Clementine Jane: Behind Ethan Hawke and Wife's Name Choice

With many readers expressing their opinions on Ethan Hawke and Ryan Shawhughes‘ choice of Clementine Jane for their new baby girl, we spoke to Linda Rosenkrantz, co-author of The Baby Name Bible: The Ultimate Guide By America’s Baby-Naming Experts, about the history of the first name. Here are her thoughts!

In a real babynaming style switch, Ethan Hawke and his wife Ryan Shawhughes took their choices in a very different direction from the ones he made with ex-wife Uma Thurman — the modern Maya and Roan.

Clementine, which, unfortunately, some people will still associate with the old ‘Oh my darlin’ Clementine’ song and her size nine shoes (which aren’t so unusual these days anyway) is, in our opinion, a really appealing, charming choice. It’s a name with a solid history: the feminine form of Clement, which means merciful, with the French suffix ‘ine’ added, which dates back to the 19th century, when it was quite popular in England (where it’s pronounced ClementEEN).

It was the first name of Mrs. Winston Churchill and more recently was the starbaby choice of Cybill Shepherd and Claudia Schiffer. It’s a perfect match with this baby’s surname — Clementine Jane Hawke sounds like the sweet, prim and pretty heroine of a Victorian novel.

In addition, it can also be placed in the trendy category of nature names, the clementine being a type of Mandarin orange. Hey — maybe Clementine Hawke can have a playdate with Apple Martin!

Photo by Flynet.

Do you consider ‘Clementine’ to be more classic or modern?

Comments

Modern. I personally don’t like the idea naming children after fruit.

- Jacky on July 24th, 2008

i personally love the name! Great choice! It makes me think: “Everything old is new again!”

- Elisabeth on July 24th, 2008

To me – Clementine seems more old-fashioned. I’d guess it was a much more popular name 100 years ago than now.

I like it paired with the simple Jane. And it does work with Hawke too. The only thing is – how do you shorten it? It’s a long name with not too many good “nicknames” that I can think of.

- Tammy on July 24th, 2008

I for one love the name. It’s nice to hear a “normal” name for a change!

- Christa on July 24th, 2008

Isn’t Uma and Ethan’s son named Levon?

- Molly on July 24th, 2008

I love the name they chose, very traditional and pretty. You could perhaps shorten it to Clem or Clemmie?

- Sian on July 24th, 2008

I consider it more classic. It reminds me of other “older” names that are back in style.

Tammy, my husband’s ex was named Clementine and everyone called her Clemmy. I think it’s cute.

Molly his name is Levon Roan but they call him Roan.

- Erica on July 24th, 2008

Clementine is not a name that I associate with fruit. I think it’s a lovely old name. Apple on the other hand….I’m not sure I’ll ever warm up to that, though I do like her middle names.

- MB on July 24th, 2008

It’s definately a classic normal name to me. I was quite confused when I read people attacking it for being strange and a fruit.

I think it’s sounds sweet and classy and it pairs nice with the short middle name, although I’m normally not a fan of Jane. Would love to have the last name Hawke, sounds so strong.

- sarita on July 24th, 2008

I don’t understand why some people feel the name to critize other people’s name choices. They are not your children so it doesn’t matter if you like the name or not.

- JC on July 24th, 2008

Clementine is my guilty pleasure name. I love it, but I doubt I’d be bold enough to use it.

- janine on July 24th, 2008

Uma and Ethan’s son is not name Roan. It’s Levon.

- jaime on July 24th, 2008

Definitely old-fashioned and classic. My niece’s middle name is Clementine and I fell in love with it the minute I heard.

- kbs on July 24th, 2008

JC, I was thinking the same thing….

it’s kinda sad that celebs or anyone for that matter, famous or not, would have to defend their name choices….if you don’t like a name fine, but why criticize people for a name that they obviously like

- t on July 24th, 2008

Don’t mean to get off the subject of Clementine Jane, but I have a question regarding Ethan’s son’s name. I’ve always wondered how it’s pronounced. Is it LEV’-in or La-VON’? And is it ROW’-uhn or RONE? I personally like the name Clementine. It’s lovely.

- SouthernBelle on July 24th, 2008

CBB asked for my opinion, I’m sure you’ve had a negative opinion once or twice in your life.

Others liking it and me not liking it is the same thing in respect to her being any of our children. Do Ethan & Ryan care that any of us like the name? Nope.

- Jacky on July 24th, 2008

My friends daughter is named mabel june and i love it. clementine jane sounds like she could be friends with her- i think its adorable and pretty too.

- steph on July 24th, 2008

Love the first and middle names, very pretty. Puzzled that this baby’s last name is just Hawke; his children with Uma Thurman have Thurman-Hawke as a last name.

- Lara on July 24th, 2008

I have to disagree with your expert about Maya being a more modern name than Clementine. I always assumed that Uma and Ethan picked it because of the Thurman family’s familiarity with Buddhist traditions. Uma’s father Robert is a noted expert in Tibetan Buddhism and Queen Maya was the name of the Buddha’s mother. Maya also means illusion in Sanskrit, which the Thurmans are surely aware of.

Bonus name fact: the name Uma refers to the goddess of power in Hindu mythology. I remember reading somewhere that all of her siblings also had Buddhist names. So anyway, I think Ethan and Uma might have been following family tradition when they named Maya.

- Tiger Lily on July 24th, 2008

Clementine is also the name of Kate Winslet’s character in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, really popular movie in the indie crowd.

- stephanie on July 24th, 2008

I’m British but have lived in France for years, and one thing it’s taught me is that names fly in and out of fashion, and are very dependent on cultural allusions/history etc..

For example, my daughter’s friends are named Quentin, Jeremie and Arthur. All super-hip in France, but not so much in the UK. My Australian cousin named her son in a nod to her husband’s Irish parents, but in other countries it has almost trailer-park connotations (won’t mention name for fear of offence!!)

Personally there are lots of names I wouldn’t choose for my own kids, but hey – wouldn’t the world be boring if we were all the same?? Love to hear all about the reasons for another Apple, Knox, Jagger or Clementine.

- Toulousain Maman on July 24th, 2008

Hi, i haven’t seen anyone criticizing. All I read is that some people like it, some didn’t, but noone has criticized yet. And don’t forget, that CBB asked for opinion about the name.

This name reminds me only of Claudia Shiffer

- Molly on July 24th, 2008

I think Clementine’s a lovely name, and would put it more in the “old-fashioned” category than the “nature” category. It’s long been considered an actual name, as opposed to Apple which, well, isn’t. And I have to disagree with the author when she says that it is pronounced ClementEEN in England – it’s not. I’ve only ever heard people say ClemenTYNE.

- lizzie on July 24th, 2008

When are we having a Pear?

- Catu on July 24th, 2008

Actually, it IS pronounced Clemen-TEEN in Britain; I lived there for 3 years and have 2 friends called Clementine.

- Courtney on July 24th, 2008

I say classic and modern. I love both names! Clementine Jane, so beautiful!

- Babs on July 24th, 2008

Clementine sounds classic to me, though I can see why others would see it as modern given the whole “old names being new again” trend.

I’ve never heard of the Clementine and size nine shoes thing. Maybe it’s my age? I’m 19. I also wonder how much she’d hear “oh my darlin’ Clementine.” I can’t imagine it becoming too well-known among her generation given how old the song is, though I could see it in her generation’s parents and older.

Personally, it makes me think of Clemetine in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which I loved! I’d consider using it for my own daughter.

- Gina on July 24th, 2008

I think it’s a very sweet name. It sounds like a character in a story. Someone who is prissy & dainty, yet strong. I would call her Clemmie for short. Names that you can make a cute nickname from are my favorite. I am a name junkie, so I’m always interested in what someone will name their baby.

- Crystal on July 24th, 2008

Nevermind part of my last comment, I didn’t know the size nine shoes part was in reference to a lyric from the song! I’ve only heard the chorus of the song. And size nine shoes definitely aren’t so unusual these days. My feet are even bigger so I wish I had that size so it’d be easier to find shoes!

- Gina on July 24th, 2008

Courtney – I’ve lived in Britain for 27 years, having been born here, and can honestly say that every Clementine I’ve ever met has pronounced her name ClemenTYNE. The ClemenTEEN pronunciation is French, rather than English.

- lizzie on July 24th, 2008

I think it’s a classic name and one I was thinking about for my 2nd baby due in winter. Honestly I’m glad they’re not a super famous couple so people won’t say things if we end up going with that name. Not so with Vivienne which was another option!

- Emaline on July 24th, 2008

I like the name but my oldest son is named Xanatos (Zan-a-tos), so I like the more uncommon or less used names for kids. What are the chances of her having to also use her last name all of the time while in school? Not likely. Unlike all of the Jennifer’s and Austin’s.

- Connie Lucero on July 24th, 2008

I don’t like it…

- Sheila on July 24th, 2008

Referring back to the British pronunciation – I’m a Brit and all the “Clemmys” I know are pronounced “ClemenTINE”, rather than “TEEN”… It seems a classic name to me.

- Laura on July 24th, 2008

I don’t mean to question the expert, but neither Roan or Maya are “modern” names. Roan is Gaelic and Norse and dates back. Maya can be found in both Hindu and Greek mythology. Just my thoughts.

- Jazzy on July 24th, 2008

It sounds old fashioned and I adore it! I love names of fruit or flowers for girls; I like girl names to be REALLY girly not gender neutral. The name Jane I kind of hate, no offense to Janes, it reminds me of some random dead bosy or a plain dumpy girl.

- cindy on July 24th, 2008

I am British and have come across a fair few Clemmy’s in my time and they have all been ClemenTEENs, pronounced in the same way as you would say Christine. How do Americans pronounce it?

- Sydney on July 24th, 2008

Hey, why all of the fruit bashing ? Someone making juice ? Apple is and has been used many times for baby names. My great grandma’s name was Apple and my mom’s name is Cherry. Well, maybe its not so popular in your cultures I guess.They are pretty normal in mine though ~

And ps. Maya isn’t “modern” name in a lot of cultures either.Thanks for pointing that out Tiger Lily

- Aya on July 25th, 2008

I like the more classic names. I plan to name my 1st daughter Millicent.

- Nelle on July 25th, 2008

Lizzie – From the 2 Clementines I’ve known, both have been Clemen-TEEN. I’m not disputing the ones you’ve known as being Clemen-TYNES; it was just my observance. Another poster, Sydney, has experienced the same as me in Britain. I lived in London – maybe it was an urban thing.
Anyhow, it’s a lovely name and I wish them the very best.

- Courtney on July 25th, 2008

Considering Hawke is a writer who loves deep and philosophical conversations, his choice is appropriate. Clementine Jane Hawke… sounds so…sweet and strong. It’s really appealing, charming choice. Congratulations daddy.

- Magda on July 26th, 2008

I like the name Clementine- it’s classic and I am a huge fan of classic names. My son is Clarke Paul and had I ever had a daughter, the name I’ve had picked out (since my son was born 5 years ago) was Vivienne Louise. I like names that aren’t a dime a dozen (being that I have a name that WAS a dime a dozen the entire time I was growing up- Sarah) and that are classic and not wildly out there. I am not one to follow naming trends, even if I liked a name (Mackenzie, Madison, Austin, Connor/Liam/Ian, etc).
It’s a personal preference. So long as you aren’t naming your kid something like the names that were thrown out by the NZ judge (Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii), I really don’t care.
My preference will always be for classic names though.

- SimplyTwisted on July 27th, 2008

@ Catu, I live in the Netherlands and Pear (Peer in Dutch) is a pretty normal name for boys .

- froukje on August 4th, 2008

We named our daughter Kate Clementine and we call her Clementine. We pronounce it ClemenTEEN, which is after my grandmother. The name orginated in France and orginally was pronounced ClemenTEEN. It is also pronounced that way in the Vatican where there is a Clementine Chapel.

- kim on August 10th, 2008

There were women named Clementine long before someone decided to name a sweet delicious mandarin orange by the same name. Perhaps he was inspired because Clementine is such a sweet name.
I love the name Clementine, but I just adore Clementina for very obvious reasons!

- Clementina on June 2nd, 2010

My 20 week old Granddaughter is Clementine Rose French (Rose being her birth flower)and at first I thought it a little theatrical but she suits it so well. We all shorten it to Tiney sometimes as my daughter (her Mam) doesn’t like Clem. Poor girl will never get away with graffiti as everyone will know it’s her as we don’t lnow of any other Clementines.

- Eileen on November 5th, 2010