French Names

A rare and distinctive way to international nickname, Nico, Nicodème is the French variation of the Biblical Nicodemus and the Greek Nikodemos. In the New Testament, it was borne by one of the men who helped to entomb Jesus following his crucifixion. 

Nicodème

Ozark relates to a highland region in the US that spreads across Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Made up of mountain ranges and plateaus, the area is commonly referred to as The Ozarks and The Ozark Highlands.
 
Also used as the name of various lakes, cities, and counties across the US, the exact etymology of the name is contested. One theory is that it comes from the French aux arcs meaning "at the arches", likely inspired by the natural bridges and arch-like landforms in the area. Alternatively, it may be an English shortening of the French aux Arcansas meaning "among the Arkansas", in which Arkansas refers to the Quapaw tribe. 
 
Similar in sound to Ozias, Ozzy, Izaak, and Mark, it would make a distinctive yet approachable choice. In fact, it has seen some quiet "real-life" usage huntsman, fisherman, and writer Ozark Ripley and musician Ozark Henry have both chosen to go by the name.

Ozark

As a masculine name, Persey might well be used as a Bulgarian and Russian form of Perseus, however, as a feminine choice, it's more likely to derive from the name of the Greek goddess of the Spring and the Underworld, Persephone. Alternatively, it may be used as a gender-neutral form of Percy, itself adapted from a French place name, Perci-en-Auge, meaning "one who pierces the valley".

Persey

Poppa of Bayeux was a matriarch of the family that became the House of Normandy. Poppa is a fresh and unexpected medieval name that would work today, given the popularity if Pippa and Poppy.

Poppa

Typically used as a masculine name, Rainier is a relative of Rayner that also appears on the map as a mountain in Washington state. Given to a handful of girls across the 2010s and 2020s, Rainier can be said as REH-NYEH in French and as ray-NEER in American English. 




Rainier

Saint Roch -- pronounced like rock -- is the patron saint of dogs. Roch is definitely one of the coolest saints' names, but many Americans will say it like roach and not rock. You will have to educate them.

Roch

Rochelle rose to fame in the 1930s, thanks to actress Rochelle Hudson, who used it as a stage name. Derived from a French city name, it mean "little rock". Used nearly exclusively for girls, it has appeared in the US stats for boys a handful of times, perhaps due to data input errors or because it was a family surname. 

Rochelle

A spiritual French name with a bright sound, Rosaire featured in the French Top 500 right up until the 1960s, peaking in the late 1930s when it reached #232, and was given to 34 boys. The French word for "rosary", a form of Catholic devotion combining Hail Marys with Our Fathers and a Glory Bes, it is also the name of the beads used for keeping count of the devotions. 
 
Now a rare name, it may appeal to those who enjoy other bold and declarative spiritual names, like Praise and Psalm. It did see very occasional use in the US before the 1950s, mostly for boys but for a handful of girls too. Rosary, by contrast is still sometimes used, as is Italian Rosaio.

Rosaire

Poetic and gentle, Rosamie could make an unexpected alternative to Rosalie, Rosemary, and Romy. Predominantly used in the Philippines, it may be considered a variation of Rosamund (inspired by French choices such as Amelie, Cornelie, Annemie and similar), or it could be viewed as a compound name, blending rose and amie, which gives you the sweet meaning "friend of roses".

Rosamie

A pretty blend of floral classic Rose and the elegant French Hélène, this compound name could be interpreted as meaning "rose of light", "shining light of the rose", or perhaps "rosy, shining light".  A notable bearer is Algerian footballer, Roselène Khezami. 

Roselène

A diminutive or feminine form of Russell, Russie has an autumnal, rugged air. Used occasionally in the 20th-century, Russie could fit with the likes of Rusty, Stevie, Dusty, and Freddie.

Russie

A nature name, a word name, and an sea-inspired option, this as yet undiscovered name might just fit in with the likes of Samuel, Saint, and Sage. Used to describe a plant that grows near the sea, Samphire is grounded by popular nicknames Sam and Sammy, though Ira, Sai, or Saffy might appeal to those who prefer something more unusual.
 
The edible plant takes its name from the French herbe de Saint Pierre, which was corrupted in English to sampiere and then to samphire in the 16th century. It was named for St. Peter, the patron saint of fisherman, making this a very offbeat choice to honor a Peter (or a fisher). 
 
Samphire can be pronounced with three syllables, SAM-fie-uh, or with two, SAM-fuh, depending on regional differences, and it has yet to appear in any name data.

Samphire

Sage, Rosemary, Saffron, Ginger, and Cassia are used as names, so how about Samphire? This unusual name is given to a plant from the parsley family that grow on seaside cliffs but it's also used to refer to other coastal plants that resemble it. Similar in sound to Sapphire, Saphira, Samantha, and Samara, this undiscovered name could make a bold choice with familiar sounds and grounded nickname options, Sam, Sammy, and Saffie.
 
Derived from the French herbe de Saint Pierre, it was corrupted in English to sampiere and then to samphire. As such, the name means "St Peter's herb", in honor of the patron saint of fisherman. 
 
Appearing in Shakespeare's King Lear and in a number of food recipes, Samphire can be pronounced as SAM-fie-uh or as SAM-fuh, depending on region. A one of a kind choice, this nature, herb, food and sea-related name has yet to appear in the US stats.

Associated with a historic region of Europe, a luxury hotel group, and to a type of cabbage, Savoy comes from the Latin sappinus, via the French Savoie. Meaning "fir (tree)", it has appeared sporadically in the US charts for boys since the 20th-century, though it has only ever been given in small numbers.

Savoy

Bringing to mind a luxury hotel group and a type of cabbage, Savoy was also the name of a historic region of Europe. Derived from the Latin sappinus via the French Savoie, it means "fir (tree)", and has been appearing sporadically in the US stats since the 20th-century. Predominantly given to boys (in small numbers), it has very occasionally ranked for girls too.

The French form of Sebastian, itself derived from the name of an ancient city whose name meant "venerable" in Greek, Sébastien was a popular choice in France, Belgium, Quebec, and Czechia up until the early 2010s when it fell out of style. Short form Bastien is still in the French charts however.
 
Notable bearers include politician (and French Prime Minister, 2025) Sébastien Lecornu and racing driver, Sébastien Loeb.

Sébastien

A melodic French choice, Séraphie is a variation of Seraphia or Serapia, both derived from Serapis, the name of a Greco-Egyptian god, formed through fusing the sacred bull Apis with the god of the dead, Osiris. Séraphie may also be viewed as a saintly choice, associated with the 2nd-century martyr, Saint Serapia, who was killed after she refused to worship the Roman gods.
 
From its Greek and Egyptian roots, it likely comes from asar meaning "eye" or "mighty", however, it may occasionally be linked or used as a twist on Seraphine, associated with six-winged Biblical angels whose name means "fiery ones".
 
Both Séraphie and Séraphine were familiar in France in the early 20th-century.

Séraphie

Chosen by influencer India Blue (also known as Indy Blue) for her son's middle name in 2025, Severe may be viewed as a word name, with various meanings, including "stern, strict", "great, intense", or "plain, restrained" (usually in regards to someone's appearance". As such, it may link to the "very demure" trend that year, though the content creator may have also chosen it as a nod to brother's name, Seven. 
 
Alternatively, Severe is a spelling variation of Sévère (SEH-VEHR), a French form of Severus, a Latin name meaning "stern, strict".

Severe

A cross between Cherie and Sherry, neither of which have crossed into the 21st century.

Sherie

A French variant of the ancient Latin Sixtus, a name whose meaning can be interpreted as "scraped, polished" from the Latin Xystos, or, perhaps more intuitively now, from the Latin sextus meaning "sixth". A rare option, it has appeared in the French charts only twice: once in 1904 and again in 1940.
 
Sixte may also be considered a word name, used to describe one of the eight basic positions in fencing in which the sword hand is held at chest heigh and the end of the sword at eyelevel. In this case, it is pronounced more like sikst than the French seekst.

Sixte

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 45)

French Names (with Meanings and Popularity)