French Last Names

This name's all-male occupational roots help it break the Barbara bonds, but still not the most inspiring surname choice. 

Barber

Bardot joined the first and last names of other glamour girl icons such as (Jean) Harlow when David Boreanaz chose the surname of '50s French sex symbol Brigitte Bardot for his daughter. Bardot debuted in the US charts in 2022.

Bardot

As a first name, Basquiat is used as in honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat, the neoexpressionist whose art touched on themes of race, wealth disparity, and humanism.

Basquiat

Bayless

Pronounced Beecham, but still too fancy and fey. Likewise Beaufort (beautiful fort), Beaufoy (beautiful beech tree), and Beaumont (beautiful mountain). 

Beauchamp

Combine the charm of Beau with the strength of Ford and you’ll get Beauford, an attractive French surname waiting to be discovered. The most notable bearer is Beauford Delaney, a modernist painter who participated in the Harlem Renaissance. 

Beauford

A common French surname, typically for someone who was from one of the numerous places called Beaufort in France. A refined route to laid-back nickname Beau.

Beaufort

Beauvais

Naming babies for personal heroes is the cool contemporary trend followed by Woody Allen when he honored New Orleans jazz clarinetist Sidney Bechet in his daughter's name--adding the middle name Dumaine after a cornet player who was another of his musical heroes. Bechet has a nice, catchy Gallic feel. 

Bechet

Woody Allen used this name for his daughter to honor jazz hero Sidney Bechet -- and it could work for a boy as well.

A felicitous combo of two sweet names; also a Queens, New York neighborhood.

Bellerose

This name of famed philosopher, mathematician and Nobel laureate Bertrand Russell becomes slightly more plausible with the French pronunciation, bare-TRAHN. Another noted bearer is French director and screenwriter Bertrand Tavernier.

Bertrand

This name is usually seen as a surname, but could be used as a first in the tradition of Cooper, Sawyer etc. 

Blanchard

So tied to being Jacqueline Kennedy's maiden name that it's best saved for a girl. 

Bouvier

Two completely different images come from its national pronunciations -- BOY-err or boy-AY -- the latter giving it an effete French accent. 

Boyer

Chapin

Ever Carridine chose this unusual name for her daughter, born in 2010. Chaplin has hovered in use around five baby boys each year — it's never made the charts for girls.

Chaplin

Chaplin carries two very distinctive images: the beloved Little Tramp and a minister, often to the military. It was the baby-name choice of Ever Carridine in 2010.

Chevalier is a distinguished masculine name of French origin, literally meaning 'knight' or 'horseman.' Derived from the French word 'cheval' (horse), it historically referred to a knight or a member of certain orders of knighthood. The name carries aristocratic connotations and evokes images of chivalry, honor, and gallantry from medieval times. Though uncommon as a first name, it has occasionally been used in French-speaking regions and among families with French heritage. The name gained some recognition through the famous French entertainer Maurice Chevalier. With its sophisticated sound and noble meaning, Chevalier offers parents seeking a rare name with historical depth and elegant pronunciation a distinctive choice.

Chevalier

Associated with comedian Stephen Colbert, who uses the French pronunciation of his name as a bit (the rest of his family of origin use the English pronunciation).

Colbert

. The pool of surname names is dominated by those with English origins, but French surnames including Dashiell, Laramie, and Thayer are breaking through.

 is Martin, which ultimately is Latin rather than French. Durand is the most common surname with French origins in France. The

is Lambert, which is not that common at all — sitting outside of the Top 300 most popular surnames.

 come from given names, such as Clement, Blaise, and Adrien. You may recognize some famous French last names on this list, including Balzac, Dior, Matisse, and Thoreau.

Search our comprehensive list of French last names below.

French last names as first names including popular French surnames in the US and France, with origins, meanings, and popularity (Page 7)