Unique French Baby Girl Names

Tue Jul 28 2020By Sophie Kihm

French baby girl names aren't limited to the same old noms — the Michelles and Danielles and Gabrielles. These days the most popular French names for girls are Charlotte — which despite its French origins may feel more English, thanks to the connection to the Princess of Cambridge — and the unisex name Aubrey.

Unique French girl names do not rank in the US Top 1000. French names for girls that are rare in the US but rank in the France Top 100 include Louise, Ambre, Manon, Agathe, Jeanne, Romane, Leonie, and Margaux. Stylish French names that are uncommon in both France and the US include Ottilie, Isabeau, Odette, and Solange.

Whether you have French heritage, are a Francophile, or just love French names, consider one of these unique French baby names for girls. For even more unique choices, you might also want to check out our master list of French girl names.

Elodie

Origin:
French, variation of Greek Alodia
Meaning:
"foreign riches"
Description:
Elodie derives from Elodia, the Spanish variation of Alodia, a gothic German name associated with Saint Alodia. Saint Alodia was a child martyr in 9th century Spain, along with her sister Nunilo. In France, Elodie is spelled Élodie, with an accent over the E.

Elodie Continued

Delphine

Origin:
French from Greek
Meaning:
"dolphin"
Description:
Delphine is a sleek, chic French name with two nature associations—the dolphin and the delphinium, a bluebell-like flower, a well as to the ancient city of Delphi, which the Greeks believed to be the womb of the earth. It is definitely a fresher choice than over-the-hill Danielle.

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Ottilie

Origin:
Feminine variation of German OTTO,
Meaning:
"prosperous in battle"
Description:
Ottilie and its diminutive Ottiline are a pair of names heard among the British upper crust, but have rarely been seen here since the 1880's. Though it has German roots via Otto, Ottilie has a distinctively delicate French feel.

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Fleur

Origin:
French
Meaning:
"flower"
Description:
Fleur is a generic, delicate flower name that emigrated into the English-speaking world when John Galsworthy bestowed it on one of the Forsytes in his celebrated saga. More recently, there was Fleur Delacour, a French witch and the Beauxbatons champion for the Triwizard Tournament in Harry Potter.

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Soleil

Origin:
French
Meaning:
"sun"
Description:
An attractive French word name known here via former child TV star Soleil Moon Frye, aka Punky Brewster. It started to be lightly used in the U.S. in the 1920's, and is now attracting some attention as both a sunny nature and an exotic name. It's currently Number 680 on Nameberry.

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Odette

Origin:
French, from German
Meaning:
"wealthy"
Description:
Odette is the good swan in Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake, a role for which Natalie Portman won an Oscar ---and it would make a particularly soigne, sophisticated yet upbeat choice, unlike some of the more dated other 'ette'-ending names.

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Darcy

Origin:
Irish or French
Meaning:
"dark one, or from Arcy, or from the fortress"
Description:
Delicate ballerina name with grace, charm, and heft courtesy of Jane Austen's Mr.

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Ines

Origin:
Italian, Portuguese, Slovene and Croatian variation of Agnes
Meaning:
"pure, virginal"
Description:
This form of Agnes, Ines has always been popular since the true story of the thwarted lovers Queen Ines of Castro and King Peter of Portugal. This has to be one of the most heartbreaking and bloody true romances in history!

Louise

Origin:
French and English, feminine variation of Louis
Meaning:
"renowned warrior"
Description:
Louise has for several decades now been seen as competent, studious, and efficient—desirable if not dramatic qualities. But now along with a raft of other L names, as well as cousin Eloise, Louise is up for reappreciation—sleek and chic, stylish in Paris, and starting to become so in the US as well. Louisa is perhaps more in tune with the times, but Louise has more edge. Louise has been on the rise lately, and reentered the US Top 1000 for the first time in a quarter century in 2016.

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Cosette

Origin:
French literary nickname
Meaning:
"little thing"
Description:
Cosette is best known as the heroine of Les Miserables. In the Victor Hugo novel, Cosette was the nickname given to the girl named Euphrasie by her mother. Although Hugo invented the name, some etymologists believe it's a spin on Colette, originally a female short form of Nicolas.

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Seraphine

Origin:
French from Hebrew
Meaning:
"burning ones"
Description:
Seraphine is the Gallic version of the angelic name Seraphina. But while Seraphina has been rising rapidly since Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck chose it for their second daughter, Seraphine has been largely ignored, though we believe the French vowel-sound ending will soon be more stylish than the a-endings that have predominated in girls' names for years.

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Margaux

Origin:
French spelling variation of Margo
Description:
Yes, it's pronounced with a long o sound at the end, just like Margo and Margot. This spelling was popularized by supermodel, actress, and tragic Hemingway granddaughter Margaux, whose name spelling came courtesy of a bottle of French wine. (The original spelling of her name was Margot; she changed it when she heard her parents were drinking a bottle of Chateau Margaux the night she was conceived.) Margo itself is a diminutive of Margaret, which means "pearl" or, in its French version, "daisy." Margaret or Marguerite would be more stylish variations now.

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Salome

Origin:
Hebrew
Meaning:
"peace"
Description:
A soft and interesting Hebrew name long popular in France, where it has ranked in the Top 400 since 1986 (as Salomé). Ex-ER star Alex Kingston named her daughter Salome Violetta.

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Zephyrine

Origin:
Feminine variation of Zephyr, Greek
Meaning:
"west wind"
Description:
Zephyr may not be a name often heard in the U.S., but its variations are used throughout Europe. Zephyrine, a cousin in sound and feel if not in fact to such lovely names as Severine and Seraphina, has distinctive possibilities.

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Leonie

Origin:
Latin
Meaning:
"lion"
Description:
Leonie is a chic French and German form of a name that exists in a range of variations from Leona to Leonia to Leon to Leo to Lionel, all newly fashionable after a couple of generations in style limbo.

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Alouette

Origin:
French
Meaning:
"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.

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Manon

Origin:
French, diminutive of Marie
Meaning:
"bitter"
Description:
Manon is an endearing French pet name for Marie or Marianne; it has the exotic yet straightforward feel that makes it a viable import. Manon of the Spring was a gorgeous French film, Manon Lescaut a 1731 novel by Abbe Prevost, set in France and Louisiana, that was controversial in its day. It formed the basis of operas by Puccini and Massenet, and several films and TV series.

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Lou

Origin:
Short form of Louise
Meaning:
"renowned warrior"
Description:
Lou is usually a short form of Louise, Louisa, or Lucy in English-speaking countries, when Lou is used for girls at all. But in France and Germany, it's a fashionable choice all on its own, sure to gain even more widespread style credibility since Heidi Klum and Seal chose it for their daughter.

Lilou

Origin:
Occitan pet form of French Liliane
Meaning:
"lily"
Description:
Lilou is a charming, rarely heard import. Occitan is a language spoken in Provence, in the south of France, in which the suffix "ou" denotes a pet form — thus, Lilou as a short form of Liliane or its Occitan form Liliana or Liliano. Its popularity in France--where it's currently Number 12--can be traced to the 1997 film The Fifth Element.

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Maeva

Origin:
Tahitian
Meaning:
"welcome"
Description:
Though it sounds like a variation of the Irish Maeve, Maeva actually hails from Tahiti, and is currently enjoying a wave of popularity in France, where it ranks in the Top 100, possibly via popular French folk singer and actress Maeva Meline.

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Cybele

Origin:
Greek
Meaning:
"the mother of all gods"
Description:
Cybele, the name of a Greek goddess of fertility, health, and nature, would unfortunately and undoubtedly be confused with Sybil.

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Marguerite

Origin:
French variation of Margaret; also a flower name
Meaning:
"pearl; daisy"
Description:
Marguerite is a classic French name with a remnant of old-fashioned Gallic charm; and is also a variety of daisy. Chic again in Paris, it's definitely ripe for revival here.

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Sabine

Origin:
French and German form of Sabina
Description:
This slightly more compact version of Sabina has ties to France and Germany. Unlike its sister name, Sabine has never charted in the United States Top 1000.

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Lea

Origin:
Variation of Lee
Meaning:
"weary or meadow"
Description:
More attractive than Lee, less meaningful than Leah. While traditionally pronounced as a homonym for Lee, Glee actress Lea Michele pronounces her name like Leah. Regardless of your preferred pronunciation, it's interesting to note that Lea has always charted in the US Top 1000, despite coming close to the bottom a few times, making it one of the girl names starting with L that both fits in and stands out.

Roux

Origin:
French From Latin
Meaning:
"russet"
Description:
Roux, a color name meaning russet or reddish brown, is a possible middle name for your little auburn-haired babe, though a post-Hunger Games child would more likely be called Rue. Roux is also a culinary term for a mixture of fat and flour used in French cooking to make sauces.

Oceane

Origin:
French
Meaning:
"ocean"
Description:
Oceane (oh-see-EN) has been one of the chicest names in France for several years, ranking in the French Top 50. This is a sophisticated name that could easily cross the ocean, and is much more stylish than the English Ocean or Oceana.

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Nadine

Origin:
French variation of Nadia, Russian
Meaning:
"hope"
Description:
Part of the vogue for French-sounding names in the 1920s and 30s, Nadine has been replaced by the Russian sound of Nadia and Natasha.

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Isabeau

Origin:
French variation of Isabel
Meaning:
"pledged to God"
Description:
With Isabel getting so popular, parents are searching for new varieties of the name, and Isabeau is one that makes a lovely French twist.

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Eulalie

Origin:
French form of Eulalia, Greek
Meaning:
"sweetly speaking"
Description:
Eulalie hasn't ranked in the US Top 1000 since 1899, but its French roots might make it more appealing to modern ears than its sister Eulalia.

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Thais

Origin:
Greek
Meaning:
"beloved, bandage"
Description:
A paramour of Alexander the Great and the heroine of a Jules Massenet opera based on the life of a fourth century Egyptian saint, this name is nothing if not dramatic. Often spelled with a diaeresis or umlaut -- aka two dots -- over the letter i, Thais is a Top 100 girls' name in France.

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Marceline

Marceline Continued

Solange

Origin:
French
Meaning:
"solemn"
Description:
This is a soft, soignée French girls' namethat has become familiar here via singer Solange Knowles, younger sister of Beyonce.

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Clea

Origin:
Literary name
Description:
An attractive and unusual name that may be a variation of Cleo, Clea was possibly invented by Lawrence Durrell for a character in his Alexandria Quartet.

Apolline

Origin:
French form of Apollonia
Description:
Apolline is a luscious French name chic in Paris and ripe for the plucking in the English-speaking world. Derived from the mythological name Apollo, the name may mean strength; Apollo was the god of sun and light. Apolline is a perfect choice for those attracted to the name Apple who don't want to go quite that far.

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Maelle

Origin:
French or Breton
Meaning:
"chief or prince"
Description:
This feminine form of Mael has the distinctive "aelle" ending found in Brittany. Usually spelled in its native France with a diaeresis or umlaut -- two dots -- over the first e, Maelle is a Top 100 girls' name in France.

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Ottoline

Origin:
French and English, diminutive of Ottolie
Meaning:
"prospers in battle"
Description:
Curiously appealing, in a hoop-skirted, wasp-waisted way, Ottoline has recently entered the realm of modern possibility, especially since Sienna Miller chose it as the middle name of her daughter Marlowe.

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Zelie

Origin:
French short form of Azalea, Zelia, or Solene
Description:
There are many conflicting theories about the origins of the cute, popular French name Zelie. The one certainty is that Zelie is rising through the ranks in France but is nearly unknown -- though eminently usable -- in the English-speaking world.

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Lucienne

Origin:
French feminine variation of Lucian
Meaning:
"light"
Description:
Lucienne is a soft and ultra-sophisticated French-accented option in the Lucy family, one that could provide a fresh alternative to such fatigued Gallic choices as Danielle and Michelle.

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Marielle

Origin:
Dutch and French diminutive of Mary
Meaning:
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
Description:
Mariel Hemingway made us aware of the more abbreviated spelling of this charming name, which dates back to the nineteenth century.

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Maelys

Origin:
French or Breton
Meaning:
"chief or prince"
Description:
Another feminine form of the old saint's name Mael.

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Severine

Origin:
French, feminine variation of Severus; Latin
Meaning:
"stern"
Description:
This long-popular name in France sounds fresh, elegant and unusual here. Severine is the name of the most recent gorgeous James Bond Girl in the film Skyfall. Students of film history will associate the name with the complex character Catherine Deneuve played in the 1967 Bunuel classic, Belle de Jour..

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Sidonie

Origin:
Latin
Meaning:
"from Sidon "
Description:
Sidonie is an appealing and chic French favorite that is starting to attract some American fans as a fresher alternative to Sydney. Also spelled Sidony, Sidonie was the birth name of the French novelist Colette.
In the old form Sindony, it was a common name in Tudor period England, the 'n' being dropped in the seventeenth century, leading to Sidony, Sidonie and Sidney.

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Emmanuelle

Origin:
French, feminine variation of Emanuel
Meaning:
"God is with us"
Description:
The female version of Emanuel could become more prominent, though for some it still carries a steamy image dating back to a then sensationally erotic French film. Singer and Shameless star Emmy Rossum's full name is Emmanuelle.

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Melisande

Origin:
French form of Millicent, German
Meaning:
"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.

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Clemence

Origin:
French feminine variation of Clement
Meaning:
"mild, merciful"
Description:
Calm, composed, and chic.

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Calais

Origin:
French place-name
Description:
Undiscovered name of picturesque northern French port.

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Sandrine

Origin:
French variation of Alexandra
Description:
Sophisticated French choice. Or toxic petrochemical.

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Mathilde

Origin:
French variation of Matilda
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.

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Pomeline

Origin:
French, related to "apple"
Meaning:
"apple"
Description:
A rarely heard--even in France--name, most prominent as the third name of Charlotte Marie Pomeline Casiraghi, the daughter of Princess Caroline of Monaco and granddaughter of Grace Kelly.

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Emeraude

Origin:
French
Meaning:
"Emerald"
Description:
Gemstone names have a long history of use, from Ruby to Pearl. Emeraude is the French word for emerald. If the Spanish Esmeralda is stylish, why not Emeraude?

Emeraude Continued

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