By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 72 pages
of 72
French
"northerner"
Somehow more modern and likable than Morris or Doris.
French variation of Severus; Latin
"stern, serious"
Severin is an ancient Roman family name borne by several early saints. It's still alive throughout Europe, and could be ready for import here. Severin Winter is a wrestling prodigy character in John…
French variation of Taylor
"tailor"
Thayer is an affable, less-common alternative to Taylor, with a much more indirect connection to its occupational source. Actor Thayer David (born David Thayer: Thayer was his father's first name)…
Breton, French, Hebrew, “chieftain; grace and favor of God"
Typically spelled as Amaël, this name can be a variation of the popular Breton name, Maël, which ranks in the Top 10 in France. Amaël itself entered the French Top 500 in 2021, and ranked at #337 in…
"stone, boulder"
Though associated with a French saint noted for her holiness and strength of character, this name is somewhat dated and it might be better to look to one of the more modern names popular for little…
French and Spanish, diminutive of Sebastien
"person from ancient city of Sebastia"
In this form, or as Sebastian or as Bas, Bastien is a fashionable Euro name with a possible future in America. There is a one-act comic opera by Mozart titled Bastien and Bastienne . An alternate…
Female version of Morgan, Welsh
"sea-circle"
Since Morgan is used as--or more--frequently for girls as for boys, this feminization has fallen by the wayside. It drew some brief attention via the pop singer Morgana King. The similar Morgiana…
Place name, English, Spanish, French, Latin "worth; valley"
"worth; valley"
A distinctive and unusual choice, Vail may stem from the Latin, French, and Spanish valor and valeur , denoting worth, merit, and value: a perfect meaning for a baby. There is the possibility however…
Lemar appears to have multiple possible origins. It could be a variant of Lamar, which itself may derive from French geographic place names (such as the French municipality La Mar) or from the French…
"gold town"
Only if you're an aviation buff or seriously addicted to popcorn.
Ariane is a feminine name of Greek origin, representing the French form of Ariadne. In Greek mythology, Ariadne was the daughter of King Minos who helped Theseus escape the Labyrinth. The name…
French variation of Philip
"lover of horses"
Philippe, pronounced fill-EEP, is Philip with Gallic flair.
English color name, Persian
"sky blue; lapis lazuli"
Azure is a colorful gender-neutral choice, currently used equally for baby girls and boys in the US. It refers to a specific shade of blue seen in a cloudless sky. Elon Musk revealed Azure to be the…
French from German
"healthy; wide"
Heloise is an ancient name related to sleek, peppy classic Eloise. Both ultimately derive from the Germanic name Helewidis, which became Helewis in medieval England. In the twelfth century, the name…
French variation of Aldric, Germanic
"old, wise ruler"
A historic name seeing some modern use among French-speaking parents.
French variation of Benedict
"blessed"
Once you get past the pronunciation hurdle, a smooth and elegant choice. In French, it's spelt with a circumflex: Benoît.
"desired, beloved"
Didier is kind of a Desiree for boy--a lively, confident name that's widely used in France and has definite possibilities here. It's the name of an early French saint.
"cherry"
Infinitely preferable to the tease-inspiring English version of the word.
French, diminutive of Esther or Estelle, Hebrew
"star"
Estée, with or without an accent, is most famously associated with cosmetics entrepreneur Estée Lauder, whose birth name was actually Josephine Esther Mentzer. The name is believed to be a stylized…
Variation of Meyer, Meir, Mayer, or Myer
"tenant, farmer, leader; shining; doctor"
A name with multiple origins, Meyers could be considered a German name meaning "tenant, farmer, bailiff" or "leader of the household", a Hebrew name meaning "enlightening, shining", a French name…
