French Names for Girls

A pretty name heard in the Louisiana Cajun community, Abella would fit right in with all the other, more familiar, bella names.

Abella

The kind of French word name that seemed daring and darling in the 50s and 60s when it was at its peak, Cherie had actually made debut in the US charts back in 1927 when it followed alternative and more popular spelling Sherry into the charts.
 
Inspired by the French chérie meaning "darling", by the sound-alike alcoholic drink, and by similar names already in the US charts (Shirley, Cherry, Charlie, Terry, and Jerry), Cherie eventually peaked in 1967, when it ranked #274 and was given to 958 girls. 
 
Out of fashion again by the 90s, you might look at Soleil as the 2020's alternative to mid-century Cherie: that is, a French word used as an English given name but rarely actually used in France itself.
 
Just 12 American girls were called Cherie in a recent year, while 23 were called Sherry, 42 were called Cherry, 47 were called Darling, and 275 were called Darla!

Cherie

Christelle is a feminine name of French origin, developed as a diminutive form of Christine, which itself derives from the Greek 'Christos' meaning 'anointed one.' The suffix '-elle' adds a delicate, feminine quality to the name. Popular primarily in French-speaking regions including France, Switzerland, and Quebec, Christelle gained notable popularity during the 1970s and 1980s. The name carries Christian associations while embodying French elegance and sophistication. Christelle has a melodious quality with its soft consonants and flowing sound pattern. While not extremely common in English-speaking countries, it has gained appreciation among those seeking names with European flair. Bearers of this name might appreciate its connection to faith traditions while enjoying its distinctively French character and refined aesthetic appeal.

Christelle

Harriette is a feminine name of Germanic origin, a diminutive form of Harriet, which itself is a feminine version of Harry or Henry. The name means 'home ruler' or 'ruler of the household,' suggesting strength and leadership. Harriette gained some popularity in the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly among the British aristocracy, but has become less common in modern times, giving it a vintage charm. The extra 'te' ending adds a touch of elegance and distinction to the classic Harriet. While not among the most popular names today, Harriette occasionally experiences small revivals as parents seek out sophisticated traditional names with historical depth. The name carries associations with notable figures like the 19th-century writer Harriette Wilson.

Harriette

Mally actually has several possible derivations beyond being a medieval nickname, ala Molly, for Mary . It might be a diminutive of names like Mallory, derived from French meaning "unfortunate" or "unlucky," or as a nickname for Amalia, meaning "work" or "labor" in Germanic languages. 

While Mally is more distinctive than the popular Molly, it sounds the same and so will cause endless confusion.

Mally

A pretty name that may pose pronunciation problems for non-French speakers or those who've never encountered it, but it is worth the effort. Pronounced meer-AY (or closer to MEE-RAY in French), it comes from the Occitan word mirar meaning "to admire". 
 
Popular in France in the 20th century, it peaked in 1949 when it briefly entered the Top 20, however, it has been out of style in its native country since the 80s. In the US, it was given to just 13 girls in 2025, making it a rare choice.
 
International forms of the name include the Spanish Mireya and Mireia , the Italian Mirella, and the Albanian and Croatian Mirela.

Mireille

Zenna is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be derived from the Greek name Xenia, meaning "hospitable" or "welcoming to strangers," or it could be a variation of Zena, which comes from the Greek word "zenos" meaning "of Zeus." Some also connect it to the Arabic name Zaina, meaning "beautiful" or "good." Zenna has a distinctly ethereal quality with its uncommon 'Z' beginning and flowing sound. Though never widely popular, the name saw modest usage in the early 20th century and has experienced small revivals among parents seeking distinctive yet melodic names. Its rarity gives it an exotic appeal while still being relatively straightforward to pronounce and spell.

Zenna

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.

Celie

A surname style choice, familiarly used in the UK, Darcey is a variation of Darcy and Darcie. Popularized by ballerina Darcey Bussell, it currently ranks in the Top 400 in the UK, below the aforementioned -y and -ie spellings. 
 
A name with two meanings, it may be derived from the Irish O'Dorchaidhe, meaning "dark one", or the French d'Arcy, meaning "from the town of Arcy".

Darcey

Fleur is a generic, delicate flower name that emigrated into the English-speaking world when John Galsworthy bestowed it on one of the Forsytes in his celebrated saga. More recently, there was Fleur Delacour, a French witch and the Beauxbatons champion for the Triwizard Tournament in Harry Potter. 
 Fleur is currently in the Top 100 in Belgium and the Netherlands, home of the tulip and other fleurs.

Fleur

Also appearing as Odalys, this name has two possible origins, one more favorable perhaps than the other. 
 Used predominantly in Spanish speaking countries, and in the US, Odalis may come from the Germanic Odalia or Oda, meaning "wealth, fortune" or "fatherland, heritage". As such, it would be a relative of Otto and Ottilie, and follows the popular Spanish trend of adding a -ys or -is suffix to names (such as Idalys, Arielys, and Ailanys). 
 
Other sources suggest however that it comes from the French word Odalisque, derived from the Ottoman Turkish odalık referring to an enslaved chambermaid, house servant, or a concubine which may be less appealing.
 
Used in Cuba, Colombia, Venezuela, the US, and Mexico, the name leans feminine but is also given to boys (most notably in the Dominican Republic).

Odalis

Sleek and sophisticated single-syllable choice that has NEVER been in the Top 1000, though sister name Paige has ranked since the mid 1950s. Though off her peak, Paige is still in the Top 200. Along with Poppy, Patience, and Plum, Page is one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/girls-names/p">girl names that start with P</a> that are also words.

Page

Either an alternative feminization to Christina, an elaboration of the French diminutive Christelle , or a compound name, blending the element Christ- with either Stella or Ella. In the case of the latter, it could give you a rather powerful meaning. 

Christella

A variation made famous by Australian Aboriginal tennis champ Evonne Goolagong.

Evonne

Popular in the 1930s in France, this is a diminutive of Lucy (or Lucie). 

Lucette

Manon is an endearing French pet name for Marie or Marianne; it has the international yet straightforward feel that makes it a viable import. 
Manon of the Spring was a gorgeous French film, Manon Lescaut a 1731 novel by Abbe Prevost, set in France and Louisiana, that was controversial in its day. It formed the basis of operas by Puccini and Massenet, and several films and TV series.
 Manon is currently a Top 50 name in France and Belgium, and is also relatively common among Welsh speakers. British actors Damian Lewis, of Homeland and Helen McCrory have a daughter named Manon.

Manon

Oceane (oh-see-EN) has been one of the chicest names in France for several years, ranking in the French Top 50. This is a sophisticated name that could easily cross the ocean, and is much more stylish than the English Ocean or Oceana.
 This group of names all relate to the ancient Greek Oceanus, god of the open sea and the oldest Titan, son of Uranos and Gaia. If you're looking for uncommon <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/641/names-that-mean-ocean">names that mean ocean</a>, this is one to consider.

Oceane

Percy is a traditional boys' name that could be cute and unexpected for a girl – perhaps as a short form for Persephone or Persis. Adventurous and literary Percy could follow in the footsteps of other boyish nicknames for girls, like Frankie and Charlie.
 
Percy Haswell was a silent film actress. And Lady Persephone "Percy" Towyn is a character on Upstairs, Downstairs.

Percy

Most contemporary parents would probably opt for the more streamlined Elle. 

Roselle

Solstice graduated from word to official first name when author Lionel Shriver used it for a character in her novel Big Brother. But of course, there were people named Solstice before: 16 baby girls were given the name in the US in 2021 (and it is occasionally used for boys too).

The word solstice is derived from the Old French and Latin term meaning "point at which the sun seems to stand still." There are pagan celebrations around the time of the winter and summer solstices, June 21 and December 21, the longest and shortest days of the year, which makes Solstice one of the best <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/577/names-for-december-babies">names for babies born in December</a> or June.

Solstice

French names for baby girls have always had a chic appeal for parents far from Paris. French names for girls are led today by Charlotte, one of the top girl names in the US, French Quebec, the British Isles, Australia, and New Zealand. 

 that rank in the US Top 200 include Eloise and Elodie, Caroline, Claire, Josephine, Natalie, Sophie, Sydney, and Valerie. French names for girls trending in the US include Remi and Remy, Juliet and Juliette, Margo and Margot, Esme, and Adele.

French names popular for baby girls in France

 include Louise — a common middle name in the US — Camille, Manon, and Lilou. Other top French names for girls around the world include Arielle, Belle, Eloise, Gabrielle, Juliette, and Vivienne.

 gaining new attention in the US, France, and internationally include Darcy, Delphine, Fleur, Ottilie, Romilly, and Sylvie.

Browse our full collection of French girl names here. The names are ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry, which is updated monthly.

French names for baby girls, ordered by popularity with meanings, including top French girl names in the US and France such as Eloise and Charlotte along with unique French. names for girls such as Olympiad and Maurelle.  (Page 14)

French Girl Names (with Meanings & Popularity)