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French Girl Names (with Meanings & Popularity)

  1. Solange

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "solemn"

    • Description:

      This is a soft, soignée French girls' namethat has become familiar here via singer Solange Knowles, younger sister of Beyonce.
  2. Ila

    • Origin:

      Scottish, Hindi, Hungarian, Finnish

    • Meaning:

      "from the island; earth, sacred speech; shining light; joy"

    • Description:

      A simple name that's rising fast in the US, likely inspired by the popularity of Isla and Ayla. This streamlined form might appeal to those who like Ana, Ivy, and Ada, and it brings a multicultural element to the name.
  3. Antoinette

    • Origin:

      French feminine diminutive form of Antoine

    • Meaning:

      "priceless one"

    • Description:

      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.
  4. Eulalie

    • Origin:

      French form of Eulalia, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "sweetly speaking"

    • Description:

      Eulalie hasn't ranked in the US Top 1000 since 1899, but its French roots might make it more appealing to modern ears than its sister Eulalia.
  5. Margaux

    • Origin:

      French spelling variation of Margo

    • Description:

      Yes, it's pronounced with a long o sound at the end, just like Margo and Margot. This spelling was popularized by supermodel, actress, and tragic Hemingway granddaughter Margaux, whose name spelling came courtesy of a bottle of French wine. (The original spelling of her name was Margot; she changed it when she heard her parents were drinking a bottle of Chateau Margaux the night she was conceived.) Margo itself is a diminutive of Margaret, which means "pearl" or, in its French version, "daisy." Margaret or Marguerite would be more stylish variations now.
  6. Ciel

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "sky"

    • Description:

      This simple yet evocative French word name was chosen for her daughter by model Niki Taylor. While Ciel may be pronounced in French with two syllables, many will pronounce it as "seal" and there may be confusion with Celia and sister Ceil.
  7. Marianne

    • Origin:

      French combination of Marie and Anne

    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + grace"

    • Description:

      A midcentury Catholic classic that's not chosen by many parents today. Leonard Cohen fans might think of the beautiful song So Long, Marianne, named for his lover and muse Marianne Ihlen.
  8. Morgana

    • Origin:

      Female version of Morgan, Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "sea-circle"

    • Description:

      Since Morgan is used as--or more--frequently for girls as for boys, this feminization has fallen by the wayside. It drew some brief attention via the pop singer Morgana King.

      The similar Morgiana appears in Tales from the Thousand and One Nights.

  9. Iolanthe

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "violet flower"

    • Description:

      Iolanthe is known primarily through the 1882 Gilbert & Sullivan operetta of that name, in which the title character is a fairy. Iolanthe is a softer version of Yolanda, and is the kind of multi-syllabic classical name once considered too weighty for a modern baby girl, but now within the realm of possibility--this one as a dramatic twist on Violet. The biggest drawback is its variety of legitimate pronunciations in English.
  10. Lune

    • Description:

      Lune is a delicate feminine name derived from the French word for 'moon.' With Latin origins in 'luna,' this name carries celestial associations and evokes images of moonlight and nighttime serenity. Though rare in English-speaking countries, Lune has occasional usage in France and among parents drawn to French-inspired names. The name's single-syllable simplicity belies its rich poetic qualities and mythological connections—the moon being associated with feminine energy in many cultures. Lune offers a subtle alternative to the more common Luna while maintaining the same ethereal qualities. Its brevity, elegant sound, and meaningful connection to the night sky make it appealing for parents seeking something both simple and evocative.

  11. Quincy

    • Origin:

      French from Latin

    • Meaning:

      "estate of the fifth son"

    • Description:

      Quincy is a Presidential surname name that actually sounds both cute and strong when used for a girl. For the first time ever, Quincy joined the Top 1000 roster for girls in 2023, given to over 250 baby girls that year.
  12. Jolie

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "pretty"

    • Description:

      Jolie is as pretty as its literal meaning; nowadays it is also seen as a girls’ name, via Angelina for whom Jolie was originally her middle name.
  13. Blanche

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "white"

    • Description:

      Blanche, which originated as a nickname for a pale blonde and then became associated with the notion of purity, was in style a century ago, ranking in the double digits until 1920. She then had to fight the stereotype of faded Southern belle, a la Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire and Blanche Devereaux in TV's Golden Girls. Now all three of the Golden Girls--Blanche, Rose and Dorothy--could be ready for revival, with Blanche sounding like a stronger, simpler alternative to Bianca.
  14. Justine

    • Origin:

      French feminine variation of Justin

    • Meaning:

      "fair, righteous"

    • Description:

      Justine is a French name that's never reached the popularity we think it deserves. Like its far-more-common brother Justin, Justine is sleek, and sophisticated, but still user-friendly.
  15. Geneva

    • Origin:

      Swiss place-name or French

    • Meaning:

      "juniper tree"

    • Description:

      Unlike its somewhat formal Swiss city namesake, this is a lively and appealing place-name that also has a real history as a female name.
  16. Lucienne

    • Origin:

      French feminine variation of Lucian

    • Meaning:

      "light"

    • Description:

      Lucienne is a soft and ultra-sophisticated French-accented option in the Lucy family, one that could provide a fresh alternative to such fatigued Gallic choices as Danielle and Michelle.
  17. Lilou

    • Origin:

      Occitan pet form of French Liliane

    • Meaning:

      "lily"

    • Description:

      Lilou is a charming, rarely heard import. Occitan is a language spoken in Provence, in the south of France, in which the suffix "ou" denotes a pet form — thus, Lilou as a short form of Liliane or its Occitan form Liliana or Liliano. Its popularity in France--where it's currently Number 12--can be traced to the 1997 film The Fifth Element.
  18. Satine

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "smooth, shiny"

    • Description:

      Satine, the name of the Nicole Kidman character in Moulin Rouge,, is, by definition satiny smooth. Jacinda Barrett named her daughter Satine Anais.
  19. Helene

    • Origin:

      French variation of Helen

    • Meaning:

      "bright, shining one"

    • Description:

      Whether it's pronounced with an "een" or an "aine" or an "enn" sound at the end, Helene doesn't feel as current the more forthright Helen or the airier Helena. Helene reached a high of Number 228 in the US in 1916, when ene, ine and een names were all the fashion, and stayed in the Top 500 until 1962, making a final exit in 1970. It still ranks well in its native France, and even more in Norway (#70). Model Heidi Klum's daughter 'Leni' has Helene on her birth certificate.
  20. Angeline

    • Origin:

      French variation of Angela

    • Meaning:

      "angel"

    • Description:

      With Angelina becoming so popular thanks to Ms. Jolie, this could be a new twist—but everyone will always misunderstand it as Angelina. While it currently ranks at Number 951 in the US, it's Number 352 in France.