French Names

Foppish name with a distinguished forebear, French general Marquis de Lafayette, who fought in the American Revolution. It accounts for the L in L. Ron Hubbard.   Old-time short form: Fayette or Fate.

Lafayette

Once seen as a dated French Claudette-Colbert feminization, along with Annette and Paulette, we can see Claudette moving into a more plausible Colette-Cosette arena. While some may be put off by the common "lame" meaning, some etymologists theorize that the name may relate to the word for enclosure or clause, an alternate meaning that may appeal to a child with a form of this otherwise-appealing name.

Claudette

Calm, composed, and chic. Often seen with an accent in France, as Clémence.

Clemence

Cydney

Owain is much more unusual than its brother name Owen, and feels a little more rugged, a little more adventurous and ancient.
 
Possibly an Old Welsh form of the Latin Eugenius, or, deriving from other Celtic roots to mean "born of goodness" or "born of sheep" - which might appeal to those who like Shepherd. 
 
Owain once belonged to a Knight of the Round Table and to two significant Welsh rulers, Owain Gwynedd, and Owain Glyndŵr, who resisted English rule. 
 
A more recent bearer is Owain Wyn Evans, a weatherman turned broadcaster and TV presenter. Known for his drag-themed weather forecast on International Drag Day 2017 and his hugely successful charity drumathon, Owain Wyn Evans may have brought the name to more parents' attention, as 2022 saw it return to the UK Top 1000.

Owain

Fine in France, but here it means vegetables sliced into thin strips.

Julienne

Although it has a sweet meaning, this name feels dated nowadays, like a fifties poodle skirt. Lavender may be a fresher alternative.

Laverne

Adds French flair to Victoria, though many Americans would find pronunciation a challenge.

Victoire

Herby and aristocratic Basil remains a tough sell, but we’d like to introduce you to Basile, the delightful French version. It retains all of Basil’s charm, but sheds some of the pesto linkage.
 
Basile is trending upward for boys in France and Belgium.

Basile

Dione is a masculine name with ancient Greek origins, though it's sometimes used for females as well. In Greek mythology, Dione was a Titaness who, in some accounts, was the mother of Aphrodite with Zeus. The name derives from 'Dios,' relating to Zeus or the divine. Despite its mythological weight, Dione has never been widely popular for boys but occasionally appears in classical or literary-minded families. It has a melodic quality with its flowing sounds and simple pronunciation. The name carries an air of classical sophistication and mythological significance. For male bearers, it offers a rare and distinctive option with historical depth. Its connection to ancient deities gives it a sense of strength and timelessness that appeals to parents drawn to names with mythological backgrounds.

Dione

One of the jewel names in use a hundred years ago, due for revival along with sisters Ruby and Pearl. 

Garnet

Mariann is a feminine name that functions as a variant of Marian or a combination of Maria and Ann. With roots in both Hebrew and Latin traditions, it carries the meanings of 'bitter' (from Maria/Mary) and 'grace' (from Ann), though the original 'bitter' meaning has evolved to be associated with the beloved biblical figure rather than its literal definition. Mariann peaked in popularity in the United States during the 1950s but has since become less common, giving it a vintage charm. The name has a melodious quality with its flowing syllables and combines traditional religious associations with a slightly distinctive spelling. Mariann offers the nickname options of Mari, Ann, or Anna, providing versatility for the bearer. In many European countries, particularly in Hungary, Mariann remains a classic choice.

Mariann

Martine

A modern twist on Michelle spotlighted by Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols. 

Nichelle

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

Patrice

A particularly beautiful member of the Oriana and Orane clan,Oriane is the first name of a major character in Proust's In Search Of Lost Time, the Duchesse de Guermantes. Also borne by climber Oriane Bertone, the name may derive from the Latin aurum meaning "gold" or from oriens meaning "rising, sunrise". It was give to just 8 girls in a recent year in the US, but was a popular choice in France in the 2000s.

Oriane

Ro- names are on trend, with Rowan, Romy, Rosemary Rosalie, and Rory in the US charts, but how about this rare option? 
 Rhone may derive from the name of a river in southeastern France, that takes its name from a Proto-European word believed to mean "to flow", however, it could equally be considered an Anglicization of Roan, a Frisian name meaning "raven". Opting for this spelling could help get you to a single syllable pronunciation.
 
The name has been appearing in the US charts for boys since 2004 and debuted for girls in 2016. Used for a small but rising number of babies, a recent year saw it given to 8 girls, along with 28 boys.

Rhone

A feminine form of Thomas, popular in Spain in the first half of the 20th century, it also ranked in the US Top 1000 in the 1920s. Parents may have been inspired by the Spanish Roman Catholic Nun, Tomasa Oritz Real, who devoted her life to looking after ill and orphaned children, and who had died in 1916, shortly before the name gained traction. 



Tomasa

Verenice is a feminine name that represents a variant spelling of Berenice or Bernice, which comes from the Greek 'Berenike' meaning 'bringing victory.' The name has ancient roots, notably belonging to a historical Egyptian queen, Berenice II. The variation with 'V' instead of 'B' gives the name a slightly different phonetic quality while maintaining its classical heritage. Verenice has a flowing, melodic sound with a romantic, almost poetic quality. While not among the most common names in English-speaking countries, it enjoys some usage in Spanish-speaking communities. The name strikes a balance between familiarity and uniqueness, offering an elegant alternative to more common classical names.

Verenice

Bijou is a name that lives up to its definition -- a real jewel. Warning: not unheard of on poodles' dog collars. Actress Bijou Phillips is its best known bearer. It can also be spelled Bijoux.

Bijou

French names include many classic names that have ranked highly in the US for its entire history. These

 include Anne and Louis, Charlotte and Charles, and Josephine and Curtis (though it may surprise you to learn that Curtis is not only French, but perennially popular!).



French names in the US Top 200 for girls include Annabelle, Charlotte, Claire, Josephine, and Sophie. For boys, 

 include Andre, Beau, Chase, Remy, and Russell. In France, popular names include Louise, Manon, Jules, and Bastien.

 attracting fresh attention in both France and beyond include, for girls, Capucine, Darcy, Delphine, Elodie, Maribel, Oceane, Ottilie, Quincy, Romilly, and Sylvie. For boys, Dion, Emilien, Florent, Julius, Lionel, Montague, Pom, and Quincy.

Here are all the French names for girls and boys on Nameberry, ordered by their current popularity with our visitors.

French names including meaning and popularity for girls and boys such as Beau, Elodie, Sylvie, including baby names popular in France and names of French origin for boys and girls.. (Page 24)

French Names (with Meanings and Popularity)