Updated October 2026
Across 8 pages
of 8
French variation of Alexander
"defending men"
What's the difference between Alexander, the usual English spelling of this deeply classical name, and Alexandre, the French version? English speakers might find the proper French pronunciation…
French from German
"noble, ready for battle"
Rarely used, and for good reason. Alonzo is a preferable choice. Alphonse does have a mixed bag of notable namesakes—French novelist Alphonse Daudet, painter Alphonse Mucha, and it was the birth name…
"desired; or island, water"
Aveline is a name that's long been an obscure cousin of more widely-used choices, but may come into its own riding the tail of the megapopular Ava, which may derive from the same root. Although…
French, variation of Alan
Alain gives the midcentury Alan a bit of gallic dash.
French variation of Annabelle
This version of the name with only one n does not have nearly the popularity of its sister. Unless you have a particular aversion to the fourteenth letter of the alphabet, it may be best to stick…
French feminine diminutive form of Antoine
"priceless one"
This feminization of Anthony, like other early French forms, such as Babette and Nanette, is not heard as often as it once was, but it could be time for a reappraisal of this delicate Gallic choice.…
French
"to entice, attract"
Sounds like a princess -- or an enticingly evil witch -- in a fairy tale.
French literary name
One of Dumas' swashbuckling Three Musketeers, now better known as a men's cologne.
French, English
"bee; little elf ruler; father of multitudes"
Similar in style to Everett and Avery, Avett is a zippy, musical choice that many will associate with the American folk-rock band, The Avett Brothers. The exact etymology of the name is unknown, but…
French variation of Herman, German
"soldier"
Since the first production of Camille this has been considered one of the world's most romantic names, though it's one of those French names for boys rarely heard in this country. Actor Armie…
French form of Latin Augustus
"great, magnificent"
French version of August, for both sexes. And for those who feel the spelling of August is too plain.
Danish, Norwegian, and German form of Amalia or Amelia
"work"
Popular in Norway and Denmark, but familiar across Europe, Amalie can be pronounced as a-MAHL-yah, much like sister Amalia. A variation of Amelia, it shares the same Germanic element, amal meaning…
Romanian and English form of Aurelius, Latin
"golden"
While Aurelio, Aurelia, and Aurelius are all on the rise, this historical and Romanian form of the golden name is yet to share in its relatives' success. Given to just 25 boys in a recent year, it…
French, from Latin Ariadne
"very holy one"
Soft and delicate French name rarely heard here.
French form of Amalric
"work power"
Friendlier french form of ancient Germanic royal name Amalric or Emmerich.
Variation of Azélie, French
"noble type"
An Anglicization of Azélie, a French name which ultimately derives from Adelaide, via the Occitan form Azalaïs. The traditional spelling was borne by Saint Marie-Azélie Guérin, also called Zélie, the…
A chic and sassy French choice, popular in France but likely to be confused with the more prosaic Alex in English-speaking countries. Although sometimes used in the US as a variant spelling of Alex,…
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…
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…
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…