1200+ French Names (with Meanings and Popularity)

We can think of two drawbacks to this name: the slightly feminine el ending, and the resemblance to the delicate dumpling called a quenelle.

Feels more modern than the Y version but also less authentic.

Strong, solid surname name. For many this name will be inextricably linked with former Vice President Dick Cheney - a hinderance or a virtue, depending on your political leanings.

Mardi is a foreign word name that sounds like a homegrown nickname. For what? We're not sure, but it's kinda cute, and preferable to Tuesday.

Attractive if phonetically confusing; also pronounced exactly the same as the Renault car.

A happy combination of several desirable genres: it's a word name, it has a foreign accent, and it has a highly virtuous meaning. And few other parents will be bold enough to choose it.

French variation of Ophelia that might make that lovely-and-haunted name feel more viable, yet there will be inevitable pronunciation issues.

Unusual saint's name rarely heard outside Roman Catholic rectories until it made an appearance on a reality-TV show; has an attractive French feel.

Hervé was a legendary French saint, patron of the blind, who performed many miracles -- it's a lot more sophisticated than the English Harvey.

Sweet and charming French nickname for Anne, à la Manon for Marie.

Verane is a French name largely unknown outside its native shores: No baby girls were given this name in the US last year. But with Vera's steady rise over the past decade or so, Vérane might be discovered.

It's a place. It's a wine. It's a color. -- no wonder trend-heavy Burgundy's been discovered as a name.