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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  Girl | A violent storm, hurricane, or tornado |
| | | Girl | An unmarried, young woman; A maiden |
| | | Girl | Maiden |
| | |  Boy | Horn or horn blower; The one who blows horns |
| | | Girl | Maiden, pure, mountain |
| | | Girl | One who works and lives at court |
| | | Boy | One whose hair is like a Raven's |
| | | Girl | A little thing |
| | | Girl | Victory of the people; Little things |
| | | Girl | Victorious; Triumphant |
| | |  Unisex | Cottages; Hills; Dweller by the slope |
| | | Unisex | Helpful; Shield; Protective individual |
| | | Unisex | From the court; Short nosed; From Courtenay in Northern France. |
| | | Boy | Short nosed; Domain of Curtuis |
| | | Unisex | Sewing; Dressmaking |
| | | Boy | Humble; Down to earth; Reticent |
| | | Unisex | Graceful; Pleasant; Kind |
| | | Girl | Growing; Increasing; Developing; French form of Crescentia |
| | | Girl | To grow |
| | | Boy | To get bigger, Develop; Sprout |
| | | Unisex | A variant of Crescens, The phase of the moon; Derived from the Latin word Crescere |
| | | Girl | One who is increasing and evergrowing |
| | | Girl | Variant transcription of the name Crecia or the French form Creste meaning peak of a hill |
| | | Girl | Follower of Christ; Anointed one |
| | | Boy | Derived from the name Christ; Dance of Christ; Someone who holds Christ in their heart |
| | | Unisex | Raw |
| | | Boy | Harsh term |
| | | Girl | A bright child |
| | | Boy | Charming; Intelligent; Talented |
| | | Girl | Already; strong person |
| | | Girl | Already in making |
| | | Girl | The one in progress; remember |
| | | Girl | Exist |
| | | Girl | One who cannot be tamed |
| | | Boy | The one who tames |
| | | Unisex | Leader; Ruler |
| | | Unisex | A yellow-flowered, common weed, often used in herbal medicine and cooking |
| | | Girl | God is my judge |
| | | Girl | God Judges |
| | | Boy | New and fresh |
| | | Boy | Name of a place |
| | | Boy | Love from God |
| | | Unisex | Noble leader or ruler |
| | | Girl | Dark; determined |
| | | Girl | Girl from Archy |
| | | Girl | The dark one |
| | | Girl | Dark-haired; From the fortress; Descendant of the dark |
| | | Girl | Strong; Dark one |
| | | Girl | Dark-haired |
| | | Unisex | One from the Airelle; Lovely |
| | | Unisex | Huckleberry; Beloved |
| | | Boy | Open; Dear one; Beloved |
| | | Girl | The near and dear one |
| | | Girl | Open one |
| | | Boy | Beloved person |
| | | Girl | Darling; Dearly beloved |
| | | Girl | Lovely person |
| | | Girl | One who has charming personality |
| | | Girl | One who is brilliant |
| | | Girl | Lovely individual |
| | | Girl | Loved one; Dear |
| | | Girl | A beloved child |
| | | Girl | A sweet; Innocent child |
| | | Girl | Darling baby |
| | | Boy | Open one |
| | | Boy | Open; Beloved |
| | | Girl | A darling person |
| | | Boy | Little great one; Oak tree; dear |
| | | Boy | Open minded |
| | | Boy | Leader; From Artagnan |
| | | Boy | Brave; Adventurous |
| | | Boy | Town where Eagles live |
| | | Boy | Beloved |
| | | Boy | One from Chiel |
| | | Unisex | Brave; Adventurous; Leader |
| | | Unisex | Dearly loved person |
| | | Boy | Greatest king of Israel; Beloved |
| | | Boy | Name of a town in France |
| | | Unisex | River or God-like being |
| | | Girl | They are swift and beautiful |
| | | Boy | A lost one; stray |
| | | Unisex | A fun loving person; Pleasant one |
| | | Unisex | Present or current day |
| | | Boy | The one who is of the valley |
| | | Girl | Who lives near the cross |
| | | Boy | A growing individual; Alder tree |
| | | Girl | One from humid place |
| | | Boy | A creative and unique individual |
| | | Boy | From the elder tree grove; From the laurel grove |
| | | Boy | A tall and handsome being; Elder tree |
| | | Unisex | A dark challenger from the woods |
| | | Boy | Person who lives in isolation |
| | | Boy | One who resides near a sea |
| | | Girl | Dolphin; Woman from the town of Delphi |
| | | Boy | One who is born of the king |
| | | Unisex | Unique and rare |
| | | Boy | One who is filled with desires; mountain |
| | | Boy | Short form of Bernard; creative being |
| | | Girl | A follower of God; an amazing being |
| | | Girl | One who is born in two places; Energetic |
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/
- Author
- Fact-checker
