111 names
French Baby Names (Boys & Girls)
French baby names, from saints' names to Frankish and Provençal names, with meanings, pronunciation and variant spellings.
Updated
French names include French forms of saints’ names (Jean, Jacques, Marie), Germanic names brought by the Franks (Louis, Charles, Matilde), and feminine forms made by adding -ette or -ine, as in Juliette and Pauline.
French naming law once limited parents to names from the saints’ calendar and classical history; the restriction was relaxed in the twentieth century. Compound names joined by a hyphen, such as Jean-Luc and Marie-Claire, remain common in France and Quebec.
Our picks
| Name | Gender | Meaning | Origin | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julien | Boy | youthful | French | zhoo-LYAN |
| Celeste | Unisex | heavenly or of the sky | French/Latin | se-LEST |
| Antoine | Boy | from Antonius, a Roman family name | French | an-TWAHN |
| Camille | Unisex | young ceremonial attendant | French/Latin | ka-MEEL |
| Sebastien | Boy | venerable | French | say-bahs-TYEN |
| Amelie | Girl | work, industrious | French | ah-may-LEE |
| Gabriel | Boy | God is my strength | Hebrew | GAY-bree-el |
| Claire | Girl | clear, bright | French | KLAIR |
| Adrien | Boy | from Hadria | French | ah-dree-AN |
| Margot | Girl | pearl | French | mar-GOH |
| Philippe | Boy | lover of horses | French | fee-LEEP |
| Sylvie | Girl | from the forest | French | seel-VEE |
More French names (99)
A
B
C
- Cash maker of boxes; keeper of a money box
- Celine heavenly
- Chandler candle maker
- Chanel canal
- Charlene feminine form of Charles
- Charlotte free man
- Chevy short form of Chevrolet or Cheviot
- Christine follower of Christ
- Clementine merciful, gentle
- Colin victory of the people (via Nicholas); or whelp
- Corbin raven
- Courtney from Courtenay, possibly short nose
- Curtis courteous, polite
D
E
F
- Françoise free one
G
H
- Harvey battle worthy
I
- Iveta Czech form of Yvette, 'yew'
J
K
- Kourtney uncertain; possibly short nose or from Courtenay
L
M
N
O
- Oliver traditionally olive tree; origin debated
P
R
S
T
V
W
- Warren from La Varenne, a place name
Y
Frequently asked questions
- What makes French names distinctive?
- French names are known for their elegant pronunciation, sophisticated sound, and rich cultural heritage rooted in European refinement.
- Are French names hard to pronounce?
- While some French names have unique pronunciations, many are adaptable and become familiar with practice.
- What are some French girl names?
- Examples include Amelie, Camille, Claire, Celeste, and Margot.
- Do French names work internationally?
- Yes, many French names like Gabriel, Claire, and Camille are recognized and appreciated worldwide.
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