2049 French Baby Names With Meanings

From the most classic to the trendiest names, leaving you in awe.

Written by N Pravenchandra Singh, MA Specialty: Literature and RelationshipsExperience: 2 years

Praven is an English literature expert. He did his bachelors in English from Delhi University and masters in English from Manipur University. Besides, he holds a certificate in multimedia design and c... more

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Vidya did her post-graduation in Biotechnology from Osmania University, Hyderabad. Her interest in scientific research and writing made her pursue a career in writing, in which she now has over five y... more

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Trisha worked as a schoolteacher for three years before taking up professional writing in 2021. She completed her masters in English from the University of Calcutta and bachelors in Education from the... more

• Sep 28, 2023

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.

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Name	Gender	Meaning
Aaida	Girl	The one who is helpful; Ornament; Brightness
Aamber	Girl	A precious jewel or gemstone; Warm honey color
Abdou	Boy	Great ability to focus on each work; variant of name Abdo
Abel	Boy	Breath
Abelia	Girl	A person who looks for over a flock or herd
Abelino	Boy	Unsure; Pet form of Avila
Abella	Girl	Breath
Abi	Boy	Father; Elder brother; Priest
Abrie	Unisex	Mother of many
Abrielle	Girl	A woman of God or a woman from God

Abrienne	Girl	Feminine variant of Abraham; Father of many
Acadia	Girl	The land of plenty
Acelin	Girl	A noble girl or a girl who born in high status home
Aceline	Girl	A woman who is noble
Acelynn	Girl	A girl who is born in noble home
Achille	Boy	Pain; Lipless; Variant of Achilles
Achraf	Boy	Most Honorable One; A variant of Ashraf
Adalaide	Girl	Noble kind; Noble sort
Adaleide	Girl	A person's nobility; Noble person
Adalene	Girl	An aristocrat or noble person

Adalicia	Girl	One who is of noble nature; Nobility
Adaline	Girl	Noble
Adam	Boy	Son of the Earth
Adami	Boy	My Man; Red; Earthy; Human
Adamo	Boy	Son of red Earth; First man to come to life
Adamson	Boy	Son of Adam; A derivative from Adam
Adde	Boy	Noble
Addi	Boy	A Variant of Adde; Noble; Nobility
Addilynn	Girl	Derived from Adele; Noble or nobility
Adela	Girl	Noble; Gentle

Adelaida	Girl	Noble kind; Adorned
Adelaide	Girl	Noble; Kind
Adele	Girl	Noble type
Adelina	Girl	Noble; Nobility
Adeline	Girl	Noble; nobility
Adelle	Girl	Noble
Adreanna	Girl	The favor or gracefulness of the sea
Adrianna	Unisex	Woman from Hadria
Adyelya	Girl	Bulgarian form of Alice; Nobility
Aelicia	Girl	An oath of God

Aelis	Girl	Noble; God is my oath
Aemela	Girl	An admiring person; A workaholic
Aemele	Girl	A hard-working and persistent person
Aeris	Girl	The Earth full of flowers
Agace	Girl	Good
Agathe	Girl	A kind-natured woman
Agathon	Boy	Good
Ahmari	Girl	Strong, noble, leader
Aicha	Boy	Life
Aime	Girl	Beloved

Aimee	Girl	Dearly loved; Beloved
Aimeeloved	Boy	Loved
Aimie	Girl	bBloved
Alard	Boy	Noble strength; A variant of names Abelard and Ellard
Alarie	Girl	Energetic, Creative, Independent
Alfric	Boy	Variant of Aelfric; Elf king
Alfrid	Boy	Variant of Alfred; Wise counselor; Elf counsel
Alger	Boy	Variant of Algar; Elf spear; Moustachioed
Alianora	Girl	Pity; Variant of Eleonora; From the Occitan name Alienor
Alice	Girl	Noble; Kind

Alicia	Girl	Noble
Alisen	Boy	Variant form of Alizon
Alison	Girl	Of noble birth
Alix	Girl	Noble
Alixe	Girl	Defending men
Alizae	Girl	Joyful; Bright; Noble
Alizea	Girl	Joyful; Happy
Alizee	Boy	Energetic, enchanting, beautiful
Alizey	Unisex	Joyful; Blissful
Allese	Girl	Variant of Alison; Smart; No-nonsense

Allison	Girl	Of noble birth
Allix	Girl	Defender of mankind
Alma	Boy	Nourishing; Fostering; Kind
Almund	Boy	Noble Protection; Defender of the Temple
Alnoth	Boy	Variant of Athelnoth; Noble; Bold; Daring
Alodie	Girl	Wealthy
Alois	Boy	Famous Warrior; Wise
Aloisio	Boy	Well-known fighter
Alouette	Girl	Lark
Aloys	Boy	A famous warrior; A quick thinker; A warm hearted individual

Aloysia	Girl	Name of an Italian saint; a strong willed person renowned in battlefield
Aloysisus	Boy	Fame; War; Famous warrior
Aloysius	Boy	A strong and famous warrior
Alpine	Boy	Blonde; White; Fair one
Aluin	Boy	Noble; Wise friend
Alvia	Unisex	Noble war
Alycia	Girl	Noble one
Alydia	Girl	Little winged noble girl
Alyssa	Girl	Noble; Graceful; Sweet
Amalie	Girl	Hard working; Industrious; Laborious

Amandine	Girl	Lovable and worthy of affection
Amarley	Girl	Gift of God
Amauri	Boy	Brave; Powerful
Ambre	Girl	A precious Jewel
Amelia	Girl	Hardworking and industrious
Amelie	Girl	Industrious
Amelot	Unisex	Arthur's castle
Amere	Unisex	Prince; Ruler
Amie	Girl	Beloved; To love; Kindness
Amile	Unisex	Strong and determined

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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.

sophisticated french baby names with meanings(infographic)

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

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

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

Top 10 baby names of 2022.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/

Look Up For Many More Names

Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.