1200+ French Names (with Meanings and Popularity)

The French variation of Giselle was made famous by the spectacular Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen.

One of the jewel names in use a hundred years ago, due for revival along with sisters Ruby and Pearl.

Kids would be more likely to associate this name with the hyperactive meercat in "The Lion King" than with the ancient Greek philosopher or Shakespearean character, which could cause playground problems.

Desi makes Desiree a lot cuter and more boyish.

Attractive, underused name made famous by the heroine of The Color Purple. Still, if you're going to go to Celie, why not go all the way to Celia or Cecelia? You can always use Celie for short.

Noel, the French word for Christmas has been given to both boys and girls born on that holiday since the Middle Ages. For girls it's often spelled Noelle.

Last popular in this country from the 1920s to the 1950s, it now seems more modern than the English Theresa.

Mason with a French accent. It first entered the US Top 1000 in 2012, and it will likely hang on for as long as its brother-in-spelling-variations, Mayson.

Soft and delicate French name rarely heard here.

An undiscovered gem with clunky, buttoned-up appeal and a literary feel thanks to poet Delmore Schwartz.

The iconic Gone With the Wind star Clark's surname was brought into the first-name mix when Weeds' Kevin Nealon picked it for his son. Gable makes a strong and unusual possibility, a rhyming cousin to Abel and Mabel.

Most contemporary parents would probably opt for the more streamlined Elle.

Varying Filbert does not improve the name: it still makes one think of a nut.

Beach boy name of the 1960s, Darrell is still a presence on the charts and may graduate into a stately surname name.

French Canadian singer Dion made us notice this variation, but most parents would prefer the Selene spelling.

Instead of the usual French suspects -- Danielle, Isabelle, Gabrielle -- why not consider Fabienne, which is less common and just as pretty.

More likely to be spelled Constantine, this was the name of the first Christian emperor of the Roman empire, as well as three Scottish kings. Previously thought of as too bulky and unwieldy a name for a modern child, these days it would be perfectly acceptable.

The lovely sound and image of the French river and lush valley would make this a most distinctive and captivating choice. Pronunciation: low-ahr.

Sounds like a princess -- or an enticingly evil witch -- in a fairy tale.

Sophisticated, stylish feminine form of Pascal especially appropriate for girls born around Easter or Passover.