By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 72 pages
of 72
French
"esquire"
Conjures up a tweedy English country gentleman with a large paunch.
Greek
"the mother of all gods"
The Anatolian mother goddess Cybele had a place in Greek, Roman, Trojan, and Anatolian mythology. Today, she has special meaning as a symbol of gender nonconformity. In ancient Rome, Cybele's cult…
"courteous, polite"
Best-selling Prep author Curtis Sittenfeld made this one of the many boy names for girls" gaining in popularity and acceptability.
Christel is a feminine name with Germanic origins, functioning as a diminutive form of Christina or Christine. Popular throughout Germany, Scandinavia, and the Netherlands, it represents a variation…
French, German
"thoughtful counsel"
A French variation of the Germanic Tancred, Tancrède appears in the title of a play by Voltaire and an opera by André Campra, both written in the 18th-century. Real-life bearers have included a…
"warrior"
his engaging French saint's name, pronounced like tangy, with a hard ' g ,' also has a creative connection to French surrealist painter Yves Tanguy.
French, fortune-telling cards
A psychic mystique clings to this name of cards used in fortune-telling.
Theirry is a unique variation of the French name Thierry, which derives from the Germanic name Theodoric, meaning 'ruler of the people.' This alternate spelling maintains the French pronunciation…
French word name
"earth"
An intriguing but challenging choice, because of possible confusion with all the Terry-type names.
Cornelie is a feminine name of Latin origin, representing the French and German feminine form of Cornelius. The name derives from the Roman clan name Cornelius, possibly relating to the Latin word…
French from German
"courageous people"
Pronounced TEE-bow, this version, which is also a very common surname in France, has a lot more charm than the name it derives from — Theobald. A variant spelling is Thibaut. Trivia tidbit:…
Théodore is the French form of Theodore, a name with ancient Greek origins meaning 'gift of God,' derived from the elements 'theos' (god) and 'doron' (gift). The addition of the accent mark gives the…
Colombe is a delicate French feminine name meaning 'dove,' symbolizing peace, purity, and gentleness. Derived from the Latin 'columba,' this name has been used in France since medieval times, often…
Théophile is a masculine French name derived from Greek elements meaning 'friend of God' or 'beloved by God.' It shares its etymology with the English name Theophilus but maintains its distinctive…
"strength of a bull"
A dashing French surname name most famously borne by Henry David Thoreau, an American naturalist, writer and philosopher who influenced such notable figures as Leo Tolstoy, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin…
Timothé is a masculine name that represents the French form of Timothy, which derives from the Greek name Timotheos, meaning 'honoring God' or 'honored by God.' The accent on the final 'e' creates…
Timothée is the French form of Timothy, a masculine name with ancient Greek origins meaning 'honoring God' or 'honored by God.' This elegant variation gained international recognition through…
Tite is a rare masculine name with possible roots in multiple cultural backgrounds. It may be a diminutive form of names containing 'tit' elements or derived from regional nicknames. In some Latin…
French place-name and surname
Creative choice, evoking the high-kicking can-can girls and other colorful figures in the works of Toulouse-Lautrec.
Clémence is a feminine French name derived from the Latin 'clementia' meaning 'mercy', 'mildness', or 'gentleness'. This elegant name carries connotations of compassion, forgiveness, and…
