Chantilly

shan-TILL-ee (Eng), shon-TEE (Fr)

French place name

"white"

Chantilly Origin and Meaning

The name Chantilly is girl's name of French origin meaning "white".

The name of a French city famous for its fine lace. Another association: Chantilly cream – a sweetened whipped cream apparently invented there in the 17th century by a chef at the Château de Chantilly. The town probably takes is name from the Gallo-Roman personal name Cantilius, derived from a word for "white".

Tilly is a sweet and stylish short form – especially in the UK, where it's on the rise as a standalone name, as well as a nickname for Matilda or Ottilie – but Chantilly feels a little too saccharine.