1200+ French Names (with Meanings and Popularity)

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.

Henriette is to Henri (or Henry) what Charlotte is to Charles. Yet this elegant French name is surprisingly rare in the States.

Marcheline was the first name of Angelina Jolie's late mother, who was part French-Canadian, which Jolie and Brad Pitt used as the middle name for their twin daughter Vivienne. The name is related to the Latin Marcellus and Marcus, which come from Mars, the name of the God of War, and is often spelled Marceline. Jolie's mother's birth name was Marcia Lynne.

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

Proof that a name can be too feminine.

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.

Louisiana is a geographic spin on the Louise theme. Pretty, if a bit of a syllable overload. Short form Lou or Lulu lightens it.

The English name pool is lacking a male equivalent to Seraphina, but this angelic boy name is occasionally used in France.

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.

Straightforward but very unusual choice, deriving from a place name in Italy.