Remy

Living with the name Remy

Remy shares its name with a cartoon rat who cooks in a Paris kitchen. Plenty of kids loved that film, so a small Remy may hear about it. Most of the time it lands as a compliment, since the rat is the hero. The spelling question is harder. Remy, Remi, Rémy and Rémi all show up, and an accent may not survive a school database. Decide early whether you want one and how hard you will fight for it.

Most sources trace Remy to the Latin Remigius, from remex, an oarsman. Saint Remigius was a bishop of Reims in the fifth century, and he baptized Clovis, king of the Franks. That is a big reason the name stayed common in France for so long. In French it is said reh-MEE, with the weight at the end. In English most people say REM-ee, so grandparents may split on it.

On a baby it sounds playful and bright. On a grown man or woman it stays friendly without going childish. Two syllables fit long surnames, as in Remy Castellano, and short ones too, like Remy Fox. It pairs best with a middle name that has a little more weight, such as Remy Charles or Remy Adele. Rem is the only real nickname, and it sounds like a kid who skateboards. Most Remys keep the full name, since it is already short and friendly.