French Names that Start With I
Single page list
The names
Isabelle
French variation of Isabel
"pledged to God"
Isabelle is the French variation of Isabel, which emerged in the Middle ages as an Occitan form of Elizabeth. Medieval queens Isabella of Angoulême and Isabella of France helped popularize the name…
Ila
Scottish, Hindi, Hungarian, Finnish
"from the island; earth, sacred speech; shining light; joy"
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…
Illuminée
French word name
"illuminated"
Illumination with a French accent.
Indre
French or Sanskrit
"cave; possessing drops of rain"
The Indre is a river in France. Spelled Indra, it's the name of a powerful deity worshipped by Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains — roughly the South Asian equivalent of the Greek Zeus or Norse Odin. But…
Iolanthe
Greek
"violet flower"
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…
Isabeau
French variation of Isabel
"pledged to God"
With Isabel getting so popular, parents are searching for new varieties of the name, and Isabeau is one that makes a lovely French twist. Isabeau of Bavaria was the wife of King Charles VI of…
Ismay
Possible variation of Esme
"esteemed, beloved"
The rise of the the various Isabel names may give a boost to this variation, which has a sunny, springtime feel. Although this name has been around since the thirteenth century, its origins remain…
Ivette
French variation of Yvette
Feels more modern than the Y version but also less authentic.
Ivonne
French variation of Yvonne
The I freshens up this name.
Ignace
Ignace is the French form of Ignatius, derived from the Latin name Ignatius, which may come from the Roman family name Egnatius of Etruscan origin. The name gained prominence through St. Ignatius of…
Isaï
Isaï is a masculine name representing a variation of Isaiah, which comes from Hebrew origins meaning 'salvation of God' or 'God is salvation.' The name holds biblical significance as Isaiah was a…
Ichmaël
Ichmaël is a rare variant of Ishmael, a name with ancient Hebrew origins meaning "God will hear." In biblical tradition, Ishmael was the son of Abraham and Hagar, and is an important figure in…
Ismaël
Ismaël is the French and Arabic form of Ishmael, a name with deep biblical and Quranic significance. Derived from Hebrew origins, it means 'God will hear' or 'God has heeded.' In Islamic tradition,…
Ismâïl
Ismâïl is a masculine name with deep roots in Islamic tradition, being the Arabic form of Ishmael. The name comes from Hebrew origins meaning 'God will hear' or 'God has hearkened.' In Islamic…
Isaline
French variation of Isabelle
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.
Ide
Ide is a concise feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Irish tradition, it derives from the Gaelic 'Íde,' the Irish form of Ita, a revered 6th-century saint known as the 'foster mother of…