1200+ French Names (with Meanings and Popularity)

Variation of Terence.

This name of a famous Parisian fashion designer known for her sophisticated 1920s and 30s style could translate into a pretty American baby name.

An appealing surname-name that sounds perfectly feminine, unless you consider the association to Vice President Dick.

Rarely heard but pleasing feminissima name for a baby girl.

How to spruce up Fisher or Beau? This French surname-name might be an option for a parent unafraid of the unusual. The name derives from Barbel, a type of fish, which is how it became a surname for some fishermen.

The fashionable occupational last name category gets some French flair with this, Tennessee Williams's middle name.

Feminine, à la Beryl and Merrill.

Octave shortens Octavius to a more manageable length, keeping the "eighth" meaning. In English speaking countries, however, people could easily confuse this with the musical term octave.

This Frenchified variation softens and prettifies the harsh original.

Surname of a fifteenth-century saint and a twenty-first-century quarterback, Brett Favre.

Rare French option for girls, but feels familiar thanks to the popularity of Sebastian.

Rhythmic and energetic, Drury is of French origin, with the wonderful meaning of "dear one, sweetheart."

Fervent fans of The Catcher in the Rye might want to consider this as a literary tribute. More mainstream alternative: Holden.

There are not one but two notable modern women with this name: journalist Christiane Amanpour and physician/author Christiane Northrup. In Germany, the pronunciation is kris-tee-AH-na while in France, it's kris-tee-AHN — and in the U.S., there's sure to be confusion. While Christiane is not stylish, it's a strong, attractive, unusual-though-familiar name.