What's in a Name
“A child is the beginning of happiness. A name is the beginning of despair.”
Vincent, a wealthy real estate agent, is invited to dinner by his sister Elizabeth and her husband Peter, both professors in Paris. Claude, a childhood friend and trombonist in a symphony orchestra, is also present. Vincent brings news from the prenatal examination of his and his wife Anna's unborn son. The name chosen by the soon-to-be parents strongly offends the others for many reasons. The dispute between the guests quickly escalates and before long the resurgence of old grudges and hidden secrets is unavoidable...
Your rating
Your review
Cast
11 people
Patrick Bruel
Vincent
Known for
A Bag of Marbles
The Best Is Yet to Come
Valérie Benguigui
Élisabeth
Known for
Junior
The Italian
Charles Berling
Pierre
Known for
March of the Penguins
Elle
Guillaume de Tonquédec
Claude
Known for
The Double Life of Véronique
Dracula
Judith El Zein
Anna
Known for
Superchondriac
Daddy or Mommy
Françoise Fabian
Françoise
Known for
Me, Myself and Mum
My Night at Maud's
Yaniss Lespert
Livreur pizza
Known for
Mr. Stein Goes Online
The Young Lieutenant
Miren Pradier
Infirmière bracelet
Also in
Taxi 2
Ma version de l'histoire
Alexis Leprisé
Apollin
No other roles listed
Juliette Levant
Myrtille
No other roles listed
Bernard Murat
L'obstétricien
Known for
Nobody from Nowhere
Adieu Paris
Matthieu Delaporte Director · Alexandre de La Patellière Director Jérôme Rebotier Composer
First release April 25, 2012 · Produced in France, Belgium · Production Pathé, M6 Films
Production
Chapter 2
Production
Pathé
Production
M6 Films
Production
Nexus Factory
Production
uFilm
Production
uFund
Production
TF1 Films Production
Production
M6
Production
StudioCanal
Studio
The Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal government
Production
France · Belgium
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Le Prénom
Original language
French
Spoken on screen
French
Release dates
Belgium · April 25, 2012
Physical
France · April 25, 2012
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
France
September 19, 2012 · Physical · DVD & Blu-Ray
January 1, 2016 · Digital · VOD
September 2, 2022 · Digital · Disney+
January 7, 2026 · TV · Novo19
October 11, 2026 · TV · RMC Life
Germany
August 2, 2012 · Theatrical
Greece
August 23, 2012 · Theatrical
December 21, 2012 · Physical · DVD
Italy
July 6, 2012 · Theatrical
Spain
September 14, 2012 · Theatrical
More from Matthieu Delaporte
Other films they directed, best known first.
If you liked What's in a Name
Picks that share its genres, themes, cast and crew.
Some details come from TheTVDB.