1200+ French Names (with Meanings and Popularity)

Gilding the lily.

Déja was a name sensation of the nineties, reaching the Top 15 in African-American popularity lists, but it has déja fallen far from those lofty heights.

Likely to be pronounced AW-bert in English, short forms Aubie and Bertie give this rare French name quirky modern appeal.

French form of Urban or Urbanus, borne by eight popes.

So many names sound better with a French accent, and Petronille is one of them -- it feels unusual in an elegant way. But in the US, you'd have to be adventurous to choose it.

Mailer is one of the more unusual of the on-trend occupational surnames. Recommended for fans of the macho writer Norman Mailer.