The town was named Case-Navire until 1889, when it was renamed in honor of French abolitionist writer Victor Schœlcher.
ðə tˈaʊn wʌz nˈeɪmd kˈeɪsnˈævaɪɚɹ ʌntˈɪl wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi nˈaɪn, wˌɛn ɪt wʌz ɹᵻnˈeɪmd ɪn ˈɑːnɚɹ ʌv fɹˈɛntʃ ˌæbəlˈɪʃənˌɪst ɹˈaɪɾɚ vˈɪktɚ skˈoʊltʃɚ.