Unique French Girl Names

Also spelled Anael, this offers a new spin on an old standard. Or even a couple of old standards, if you count Annabelle.

A sweet French word name possibility, but with unsavory teasing potential.

That extra a adds a world of grace to this name.

The name of a sixth century Welsh saint who founded abbeys in Brittany, reconstituted for a modern girl.

Possible musical tribute name to the waiflike, husky-voiced midcentury French singer who was given this last name because of her birdlike quality.

Another female relative of Saint Mael.

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.

Also spelled Gwénaëlle and Gwenaelle (outside of France), Gwenaëlle is the feminine form of Gwenaël, made up of the elements gwenn meaning blessed, and hael meaning "generous". While it fell out of style in France back in the 2000s, with the likes of Sylvie and Margot appealing in English speaking countries, Gwenaëlle might make an unexpected choice, an alternative to Noelle or Genevieve, and a way to nicknames Nell and Gwen.

Used by composer Xavier Leroux in his 1903 opera, La reine Fiammette, this fiery name is the French form of Fiammetta, itself an artistic variant of the Italian Fiamma.

A rare saint's name, Maxellende was a 7th-century martyr, associated with the French Catholic church. She is invoked to cure eye diseases and is more generally the patron saint of the visually impaired. Her name itself is a French form of Maxellendis, possibly linked to Maxence and Maximus meaning "greatest". Other forms of the name are Maxelende (borne by Filipino composer Maxelende Ganade) and Maxeline.

A sleek, more elaborate alternative to Maxine, Maxeline is a rare name of French origin, derived from the saintly name Maxellende. St. Maxellende is the patron saint of the visually impaired and invoked to cure eye diseases.