French Names for Girls

Juditha is a feminine name that serves as a variant of Judith, which has Hebrew origins meaning 'woman from Judea' or 'praised.' In the Bible, Judith is known as a heroine who saved her people from the Assyrian general Holofernes. The addition of the 'a' ending gives Juditha a slightly more feminine and flowing quality compared to the traditional Judith. While Judith has been consistently popular throughout history, Juditha remains quite rare, offering a distinctive twist on the biblical classic. The name carries connotations of courage, wisdom, and beauty, drawing on the legacy of its biblical namesake.

Juditha

Juillet

Juin is a feminine name with multiple cultural connections. Most prominently, it derives from the French word for the month of June, ultimately stemming from the Roman goddess Juno, who represented marriage and well-being. In Chinese contexts, different characters pronounced as 'Juin' can carry meanings related to gathering, elegance, or intelligence depending on the specific characters used. As a given name, Juin remains relatively uncommon internationally but may appeal to parents seeking a subtle connection to June without using the more common version. The name has a delicate, flowing sound that works well in multicultural contexts, while its brevity makes it distinctive yet accessible. It carries seasonal associations with early summer, warmth, and blossoming.

Juin

Laurette is a delicate feminine name of French origin, functioning as a diminutive of Laura or Lauren. Derived from the Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel tree' or 'sweet bay tree,' the laurel wreath has historically been a symbol of victory and honor in classical antiquity. The addition of the feminine French suffix '-ette' gives it a particularly dainty and graceful quality. Laurette enjoyed some popularity in France throughout history and saw limited usage in the United States during the early 20th century. Though uncommon today, it maintains a timeless charm with its melodic sound and cultural heritage. The name evokes images of artistic French culture and carries a soft, romantic quality.

Laurette

Laure is a feminine French name derived from the Latin 'laurus,' meaning 'laurel tree' - a symbol of victory and honor in ancient times. It functions as both a standalone name and the French form of Laura. Elegant and understated, Laure has maintained consistent usage in France and French-speaking regions while remaining relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries. 

The name carries an air of sophisticated simplicity with its single-syllable pronunciation and subtle ending. Historically associated with the poet Petrarch's muse Laura, the name conveys literary and artistic connections. Laure appeals to parents seeking a name with French elegance, historical depth, and international recognition without excessive popularity.

Laure

French version of Leah, currently popular with French-speaking parents. In this spelling, it looks pleasingly like the female equivalent of Leo (or Léo), and sounds like Leia.

Léa

Léonne is a feminine name with French origins, essentially the feminine form of Léon (Lion). The double 'n' and added 'e' feminize the name while maintaining its connection to the powerful, regal symbolism of the lion. The accent over the 'e' emphasizes its French pronunciation and adds an elegant touch. Léonne carries associations of strength, courage, and nobility traditionally linked to lions in various cultures. While uncommon even in French-speaking regions, it offers a distinctive alternative to more familiar lion-derived names like Leona or Leonora. The name has a graceful yet strong quality that balances feminine and powerful characteristics. Its rarity makes it appealing to parents seeking an uncommon name with recognizable roots and positive symbolic associations.

Léonne

Leona with a French accent that gives it a bit more flair. It's currently very popular there – in the Top 30 for French baby girls.

 Aunt Léonie is a major character in Proust's Remembrance of Things Past. Léonie was chosen by Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel for their daughter.

Léonie

Leontine is the French form of a name that's more familiar by its spelling variation Leontyne, the name made famous by opera diva Price.  An obscure choice, Leontine nevertheless feels right for our lion-name-crazed moment.

Leontine

Léonette is a delicate feminine name with French origins, formed as a diminutive of Léonie, which itself derives from the Latin name Leo meaning 'lion.' The addition of the suffix '-ette' creates a meaning along the lines of 'little lioness,' giving the name a combination of strength and grace. While relatively uncommon, Léonette carries an elegant, sophisticated quality characteristic of French naming traditions. The accent mark over the 'é' emphasizes its French heritage and pronunciation. This name would be more frequently encountered in French-speaking regions or among families with French cultural connections, though it remains a distinctive choice that combines classical roots with a touch of refinement.

Léonette

In France, Lilas is a light, colorful, and botanical name, literally translating to "lilac". Pronounced as LEE-LAH, it has been appearing in the French Top 500 since 2001. 
 
Occasionally, the name is used in Brazil or Portugal, either as a word meaning "lilac" or as a diminutive of Liliana, lending it the meaning "lily" or "God is my oath". In this case, the pronunciation may be LEE-las and the spelling Lilás.

Lilas

Actress Leelee Sobieski's real name is Liliane, after her French grandmother -- a better choice for any baby-namer.

Leelee

Although the accent in Linnet is on the first syllable, it could be confused with the dated Lynette. 

Linnet

Lionel is yet another traditional boy's name entering the girls' column--at least once-- via prizewinning novelist Lionel (born Margaret Ann) Shriver.

Lionel

Lyonell, though listed as feminine, is traditionally a masculine name with French origins, derived from 'lion,' symbolizing strength and nobility. This spelling variation, with the double 'l' ending, adds a distinctive touch to the standard Lionel. The name carries medieval associations, appearing in Arthurian legends as one of the Knights of the Round Table. As a feminine usage, Lyonell represents a bold, gender-crossing choice reflecting contemporary trends toward name flexibility. The 'y' spelling gives it a slightly more ornate and potentially feminine appearance compared to Lionel. Regardless of gender assignment, the name conveys courage and dignified bearing. Its pronunciation remains consistent with Lionel (LYE-uh-nell), making it accessible despite its uncommon status.

Lyonell

The lovely sound and image of the French river and lush valley would make this a most distinctive and captivating choice. Pronunciation: low-ahr.

Loire

Louisiana is a geographic spin on the Louise theme.  Pretty, if a bit of a syllable overload. Short form Lou or Lulu lightens it.

Louisiana

Louisiane is a feminine French name derived from Louis, which means 'renowned warrior' or 'famous in battle' from Germanic origins. This elegant variation likely draws inspiration from the French territory of Louisiana, named after King Louis XIV of France. The name combines the classic heritage of Louis with a romantic, feminine ending characteristic of French naming traditions. While uncommon even in French-speaking regions, Louisiane carries sophisticated European flair and cultural richness. It presents a more elaborate and distinctive alternative to the popular Louise or Louisa. With its flowing syllables and historic connections, Louisiane appeals to parents seeking a name with French elegance, royal associations, and geographic significance while remaining quite rare in usage.

Louisiane

Aloyse is a feminine name with Germanic and French origins, functioning as a variation of Aloys or Aloïs, which themselves derive from the name Louis. The ultimate root is the Old Frankish name Chlodovech, meaning 'famous warrior' or 'famous in battle.' Predominantly used in Luxembourg, eastern France, and German-speaking regions of Europe, Aloyse has a refined, classical quality. While never achieving widespread popularity in English-speaking countries, it carries an air of aristocratic heritage and European sophistication. The name experienced modest usage in the early 20th century but remains relatively uncommon today, giving it a distinctive character for contemporary bearers.

Aloyse

Lucinenne is an elaborate feminine name that appears to be a variation or elaboration of Lucienne, the French feminine form of Lucien, derived from the Latin 'lux' meaning 'light.' The additional 'n' gives the name a more ornate, distinctive quality. Lucinenne carries an air of sophistication and vintage elegance, evoking images of classical French beauty. This extremely rare name offers the familiar root 'Luci-' with its associations of brightness and illumination, but in a more unique form. The name might appeal to parents drawn to elaborate French-inspired names with a lyrical quality. Lucinenne provides the nickname options of Lucy, Luci, or Cienne, combining familiarity with originality.

Lucinenne

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 38)

French Girl Names (with Meanings & Popularity)