

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...
Where to watch What's in a Name in United States
Click a service to open What's in a Name there. Availability last verified on June 21, 2026.
Where is What's in a Name streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | OVID, Kanopy, Hoopla, Fandango at Home Free | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| United Kingdom | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Canada | — | Apple TV Store |
| Australia | — | JustWatch TV, Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| Germany | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, maxdome Store |
| France | Molotov TV, TF1+ | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Canal VOD |
| Spain | — | Apple TV Store |
About What's in a Name
What's in a Name is a 2012 French-language comedy film directed by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière. The cast is led by Patrick Bruel, Valérie Benguigui, Charles Berling. It has a runtime of 1h 50m. Viewers rate it 7.3/10 across 1800 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on OVID, Kanopy, Hoopla.
What's in a Name was produced by Chapter 2, Pathé, and M6 Films and made in France and Belgium. It was released on April 25, 2012.
- Director
- Matthieu Delaporte, Alexandre de La Patellière
- Writers
- Matthieu Delaporte, Alexandre de La Patellière
- Release date
- April 25, 2012
- Original language
- French
- Status
- Released
- Country
- France, Belgium
- Production
- Chapter 2, Pathé, M6 Films
What's in a Name cast & crew
What's in a Name was directed by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière and written by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière.
The cast features Patrick Bruel as Vincent, Valérie Benguigui as Élisabeth, Charles Berling as Pierre, Guillaume de Tonquédec as Claude, Judith El Zein as Anna, and Françoise Fabian as Françoise.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Jérôme Rebotier, cinematography is by David Ungaro, and it was produced by Dimitri Rassam and Jérôme Seydoux.
Is What's in a Name worth watching?
What's in a Name holds an audience score of 7.3/10 from 1,802 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed comedy films.
At 1h 50m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy comedy, What's in a Name is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch What's in a Name
In United States, you can stream What's in a Name on OVID, Kanopy, Hoopla, Fandango at Home Free, and Tubi TV, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
Rate & review
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Cast of What's in a Name

Patrick Bruel
Vincent

Valérie Benguigui
Élisabeth

Charles Berling
Pierre

Guillaume de Tonquédec
Claude

Judith El Zein
Anna

Françoise Fabian
Françoise

Yaniss Lespert
Livreur pizza

Miren Pradier
Infirmière bracelet

Alexis Leprisé
Apollin

Juliette Levant
Myrtille

Bernard Murat
L'obstétricien
What's in a Name — FAQs
▸Where can I watch What's in a Name in United States?
What's in a Name is streaming on OVID, Kanopy, Hoopla, Fandango at Home Free in United States.
▸Is What's in a Name on OVID?
Yes — What's in a Name is currently available on OVID in United States.
▸What language is What's in a Name in?
What's in a Name is originally in French. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is What's in a Name?
What's in a Name runs 1 hours 50 minutes (110 minutes).
▸What is What's in a Name rated?
It holds a 7.3/10 audience score from 1,802 ratings.











