1200+ French Names (with Meanings and Popularity)

  1. Éliane
    • Origin:

      French variation of Eliana
    • Description:

      The soignée French member of this family of names.
  2. Germaine
    • Origin:

      French from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "from Germany"
    • Description:

      This French feminine version of Germain is a unisex choice in the U.S., also spelled Jermaine, Jemaine, and Germain. Rooted in the ancient Latin Germanus, which may mean sprout or brother, it's no longer a fashionable choice in any version.
  3. Érasme
    • Antinea
      • Origin:

        French after the Greek name for the Queen of Atlantis
      • Description:

        In Pierre Benoit's novel, Antinea is a beautiful and charming queen with a hideous secret: She has a cave wall with 120 niches carved into it, one for each of her lovers. Only 53 have been filled; when all 120 have been filled, Antinea will sit atop a throne in the centre of the cave and rest forever.
    • Evonne
      • Origin:

        French variation of Yvonne
      • Description:

        A variation made famous by Australian Aboriginal tennis champ Evonne Goolagong.
    • Baize
      • Origin:

        French
      • Meaning:

        "dark brown"
      • Description:

        This fabric word name would be a one-of-a-kind.
    • Martine
      • Origin:

        French
      • Meaning:

        "warlike"
      • Description:

        Sleek and sophisticated.
    • Benoit
      • Origin:

        French variation of Benedict
      • Meaning:

        "blessed"
      • Description:

        Once you get past the pronunciation hurdle, a smooth and elegant choice. In French, it's spelt with a circumflex: Benoît.
    • Benoît
      • Origin:

        French
      • Meaning:

        "blessed"
      • Description:

        A French form of Benedict that makes a smooth and elegant choice, although the pronunciation may trip people up in an English speaking environment.
    • Romane
      • Origin:

        French
      • Meaning:

        "a Roman"
      • Description:

        The feminine version of the newly-stylish Roman -- and the longer form of the also-newly-stylish Romy -- would make a girls' choice that achieves that near-impossible balance of being both original and fashionable. This variation is far superior to Romaine, which is too lettuce-y.
    • Romany
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "Romani"
      • Description:

        Romany is a melodious name referring to the Roma or Romani community and their culture, which makes it a potentially controversial choice for a baby not of that heritage. Romany Malco is an actor who appeared on the television show "Weeds." Other similar ideas: Roman, Romano, or Romeo.
    • Orly
      • Julienne
        • Origin:

          French from Latin
        • Meaning:

          "youthful or sky father"
        • Description:

          Fine in France, but here it means vegetables sliced into thin strips.
      • Aurel
        • Lizette
          • Origin:

            French, diminutive of Elizabeth
          • Meaning:

            "pledged to God"
          • Description:

            Whether you spell it Lisette or Lizette, a somewhat dated diminutive that nevertheless retains some charm.
        • Fayette
          • Origin:

            Short form of Lafayette, French
          • Meaning:

            "faith"
          • Description:

            Short form found in historical records, feels a tad feminine for modern times.
        • Page
          • Origin:

            French
          • Meaning:

            "page, attendant"
          • Description:

            Sleek and sophisticated single-syllable choice that has NEVER been in the Top 1000, though sister name Paige has ranked since the mid 1950s. Though off her peak, Paige is still in the Top 200. Along with Poppy, Patience, and Plum, Page is one of the girl names that start with P that are also words.
        • Odilia
          • Origin:

            Germanic
          • Meaning:

            "wealth, fortune"
          • Description:

            Though it has never charted in the United States, this frilly name has the elements some brave, modern namers might find attractive—namely, the initial O and the -ia suffix.
        • Vermont
          • Origin:

            French
          • Meaning:

            "green mountain"
          • Description:

            Place-name waiting to be discovered.
        • Cabot
          • Origin:

            French
          • Meaning:

            "to sail"
          • Description:

            Cabot is an attractive English surname associated with the daring early Italian-born British explorer known as John Cabot; his birth name was Giovanni Caboto.