Top 42 French Names for Boys and Girls
In this article you will find 42 French names. These will include French girl names and French boy names.
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Why Is a Name Important?AdelineAiméeAlexandreAnaïsAndreBeauBlaiseCamilleCarolineChloéClémenceColetteElodieGabrielGenevièveHéloïseHélèneIsabelleJacquesJeanJeanneJosueJulienJulietteLéoLouisLucLucienMadeleineMarcMathéoMathildeMathisNicolasRaphaëlRemi/RemySachaSophieThéoValentinVictoireZoéConclusionAre you looking for the perfect French name for a boy or girl? Here is a list of the top 42 French names that might work for you.
Why Is a Name Important?
A lot of people will agree with the statement that your name forms a part of your identity. From a young age you will know your name and most children begin talking about themselves in the third person.
That being said, names are a very important part of a person’s life. Below are 42 French names, some you will find work for both genders, while others are used more as girls names and others as boys names.
Also for those reading this that are parents or about to become one and want to teach your kids French, you might want to check out the article French for Parents 101.
Adeline
Adeline is a French girl’s name meaning “noble, nobility”.
The name originated as a French diminutive of Adele and has since become popular in the US, especially with its other spellings.
Adeline was introduced in England by the Normans, however, after a bout of popularity it slowly faded out of use until it re-emerged in Victorian times.
Aimée
Aimée is a French girl’s name meaning “beloved”.
The name is the French version of the Latin name “Amata”.
There are many different spelling variations of this name, including “Amy” which is popular in England and “Aimee” (without an accent).
Alexandre
Alexandre is a traditional French boy’s name meaning “defending men” or “warrior”.
The name is the French variation of Alexandros, a Greek name.
The pronunciation of this name is similar to that of “Alexandra”.
Anaïs
Anaïs is a popular French girl’s name of uncertain origin. It is often linked with Anne and the meaning “grace”.
Possible connections include Anne or Agnès, as well as classical names such as Anaitis, associated with a Persian goddess, or Athénaïs.
Andre
Andre is a French boy’s name meaning “strong and manly”.
Andre, sometimes André, is the French and Portuguese version of “Andrew”.
The name was most popular in the 1970s-1980s, however it still remains popular and is used frequently around the world.
Beau
Beau is a French boy’s name which is popular in the US meaning “handsome”.
It is a fairly new name, only having emerged in the 20th Century. While it is predominantly used for boys, it has been known to be used as a girl’s name a few times.
Blaise
Blaise is a unisex name meaning “to lisp or stammer”. Although, given that the name also has origins in Latin, there are several other meanings that could relate to Blaise depending on where you are in the world.
There have been several notable Blaises over the years, including a Christian martyr and Merlin’s secretary.
Camille
Camille is a French unisex name derived from Latin Camillus and Camilla, referring to a young religious attendant.
It is derived from the Latin “Camilla”.
In 2020, Camille was among the 40 most popular names given to girls in France.
Caroline
Caroline is a French girl’s name related to Charles, ultimately from a Germanic word meaning “man” or “freeman”.
The name is the feminine variation of Charles.
Chloé
Chloé is a popular French girl’s name meaning “young green shoot”, although in a broader sense the name can be taken to mean “blooming” or “fertility”.
The name derives from Greek Khloē. It has links with several religious traditions: Chloé was an epithet of Demeter, the Greek goddess of agriculture and the harvest, and a woman named Chloe is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:11.
Clémence
Clémence is a French girl’s name meaning “mild, merciful”, which has been around since the Middle Ages.
The name is a feminine variation of Clementius, a Latin name.
Colette
Colette is a French girl’s name meaning “people of victory”.
The name began as a short form of Nicole. Although it lost popularity for a while, it became more popular after a character named Colette appeared in the film Ratatouille.
There was also a French nun called Saint Colette who gave her money to the poor.
Elodie
Elodie or Élodie is a French girl’s name meaning “foreign riches”.
The name was derived from the name Alodia, which potentially became the Spanish Elodia before becoming Elodie. It is very popular in German and French speaking countries.
Gabriel
Gabriel is a Hebrew name that is popular in France meaning “God is my strength”.
The name is a favourite for Christian parents because Gabriel is the Archangel who brought the news of Jesus’ birth to Mary, as such he is known as being the bringer of good news. Also, in Islam Gabriel was the angel who revealed the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad.
There are feminine versions of this name as well, such as the French name Gabrielle.
Geneviève
Geneviève is a French girl’s name with a debated etymology. “Woman of the tribe” is one traditional interpretation, rather than a certain literal meaning.
The name is recorded in the Latin form Genovefa; Celtic and Germanic origins have been proposed. It has become popular again in recent years.
The patron saint of Paris, who was around in the 5th century defending the city from the Huns, was Saint Geneviève.
Héloïse
Héloïse is a French girl’s name of uncertain origin, often linked to the Germanic name Helewidis, with elements meaning “healthy” and “wide”.
Despite the similar sound, Héloïse is not etymologically derived from Louise or Clovis.
Hélène
Hélène is a French girl’s name meaning “light”.
It is the French version of Helen and Helena.
The name originally appeared in Greek legend as the wife of the King of Sparta (and the daughter of Zeus and Leda) whose kidnapping led to the Trojan War. It was also the name of a Saint in the 4th century.
Isabelle
Isabelle is a French girl’s name meaning “pledged to God”.
The name is a variant of the medieval name Isabel, which developed from Elizabeth.
Jacques
Jacques is a French boy’s name meaning “supplanter”.
The name is the French variation of James and Jacob, as such it is another French name that has biblical roots.
Jean
Jean is a popular French boy’s name meaning “God is gracious”. For centuries, Jean was one of the most popular boys’ names in France.
The name is the French variation of John and is commonly combined with other names, such as “Jean-Paul”.
Jeanne
Jeanne is a French girl’s name meaning “God is gracious”.
It is the feminine form of “Jean”.
Josue
Josue or Josué is a French boy’s name meaning “the Lord is my salvation”.
It is a variation of Joshua that is used in France, Spain and Portugal.
Julien
Julien is a French name derived from Latin Iulianus and Iulius (Julius). Its ultimate etymology is uncertain; “youthful” and a connection with the sky god Jove are traditional interpretations.
It is the French form of Julian which derives from the Latin Julius.
Juliette
Juliette is a French girl’s name meaning “little Julia”.
It is a variation of Juliet. The name Juliet originally derived from Julius, as the name is thought to be the feminine version of Julien.
Léo
Léo, or Leo without an accent, is a popular French boy’s name meaning “lion”.
The name has links to astrology as it is the fifth zodiac sign, and a constellation is also named Leo.
Louis
Louis is a French boy’s name meaning “renowned warrior”.
The name has recently been increasing in popularity due to its use by several high-profile couples, such as the Prince and Princess of Wales (formerly the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge), who chose it for their son.
Luc
Luc is the French form of Luke.
It is traditionally traced through Latin Lucas and Greek Loukas to a name meaning “from Lucania”, a region in southern Italy.
Lucien is a different name, traditionally associated with Latin lux (“light”).
Lucien
Lucien is a French boy’s name meaning “light”.
It is derived from the Latin name Lucianus.
Madeleine
Madeleine is a French girl’s name meaning “woman from Magdala or high tower”.
It is the French version of Magdalen and has several various spellings including Madeline.
Marc
Marc is a French boy’s name meaning “of Mars the god of war, warlike”.
This is a popular variation of Mark in French and Welsh.
Mathéo
Mathéo is a popular name in France, corresponding to Spanish Mateo or Italian Matteo.
It means “gift of God”.
Mathilde
Mathilde is a French girl’s name meaning “battle-mighty”.
The name is a variant of Matilda, which comes from Mahthildis, which is a German name.
Mathis
Mathis is a French boy’s name meaning “gift of God”.
It is another French variation of Matthew, which is popular in France and Germany.
Nicolas
Nicolas is a French boy’s name meaning “people of victory”.
It is the French and Spanish version of Nicholas, which is of Greek origin.
Raphaël
Raphaël is a popular classic French boy’s name meaning “God has healed”.
In recent years it has ranked among the most popular boys’ names in France, alongside Gabriel.
Remi/Remy
Remi (or Rémi) and Remy are popular French names, used mainly for boys and occasionally for girls.
The names mean “oarsman”.
Sacha
Sacha is another French unisex name that has growing popularity.
The name means “defending warrior”.
Sophie
Sophie is a French girl’s name which began as a variation of the Greek name Sophia, meaning “wisdom”.
Like Louis, Sophie is a name that has been used in royal families recently, for example Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
Théo
Théo is a French boy’s name which means “divine gift”.
Théo can be spelt without the accent as well and is usually assumed to be a nickname of Theodore.
Valentin
Valentin is a French boy’s name meaning “strength and health”.
Valentin comes from Latin Valentinus, related to valens (“strong, healthy”). It is used in French, German and Scandinavian languages.
Victoire
Victoire is a French girl’s name meaning “victory”.
In 2020, Victoire was among the 40 most popular names given to girls in France.
Zoé
In 2020, Zoé was among the 40 most popular names given to girls in France.
The name means “life” in Greek. It is another religious name that has been used by two Christian saints.
Conclusion
There you have it, 42 French names for boys and girls. It is important that you choose a name that you like and will suit your child–from childhood until they become elders.
If you are looking for a baby name, think about how your child will feel about their name as they get older. Some names sound cute for young children, but wouldn’t seem appropriate in a professional setting as they grow up.
If you are interested in learning more facts about French names and how to pronounce them, you can read Everything You Wanted to Know About French Names But Were Too Afraid to Ask.
Or, if you are looking for a French name to call someone you love, there is a list of
French endearments
that you can look at as well.
