1200+ French Names (with Meanings and Popularity)

This French version of Viridiana and Viridis lacks the charm of similar and more familiar French names like Vivienne and Adrienne.

In France it's sometimes bestowed as a patriotic gesture; in English-speaking places it has an air of genteel sophistication.

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.

Rosine can be thought of as a short form of the classic flower name Rose. It's similar to the Irish Róisín, though that is pronounced roh-sheen.

Once exclusively male name, Daryl Hannah made the Darrell spelling just as appropriate for girls -- and maybe even more feminine than masculine these days.

But what happens when Jeune grows vieille.

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

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

It's unusual, but that may be its best feature.

Likable choice for history-minded parents who might want to honor Irish patriot Charles Parnell.

An undiscovered last-name-first option.

Novel French twist on Starr or Stella.

Unusual surname with rowdy quality.