500+ French Dog Names

Lionel is yet another traditional boy's name entering the girls' column--at least once-- via prizewinning novelist Lionel (born Margaret Ann) Shriver.

In this country, likely to conjure up visions of leafy lettuce.

Linked to the early days of feminism via Germaine Greer, this saint's name feels neither French nor German enough.

This might be a better choice than the similarly pronounced Jan, to avoid gender confusion.

This geographic name has lots of Gallic elan. France Nuyen is a French-Vietnamese actress who starred in the Broadway hit The World of Suzie Wong.

Better for a perfume.

The strong and unusual name of a medieval (male) saint and a contemporary (female) novelist, Benilde Little.

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

Pleasant-sounding French surname.

Pacome is a French saint's name rarely heard in this country, but currently being revived in its native France.

Some variants are Pacomi, Pacomio and Pacomius.

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.

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

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

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.

Though Patrice is still common for boys in France, it has long been feminine here.

Feminine, à la Beryl and Merrill.

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

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

One of the more subtle of the names with a royal meaning, Delroy has a vintage flavor and would be a distinctive choice today.