My grandmother is French and my father wanted to honor her heritage and insisted on my name; my middle name is my grandmother's. My grandma calls me 'Cah-mee' but my nickname ended up being Mille (Meel, my sister called me this when she was little and it stuck) or Millie; my dad calls me Cam and my brother calls me Camillion (I'm not picky!). I was born and raised in Louisiana where there is a strong French influence so half the time I'm called "Cah-mee" and the other half "Cah-meel".
I had always thought that Camille and Camilla were for the camellia flower, but apparently I am wrong! While the names are unrelated, the association of Camille (the girl's name) and Camilla with the camellia flower remains for me.
I think Camille is prettier than Camilla, both in sound and association. Camille is fine whether or not the -lle is pronounced. I don't like the 'ih' sound one usually hears for Camilla, and I'll be honest and say the association it now has with the Duchess of Cornwall is negative. Camilla is improved if pronounced with a long 'e', as it is in Italian.
I know of two girls named Camille, one in her early 20s, and another just born. I also know of one little girl named Camilla, born a few years ago. They call her Cammie. It seems to be increasing in popularity somewhat.
Possible patron saints for those named Camille, Camilla, Camillus, or its other forms:
According to saints[dot]sqpn[dot]com, there is a Saint Camilla, a hermitess who died in 437 AD, feast day March 3rd.
There is also Saint Camilla Battista Varani, a Poor Clare nun, visionary, and stigmatist who died in 1524, feast day May 31st.
Saint John Camillus the Good, an archbishop of Milan in the 7th century, feast day January 10th.
Saint Camillus of Lellis (1550-1614), feast day July 14th, priest founder of the Congregation of the Servants of the Sick, also known as the Camillians or the Fathers of a Good Death.
A famous male bearer of the name Camille is Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921), a French composer, organist, conductor and pianist of the Romantic era (from Wikipedia). His name is usually given as Camille, and not the full Charles-Camille.