French Girl Names (with Meanings & Popularity)
- Ila
Origin:
Scottish, Hindi, Hungarian, FinnishMeaning:
"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.
- Marielle
Origin:
Dutch and French diminutive of MaryMeaning:
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"Description:
Popular in France in the 60s, Marielle is one of many international variations and diminutives of Mary. While actress and author Mariel Hemingway made us aware of the more abbreviated spelling — which is currently the more popular option in the US — this longer, elegant form saw increased interest in a recent year, when it was chosen for 115 girls.
- Béatrice
Description:
Béatrice is the French form of Beatrice, a feminine name with Latin origins meaning 'she who brings happiness' or 'blessed.' The accent over the 'e' emphasizes the French pronunciation (bay-ah-TREECE) and adds a touch of sophistication. The name has deep literary connections, most notably through Dante's muse Beatrice in the Divine Comedy. In France and French-speaking regions, Béatrice has enjoyed consistent popularity throughout the centuries, appreciated for its elegant sound and positive connotations. The name experienced waves of popularity in the mid-20th century and continues to be appreciated for its classical beauty and cultural depth. Béatrice projects an image of grace, intelligence, and artistic sensibility.
- Lucette
Origin:
French diminutive of LucyMeaning:
"little light"Description:
Popular in the 1930s in France, this is a diminutive of Lucy (or Lucie).
- Joanne
Origin:
French variation of Joanna, HebrewMeaning:
"God is gracious"Description:
A Top 100 name from the 1930s all the way through the 1950s, it's now firmly in Mom -- or Grandma -- land and supplanted for babies by Joanna.....or even great-grandmother Josephine. In its heyday, it had a host of variations, including JoAnn and Jo-Anne.
- Evaine
Description:
Evaine is a feminine name with medieval and Celtic undertones. It may be a variant of Yvaine, which appears in Arthurian legends, or related to names like Evan or Eve. The name carries an ethereal, mystical quality that evokes images of ancient forests and medieval tales. With its soft sounds and unusual letter combination, Evaine strikes a balance between being recognizable and distinctive. Though rare in modern usage, the name appeals to parents drawn to names with literary or mythological connections. Its elegant sound and spelling make it feel both timeless and fresh. The name may also appeal to those seeking Celtic-inspired names that aren't as common as Erin or Siobhan.
- Lilou
Origin:
Occitan pet form of French Liliane, or French compound of Lili and LouiseMeaning:
"lily; lily + renowned warrior"Description:
Sweet, enchanting Lilou is considered both a pet name from the Occitan language (spoken in Provence in the south of France), and a compound name, blending floral Lili with classic Louise. It peaked in France back in 2009 when it reached #12, and while it has now fallen in popularity, it remains in the Top 200.
- Jeanne
Origin:
French variation of JeanMeaning:
"God is gracious"Description:
Pronounced just like Jean in the English-speaking world, but as the more unusual zhahn in France, this has sailed away with the first wave of French favorites: Denise, Michelle, et soeurs.
- Melisande
Origin:
French form of Millicent, GermanMeaning:
"strong in work"Description:
This old-time fairy tale name is rarely heard in the modern English-speaking world, but it's so, well, mellifluous, that it would make a lovely choice for a twenty-first century girl--a romanticized tribute to an Aunt Melissa or Melanie.
- Caprice
Origin:
French from ItalianMeaning:
"impulsive change of mind; lively music"Description:
Caprice is a word name with an appealing sound and a light-hearted meaning that may well put parents off. While it was given to just 10 girls in a recent year, the name did have a moment back in the late 60s and then again in the 90s. In England and Wales, it even made the Top 400 in 1997.
- Sherry
Origin:
Phonetic variation of French Cheri; also a Spanish fortified wineDescription:
Peppy cheerleader name of the 1960s and 70s that's sure to evoke the Four Seasons song of that name.
- Azure
Origin:
English color name, PersianMeaning:
"sky blue; lapis lazuli"Description:
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 name of his daughter with Shivon Zilis, twin sister to Strider.
- Mathilde
Origin:
French; Norwegian; Danish; Dutch; German, variation of MatildaMeaning:
"battle-mighty"Description:
Mathilde is even more popular in France than Matilda, a hipster favorite thanks to Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger, is here. And the French pronunciation, while confusing to English speakers, makes it softer and prettier than the version we're more familiar with. It's also very popular in Denmark and Noway, pronounced closer to the English variant.
- Arlette
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"noble, honor"Description:
Arlette is a French form of the Germanic name Herleva, which was the name of the mother of William the Conqueror. It peaked in France in the mid-1930s, but you might be surprised to learn that in the US, it's only just beginning to catch on now. It entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2018, and has dipped in and out in the years since then.
- Spencer
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"keeper of provisions"Description:
Yes, Spencer makes a plausible and powerful female choice these days, though it's still used four times as often for boys as for girls. But Spencer does not swim that far beneath the Top 1000, used for nearly 250 baby girls last year.
- Rosemarie
Origin:
Combination of Rose and MarieMeaning:
"rose flower + drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"Description:
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.
- Alouette
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"lark"Description:
Alouette is a sweet Gallic twist in the stylish bird name genre made familiar via the charming French children's song, Alouette, gentile alouette.
- Babette
Origin:
French diminutive of Barbara, GreekMeaning:
"stranger"Description:
A less common relic of the Claudette-Paulette-Annette era. Babette's Feast is a 1987 Danish film based on a Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen) story about a cook who wins the lottery and prepares an elaborate feast.
- Ophélie
Description:
French variation of Ophelia that might make that lovely-and-haunted name feel more viable, yet there will be inevitable pronunciation issues.
- Maelys
Origin:
French or BretonMeaning:
"chief or prince"Description:
Another feminine form of the old saint's name Mael. Spelled Maëlys, it is a very popular name in France today.
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