French Word Names

Doré

You could just spell it epiphany, but that's so much more pedestrian. It's also a holiday name, à la Christmas and Easter: the Epiphany marked the visitation of the Three Wise Men to Baby Jesus. 

Épiphanie

This French word for star sounds like even more of a celebrity-worthy choice than Star or Esther or Estella or Stella. But count on English speakers who never took high school French to stumble over the pronunciation.

Etoile

Fabrique

Flambeau is an extremely unusual masculine name derived from the French word meaning 'torch' or 'flaming brand.' As a given name, it's exceedingly rare, with almost no recorded usage in mainstream naming statistics. The word has historical significance in various contexts—from ceremonial torches in processions to decorative candlesticks and even as a technique in French cuisine. The name evokes qualities of illumination, passion, and dramatic flair. While virtually unknown as a first name, Flambeau might appeal to parents seeking a truly distinctive name with French linguistic roots and vivid imagery. In literature, a character named Flambeau appears in G.K. Chesterton's Father Brown detective stories, which represents one of the few notable uses of this word as a name.

Flambeau

If you're on a quest for truly distinctive French names beyond Charlotte and Charles, we recommend looking toward French words for inspiration. 

 and can give your child a one-of-a-kind identity.

such as Belle or Beau, which both mean "pretty" or "beautiful."

 such as Ambre, Victoire, Baptiste, Basile, and Océane are among the top baby names.

We combed our own dictionnaires for French words that could make perfectly appropriate, attractive baby names. But no reason to stop here--consider words from the language of your own ethnic background, be it Czech or Chinese, and add them to the list of your personal possibilities.

 fashioned from French words for your consideration.

French word names from France, including Beau, Jolie, and Oceane, with French name meanings, origins, and popularity. (Page 6)