French Last Names

An aristocratic French surname which is synonymous with the indulged child created by Frances Hodgson Burnett in her book Little Lord Fauntleroy. Fauntleroy is also Donald Duck's middle name.

Fauntleroy

Not all names that end in -er were originally occupational. This one, for instance, is a surname name that derives from the Old French for "help" or "mercy."

Faver

Surname of a fifteenth-century saint and a twenty-first-century quarterback, Brett Favre. 

Favre

Foch made the Top 1000 in 1918, the year the Allied Powers declare victory in WWI. Ferdinand Foch was the Supreme Allied Commander, whose efforts led to triumph in 1918. That year, 58 sets of parents chose his surname for their sons.

Foch

Francois is the ultimate sophisticated French name. 

François

Fremont

Fans of the classic French film actor Jean Gabin might want to consider this one. Gabin is also a harmonica-playing character in the manga and anime series "Mirmo!"

Gabin

This could be a fresh way to honor an ancestral Walter. 

Gauthier

Often spelled Gauthier, this could make a distinctive way to honor Grandpa Walter, but first syllable pronounced 'goat' might be a problem.

Gautier

A simple and strong Ethiopian name with a lovely meaning. Pronounced "zhe-nay", it's a French surname associated with playwright Jean Genet.

Genet

A relatively common French surname associated with sometimes scandalous French novelist/dramatist Jean Genet. The name may derive from genêt, the French name for the broom shrub. Alternatively, it can derive from the French forms of Eugene, John or Janet as an ancestral surname.

Gervais is a masculine name of French origin, derived from the Germanic elements 'ger' meaning 'spear' and 'wis' meaning 'wise,' together translating to 'skilled with the spear.' The name was borne by several early Christian saints, including a 2nd-century martyr who became one of the patron saints of Milan. 

Gervais has been continuously used in France since medieval times, though it remains relatively uncommon. In English-speaking countries, it may be recognized from the comedian Ricky Gervais, though the pronunciation often differs (French: zhair-VAY, English often: ger-VAYS). The name carries an air of sophistication and European elegance, appealing to parents seeking a name with historical depth and international character.

Gervais

Unusual saint's name rarely heard outside Roman Catholic rectories until it made an appearance on a reality-TV show; has an attractive French feel. Gervase is a common spelling variation.

Gervaise

Chance has risen far on the baby-naming charts, but Hazard has a considerably more dangerous edge.  It was the middle name of famed US naval commander Oliver Hazard Perry.

Hazard

An intriguing surname option with ties to the natural world and to cool names like Hollis and Holland. But beware: another origin of the surname is from Old French horier meaning "pimp, brothel keeper".

Hollier

Randall Jarrell was an important mid-20th century poet; his surname makes a pleasingly soft name for a girl.

Jarrell

A fresh take on Jessica, Jessel is currently borne in the public eye by Jessel Taank, a Real Housewife of New York City.
 
As a surname, Jessel is derived from the given names Joseph (via pet form Jessop or the Yiddish Yossel and Yessell) and Jesse.

Jessel

Probably derived from the Breton name Judoc, meaning "lord". As a first name, it's predominantly found in French-speaking African countries. As a surname, it famously belonged to former French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin (in office 1997-2002).

Jospin

Jourdain

. 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 9)