Illustration: MomJunction Design Team
Delicious Brie cheese, the magnificent Eiffel Tower, and the sophisticated Chanel fashion house, France is indeed the country of cultural richness. And just like French history, even the French baby names are a fusion of honor, strength, and elegance. The names have an element of European romance, while being relatively uncommon outside the French-speaking nations.
In polite usage, a French person’s name is preceded by Monsieur for male, Madame for females, Mademoiselle for unmarried females, Mondamoiseau for young gentleman, and Maître for both men and women. French people have one or two given names, of which one is used in daily life, and the other is used in official documents. Traditionally, a French baby is given names taken from the Roman Catholic calendar of saints. In regions like Corsica and Brittany, local names are used. And the immigrants are free to use names that represent their culture or religion.
French baby names have a timeless charm and they often express the beauty of the country’s art, literature, and landscapes. These names are also inspired by the names of historical figures. Names like Alicia evokes a sense of nobility and pristine nature. The name Oliver, which often signifies the olive tree, represents the ethereal and sublime landscapes of the country. Oliver has been among the top ten baby names in the US in the year 2022 (1). French baby names are known for their melodious sounds. For example, names like Ellinor and Jacqui have an appealing rhythm and roll off the tongue.
With so many gorgeous French names, it could get tough to find the perfect name for your son or daughter. But this post has it covered for you. Below is our collection of French boy names and French girl names along with their meanings. Why wait? Pick the one which you think will suit your daughter or son best.
| Name | Gender | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Chante |  |  Girl | A singer |
| Chantel | | Girl | To sing well |
| Chantelle | | Girl | To sing; Candle; Stone |
| Chantilly | | Girl | A name for lace; Whipped cream |
| Chanton | | Girl | Singing together |
| Chardae | | Girl | A strong, free, majestic individual |
| Chardonnay | | Girl | Tasty grapefruit; Wine |
| Charee | | Girl | A darling |
| Charil | | Girl | A bright, lovely individual |
| Charilyn | | Girl | A dear and lively woman |
| Charlee | | Girl | Free person |
| Charlette | | Girl | Free individual; Petite |
| Charlotte | | Girl | Free person; Petite |
| Charlynne | | Girl | Free man |
| Charmain | | Girl | A charming name |
| Chason | |  Boy | Hunter |
| Chauncy | | Boy | Fortune |
| Chauntel | | Girl | A singer |
| Chayce | |  Unisex | A huntsman |
| Chelle | | Girl | One who is like the God |
| Chenelle | | Girl | A channel |
| Cheney | | Unisex | Growing from the Oak grove |
| Cher | | Girl | A darling baby |
| Chere | | Girl | Dear one; A cherry fruit |
| Cheree | | Girl | Darling like a Goddess |
| Chereena | | Girl | A confident and analytical person |
| Cherelle | | Girl | An energetic person |
| Cheri | | Girl | Darling; Beloved |
| Cherie | | Girl | Darling; Beloved |
| Cherilynn | | Girl | A rhyming darling |
| Cherine | | Girl | Dearest one |
| Cherly | | Girl | A darling friend |
| Cherree | | Girl | Great power and wealth |
| Cherrell | | Girl | A beloved person |
| Cherrelle | | Girl | A dear and beloved one |
| Cherrill | | Girl | A green gemstone; Cherry |
| Cherry | | Girl | Cherry fruit |
| Cherrylyn | | Girl | A dear person |
| Chesare | | Boy | French variation of Caesar |
| Chesney | | Girl | Grove of oak |
| Chevalier | | Boy | One who rides a horse |
| Chevelier | | Boy | Man riding a horse |
| Chevis | | Unisex | A thick bodied Fish |
| Chevy | | Boy | A Horseman |
| Cheyne | | Boy | The hard, Oak hearted one |
| Chimere | | Girl | A dreamy individual |
| Chlarinda | | Girl | Bright; clear; dazzling; intense |
| Chloe | | Girl | Fresh blooming; Ripe green shoot |
| Chrie | | Girl | A familiar form of Cher; addressing someone with love |
| Chrine | | Girl | Follower of Lord Jesus, the son of God |
| Christabella | | Girl | A follower of Christ |
| Christabelle | | Girl | A religious follower of Jesus Christ |
| Christofor | | Boy | One who has Christ within |
| Christophe | | Boy | Bearing Christ, the son of God |
| Chuckie | | Boy | A free man; a commoner who is free of any forceful dominancy from the state |
| Ciel | | Girl | Sky |
| Cielle | | Girl | Sky; a part of the atmosphere |
| Cindell | | Girl | A Greek variation of the name Cindy or Cynthia |
| Cinderella | | Girl | Little ashes |
| Cirroc | | Boy | Top of the summit; peak of the mountain or hill |
| Cisse | | Girl | A name derived from the place called Cisse in Vienne |
| Citrine | | Girl | A type of quartz |
| Cladine | | Girl | Branched; something that is classified into many sub-divisions |
| Clair | | Boy | One who is clear, bright, shiny; one who is famous |
| Claira | | Girl | Bright and clear; Attractive; Appealing |
| Clara | | Girl | Bright; Clear |
| Claret | | Unisex | A dark purplish-red color |
| Clarette | | Girl | Clear; easy to interpret; unclouded; bright |
| Claudean | | Girl | Something that glows or shines |
| Claudelle | | Girl | Derived from a saint's name Claudius, who lived in the 7th century |
| Claudette | | Girl | Differently abled; Enclosure |
| Claudie | | Girl | A female form of a 7th century saint, Claudius |
| Claudin | | Boy | Name of a French king's son, Claudas |
| Claudine | | Girl | One who is a descendent of Gods; Hails from Gods |
| Clely | | Girl | A french version of Clelia; A Roman heroine |
| Clemance | | Girl | Mercy; showing forgiveness; pity; grace |
| Clemence | | Girl | Merciful; Gentle |
| Clementine | | Girl | Merciful; Gentle |
| Cleremunda | | Girl | A clear and bright protector of men |
| Clodia | | Girl | One who cannot walk; lame or crippled |
| Clothilde | | Girl | Derived from the name of a saint; Who converted her husband king to Christianity |
| Clotille | | Girl | One who is well known and famous for her battle and war skills |
| Clovis | | Boy | Derived from the name of a French king |
| Cloyd | | Boy | One who works with hammers and nails |
| Coelee | | Girl | A valley or a draining zone |
| Coeur | | Unisex | The most vital organ of the human body; the heart |
| Colette | | Girl | Victory of the people; Young creature |
| Coligny | | Girl | One who hails from Cologne, the fourth largest city of Germany |
| Coline | | Girl | Triumph of the people |
| Colletta | | Girl | One who is victorious, winner and achiever |
| Colombe | | Girl | Dove, a small stout bird that resembles pigeon |
| Colyn | | Boy | The triumph of the people; a young Boy who leads to the triumph of the people |
| Comfort | | Girl | Strength; Powerful and tough; Having high durability and solidity |
| Constance | | Girl | Steadfast |
| Conuoge | | Boy | A united man |
| Coralie | | Girl | A jewel that is made from coral plants, obtained from oceans |
| Corby | | Boy | A young, new born crow, that is a few weeks old |
| Corbyn | | Boy | One whose hair is as black as the bird raven's color |
| Cordon | | Unisex | A line or circle that prevents access to an area; A protective barrier |
| Corentin | | Boy | A hurricane; A violent storm or tornado |
French baby names are sublime and sweet. From the classic to the modern, this compiled list has names for every parent. French names are rooted in the country’s culture and each name has a story to tell. Blending all the magical components of the country, these names will mesmerize anyone and leave a lasting impression. Each name in this list holds special significance with regard to its roots and meanings. So select a name that catches your fancy and suits your tiny tot well.
Infographic: Elegant French Baby Names With Meanings
French baby names evoke a sense of elegance with their deep-rooted history. These names are often inspired by the country’s traditions, cultures, people, art, and philosophy. These names have significant meanings and intriguing roots. If you are fond of names with depth and grace, then check this infographic, where we have presented some of the most charming French names for babies.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name "Gabriel" in French?
Gabriel is derived from the Hebrew name Gavriel, meaning God is my strong man. It is the name of an archangel in Hebrew tradition.
2. What are some French baby names starting with the letter M?
Some beautiful French names that begin with M are Madeleine (French version of Magdalene, meaning of Magdala), Magali (Occitan version of Magdalene), Marc (French version of the Latin Marcus, meaning Mars or male), Marie (derived from Mary meaning beloved), and Martin (derived from the Roman Martinus related to Mars meaning male).
3. What are some French baby names that are easy to pronounce?
Baby names like Emma (meaning whole or great), Lucas (a habitational name meaning from Lucania), Chloe (an epithet of the Greek goddess Demeter meaning green shoot), Nathan (derived from the Hebrew name Natan meaning he gave), and Henri (derived from the Germanic name Heimrich meaning home ruler) are easy to pronounce. They consist of only two syllables and most of them are easy to spell as well.
4. What are some French baby names with a historical significance?
French baby names like Louis (inspired after several kings of France), Napoleon (after Napoleon Bonaparte), Jeanne (inspired by Joan of Arc), Marie (inspired by Marie Antoinette), and Charles (named after several kings of France) are of historical significance.
5. What are some gender-neutral French baby names?
Certain French baby names like Remy (meaning oarsman), Camille (meaning religious helper), Sasha (diminutive of Aleksandr or Aleksandra meaning defending men), Alix (derived from a Germanic name meaning noble or nobility), and Marie (derived ultimately from Mary meaning beloved) are unisex names.
6. What are some French baby names suitable for twins?
Twin names like Gabriel-Samuel (God is my strong man-name of God), Léa-Emma (weary-great), Alice-Louise (nobility-famous in battle), and Hugo-Louis (spirit-famous in battle) are good choices. These names complement each other not only phonetically but also in terms of their meaning.
7. What are some French baby names popular among non-French speakers?
Several names like Aaron (exalted), Arthur (bear), Bernadette (firm and bear), Christine (to anoint), Félix (lucky, successful), and Marie (beloved) are popular among non-French speakers. These languages include English, Spanish, Portuguese, Norwegian, Dutch, and German.
8. What are some French baby names with a romantic or poetic feel?
French baby names like Amour (love), Aimée (beloved), Esmé (esteemed, loved), Philidore (gift of love), and Lestan (love stone) have romantic and poetic meanings.
References
- Top 10 baby names of 2022.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
