Placide

Placide is a masculine given name of French origin. It derives from the Latin placidus, meaning calm, gentle, or temperate. The name has a long history in French-speaking regions and has appeared in religious, literary, and cultural contexts.

In other languages, related forms include Placido in Italian. While not among the most common names today, Placide has persisted in historical records and occasionally in contemporary Francophone communities.

Notable bearers of the name include Placide Cappeau, a 19th-century French poet and librettist best known for writing the poem that inspired the Christmas carol Cantique de Noël (O Holy Night). Another prominent figure is Placide Tempels, a Belgian Jesuit philosopher who contributed to discussions of African philosophy, notably with his work La philosophie bantoue.

Placide remains primarily encountered as a given name in Francophone countries such as France and Belgium, and it may appear among descendants of those communities in other regions. It is typically used as a male name, though naming practices vary by culture and era.