What was Claude Monet’s full given name?

Claude Monet’s full given name was Oscar-Claude Monet.

He was born in Paris on 14 November 1840 and became one of the leading figures of French Impressionism. Although he is universally known as Claude Monet, “Oscar-Claude” was his registered given name.

Monet’s family moved to Le Havre when he was young, where he developed an early interest in drawing and became acquainted with landscape painter Eugène Boudin. Boudin encouraged him to paint outdoors, an experience that strongly influenced Monet’s later practice.

The name “Oscar-Claude” is sometimes shortened or omitted in biographies, which is why “Claude Monet” remains the standard form. He later signed many works simply “Claude Monet,” including paintings from his Water Lilies, Haystacks and Rouen Cathedral series.