French Girl Names (with Meanings & Popularity)

Rosemarie had its moment in the sun back in the middle of the last century, when parents were looking for new ways to recycle traditional family names. So a child might combine her two grandma's names and become Rosemarie (or Annmarie or Maryjean), but these combination names feel dated now.

This name for the sweetbriar shrub is a bit too reminiscent of eggplant.

If you're looking for a fresher belle name than Isabelle, Mirabelle is lovely, and we also like the extra flourish of Mirabella. And if you want a nature tie, Mirabelle is also the name of a delicate French plum.

A smooth and velvety Gallic choice first heard here as the heroine of the movie "Chocolat."

Attractive, underused name made famous by the heroine of The Color Purple. Still, if you're going to go to Celie, why not go all the way to Celia or Cecelia? You can always use Celie for short.

Collette is a feminine name of French origin, serving as a variation of Nicole or Nicolette, ultimately derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning 'victory of the people.' This elegant name carries a sophisticated European flair and has maintained consistent popularity throughout the decades without becoming overly common. Collette was particularly fashionable in the mid-20th century, partly inspired by the renowned French novelist and performer Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, known simply as 'Colette.' The name evokes images of Parisian chic and artistic sensibility. With its melodic sound and cultural cachet, Collette offers a classic yet distinctive option for parents seeking a name with timeless appeal.

Ghislaine still sounds unusual to us, even though in France this name is dated. It can also be spelled Ghislain.

Also seen as Alyenor and Eleonore, this is an old French name dating back to the Arthurian romances and still heard today.

Embroidered lace hankie of a name, used in a Thomas Hardy novel. That literary cred lends some gravitas.

Pronounced as the English word joy, rather than as the French phrase joie de vivre, Joie might produce more complications than joy.

Though it has never charted in the United States, this frilly name has the elements some brave, modern namers might find attractive—namely, the initial O and the -ia suffix.

Soft and delicate French name rarely heard here.

The female version of Emanuel could become more prominent, though for some it still carries a steamy image dating back to a then sensationally erotic French film. Singer and Shameless star Emmy Rossum's full name is Emmanuelle.

A trendy name in France, sometimes also spelled Ysaline, that's related to both Isabelle and Iseult. To the American ear, it freshens up Isabelle without really improving on it.

Noel, the French word for Christmas has been given to both boys and girls born on that holiday since the Middle Ages. For girls it's often spelled Noelle.

The French Canadian pop star Avril Lavigne put the spotlight on this name when she made the charts with "Sk8er Boi". It is simply the French form of April, the fourth month of the year, whose name might derive from the Latin aperire meaning "to open" in reference to the start of spring in the Northern hemisphere. Other sources suggest it comes from the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite.

That extra a adds a world of grace to this name.

Paris, a one-time mythical and Shakespearean boys' name, peaked in 2004 at Number 157 at least in part due to the highly publicized Paris Hilton. Michael Jackson used it for his daughter.

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