French Names

The French version of Candida, and with no unfortunate medical connection, much more wearable. It has never been recorded in the US charts, but could be a charming alternative to names like Cosette, Celine, Celeste, or Constance. In France, although not common, it was used in small numbers in the 1970s and 1980s.

Candide

Vocal name seldom heard, with most elle-ending names these days dropped in favor of the more straightforward Elle and Ella. 

Cantrelle

Capucine was a chic French actress half a century ago and has been one of the most fashionable girl names in France in recent decades, ranking in France's Top 100. Capucine is also popular in French-speaking Belgium.

To Americans and other English speakers, this name still feels fresh -- so fresh that last year, no baby girls were named Capucine in the US.

Capucine

Cécile is a feminine French name derived from the Latin 'Caecilia', the feminine form of 'Caecilius', an ancient Roman family name possibly meaning 'blind' or related to the Latin word 'caecus'. The name gained popularity through Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians in the Catholic tradition. Cécile has been used in France since medieval times and maintains steady popularity in French-speaking regions. The accent over the first 'e' creates the soft 'say-SEEL' pronunciation. The name carries an elegant, refined quality typical of French names while maintaining historical depth. Cécile evokes images of sophistication and artistic sensibility, perhaps influenced by its connection to the musically-inclined saint.

Cécile

French Canadian singer Dion made us notice this variation, but most parents would prefer the Selene spelling. 

Céline

Chablis

Derived from French, Chambray is the name of a smooth, light, colored fabric, interwoven with white thread. It took its name from its place of origin, Cambrai (originally Cambray) in the north of France. The name of the place itself possibly comes from the Roman Camaracum meaning "property of Camarus", though it may also derive from the Gallic cambo meaning "that which is curved".
 
While some will find the sounds appealing and on trend, others will struggle to the sense in naming a child after a fabric. Still, with other "clothing" inspired choices like Denim, Stetson, Givenchy, Dior, and Armani attracting attention, perhaps Chambray will gain more attention.

Chambray

Like Chantelle, but with a French word connection.

Chandelle

The name of a French city famous for its fine lace. Another association: Chantilly cream – a sweetened whipped cream apparently invented there in the 17th century by a chef at the Château de Chantilly. The town probably takes is name from the Gallo-Roman personal name Cantilius, derived from a word for "white".

 Tilly is a sweet and stylish short form – especially in the UK, where it's on the rise as a standalone name, as well as a nickname for Matilda or Ottilie – but Chantilly feels a little too saccharine.

Chantilly

If you're actually considering this as a name for your child, you must have had a glass too many. But it's an awesome <a href="/list/589/white-cat-names">name for a white cat</a>.

Chardonnay

For years there was only one Cher, and then along came the charming heroine of the movie "Clueless."  The world now officially has enough Chers in it. 

Cher

French form of Chloé. A popular choice with French-speaking parents, though people elsewhere may associate it most with luxury handbags.

Chloé

There are not one but two notable modern women with this name: journalist Christiane Amanpour and physician/author Christiane Northrup. In Germany, the pronunciation is kris-tee-AH-na while in France, it's kris-tee-AHN — and in the U.S., there's sure to be confusion. While Christiane is not stylish, it's a strong, attractive, unusual-though-familiar name.

Christiane

One familiar name never used for real people, for obvious reasons. Read more about Cinderella and other <a href="https://nameberry.com/blog/disney-princess-names">Disney Princess Names</a> in our featured blog.

Cinderella

A Gallic twist on a word or nature name, which has a nice lemony feel.


Citron

Clarette is a delicate feminine name derived from the Latin word "clarus," meaning "clear," "bright," or "famous." It can be considered a diminutive form of Clare or Clara, with the French-inspired "-ette" suffix adding a touch of elegance and refinement. Though uncommon in most English-speaking countries, Clarette carries a vintage charm that evokes images of sophistication and grace. The name also bears resemblance to claret, the deep red wine, potentially adding associations with richness and depth. Clarette might appeal to parents seeking a name with classic roots but a distinctive, somewhat rarified quality that sets their daughter apart.

Clarette

Clairette is a feminine name of French origin, functioning as a diminutive of Claire (meaning 'clear' or 'bright' from Latin 'clarus'). The suffix '-ette' adds a touch of delicacy and charm, typical of French feminine diminutives. Beyond its use as a personal name, Clairette is also known as a variety of white wine grape grown primarily in southern France. The name evokes qualities of clarity, brightness, and refinement with its French styling. While never achieving widespread popularity outside of French-speaking regions, Clairette carries an elegant, sophisticated air that appeals to those drawn to names with French flair. The name suggests a personality that is illuminating, pure, and graceful, with the diminutive form adding a note of endearing sweetness.

Clairette

Yes, we tend to think of Claude as a male name and Claudia and Claudette as the female, but this ancient clan name is used in France for girls as well as boys, and could make a distinctively chic <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/79/boy-names-for-girls">boy name for girls</a> here too. You may be surprised to know that Claude was in fairly regular use for American girls in the 1880's and nineties, reaching as high as 553 in 1880.

 In her native country, there have been some famous female Claudes, including Queen Claude of France (1499 to 1524), daughter of Louis XII, and another sixteenth century Claude de France, daughter of Henri II.

 Later Claudes include the daughter of Claude Debussy, Claude-Emma (called Chouchou), the leading female character in Tracy Chevalier's novel Lady and the Unicorn, French actress Claude Jade and photographer Claude Cahun, and the widow of French Prime Minister Georges Pompidou.

 While the "lame" meaning is the most widely acknowledged, 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.

Claude

Claudie

There are much chicer versions of this name today, such as Claudie, Claudia, or Claude itself. Claudine is a name wobbling on the edge of extinction.

Claudine

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 50)

French Names (with Meanings and Popularity)