In France, pronounced PRO-spare, Prosper is a fairly common name; here it presents a worthy aspirational message for a child.
Prosper was the name of several early saints, including a noted fifth century theologian, St. Prosper of Aquitaine, and was a favorite of English Puritans.
Prosper has strong associations with P.Merimee, who wrote the novel Carmen, upon which the opera is based. Prospers were also the protagonists of two other books, The Shining Company by Rosemary Sutcliff and The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke.
The Italian version, Prospero, is another attractive option, with ties to Shakespeare's magician character in The Tempest.
