1200+ French Names (with Meanings and Popularity)

Calm, composed, and chic. Often seen with an accent in France, as Clémence.

Justice is a fashionable word name, used for both girls and boys. Justice has the distinction of being a virtue name without the religious implications of Faith or Grace. It still feels more male than female, perhaps partly due to the classic Roman name Justus, but Justice has become a more common pick for girls in recent years.

Angelique was the fastest-rising girl name of 2021, influenced by French-Mexican actress Angelique Boyer, who starred in the telenovela Imperio de mentiras (Empire of Lies).

This highly unusual name has been kicked up a notch, thanks to cooking guru Emeril Lagasse.

Though it's French, most Americans would pronounce it as the stone.

This regal French name is a descendant of the Latin Regina, as is the Spanish Reina. Reine is also a male name in Scandinavia.

This name for the sweetbriar shrub is a bit too reminiscent of eggplant.

The middle name of the Travoltas' Ella, this French color alternative hasn't caught on with many other parents.

The final e introduces pronunciation questions. Is Eleanor pronounced just like Eleanor, or is it the more elaborate el-LAY-ah-nor? Or something else?

Embroidered lace hankie of a name, used in a Thomas Hardy novel. That literary cred lends some gravitas.

This name of a daughter of Zeus has an intriguing air of antiquity.

An everyday name in France, a charismatic possibility here.

One of the oldest and most widely used compound names, now a bit dated but not as much so as its opposite Mary-Ann. The hyphen is optional.

Although it has a sweet meaning, this name feels dated nowadays, like a fifties poodle skirt. Lavender may be a fresher alternative.

Unique baby name and poetic Gallic choice. Guillaume Apollinaire was a French poet and novelist active in the early 20th century arts community, who is said to have coined the terms cubism and surrealism. He based his unique surname de plume on his Polish middle name, Apolinary.

Gemstone names have a long history of use, from Ruby to Pearl. Emeraude is the French word for emerald. If the Spanish Esmeralda is stylish, why not Emeraude?

Five girls were given the name Perrine last year. More modern-sounding are Perrin, Perry, or even Petra.