Unique French Girl Names
- Louve
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"she-wolf"Description:
A modern name, taken literally from the French word for she-wolf, Louve could also be considered a feminine form of Loup (or Lupus). Similar in sound to Louvre — as in the famous art museum, whose name is said to mean "wolf-den" — it is a rare name that has begun to see more use in recent years.
- Gwenaëlle
Origin:
Feminine form of Gwenaël, French, BretonMeaning:
"blessed and generous"Description:
Also spelled Gwénaëlle and Gwenaelle (outside of France), Gwenaëlle is the feminine form of Gwenaël, made up of the elements gwenn meaning blessed, and hael meaning "generous". While it fell out of style in France back in the 2000s, with the likes of Sylvie and Margot appealing in English speaking countries, Gwenaëlle might make an unexpected choice, an alternative to Noelle or Genevieve, and a way to nicknames Nell and Gwen.
- Yvelise
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"yew wood + pledged to God"Description:
This chic French name is either a feminization of the classic Yves or a combination of Yves and Élise. Seen as the titular character of the 1923 novel Yvelise by Guido da Verona, it reached its peak popularity in France in 1952 at number 159. Still, with its refined sound and cute nicknames Evie (Yvie) and Lizzie, Yvelise would be a lovely vintage name on a modern baby.
- Osanne
Origin:
French form of Hosanna, HebrewMeaning:
"praise the Lord; deliver us"Description:
Also spelled as Ozanne, this is the French form of Hosanna, the exclamation given by those around Jesus when he first entered Jerusalem in the New Testament. Ozana and Osanna are the Romanian and Italian variations.
- Isaline
Origin:
French variation of IsabelleDescription:
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.
- Bastienne
Origin:
Variation of Sebastienne, FrenchMeaning:
"person from Sebastia"Description:
Rare French option for girls, but feels familiar thanks to the popularity of Sebastian.
- Petronille
Origin:
French feminine variation of Petronius, LatinMeaning:
"yokel, woodpecker, stone"Description:
So many names sound better with a French accent, and Petronille is one of them: it feels unusual in an elegant way. Usually spelled as Pétronille, it is derived from the Latin Petronius, possibly meaning "yokel", which is now considered a slur for country dwellers, but it may previously have referred to the green woodpecker instead, which is a better meaning. Alternatively, it can be linked to Peter, as Saint Petronilla was said to be Saint Peter's daughter.
- Maxeline
Origin:
Variation of Maxellende, FrenchMeaning:
"greatest"Description:
A sleek, more elaborate alternative to Maxine, Maxeline is a rare name of French origin, derived from the saintly name Maxellende. St. Maxellende is the patron saint of the visually impaired and invoked to cure eye diseases.
- Citron
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"lemon"Description:
A Gallic twist on a word or nature name, which has a nice lemony feel.
- Ozanne
Origin:
French form of Hosanna, HebrewMeaning:
"praise the Lord; deliver us"Description:
Also spelled Osanne, Ozanne is a French form of Hosanna, the exclamation given by those around Jesus when he first entered Jerusalem in the New Testament. It was notably born by Ozanne-Anne Achon, one of the first settlers in Nouvelle-France, the area colonized by the French in North America.
- Maxellende
Origin:
French form of Maxellendis, Saint nameMeaning:
"greatest"Description:
A rare saint's name, Maxellende was a 7th-century martyr, associated with the French Catholic church. She is invoked to cure eye diseases and is more generally the patron saint of the visually impaired. Her name itself is a French form of Maxellendis, possibly linked to Maxence and Maximus meaning "greatest". Other forms of the name are Maxelende (borne by Filipino composer Maxelende Ganade) and Maxeline.
- Josiane
Description:
Josiane is a feminine name of French origin, derived from the male name Joseph, which ultimately comes from Hebrew roots meaning 'God will add' or 'God will increase.' Popular primarily in French-speaking regions including France, Quebec, and parts of Switzerland, Josiane emerged as a fashionable name in the mid-20th century. Though its popularity has declined in recent decades, it maintains an air of classic French elegance. The name often carries diminutives like 'Josi' or 'Jo.' Josiane blends traditional religious heritage with a distinctly feminine French character, offering a sophisticated yet accessible choice. The name's rhythmic three syllables and soft sounds contribute to its graceful, melodious quality.
- Mahée
Origin:
French, from HebrewMeaning:
"gift of God"Description:
A rare feminisation of Mahé, a French form of Matthew originating from the Breton language. The most well-known bearer of this name is the Québécoise actress Mahée Paiement.
- Bluette
Origin:
French, English, ItalianMeaning:
"little spark; a short, witty play, book, or piece of music; shade of blue"Description:
A word name in several languages, Bluette is an arty sounding and colorful name. In French, it comes from beluette, translating to "little spark". It can then refer to a brief flash, a trace of something, an unimportant thing, or a short, straight forward novel. In Italian, it is a shade of blue, somewhere between electric and sky blue, while in English, it is occasionally used to refer to a book, a play, or a piece of music that is short, but witty and brilliant.
- Verenice
Description:
Verenice is a feminine name that represents a variant spelling of Berenice or Bernice, which comes from the Greek 'Berenike' meaning 'bringing victory.' The name has ancient roots, notably belonging to a historical Egyptian queen, Berenice II. The variation with 'V' instead of 'B' gives the name a slightly different phonetic quality while maintaining its classical heritage. Verenice has a flowing, melodic sound with a romantic, almost poetic quality. While not among the most common names in English-speaking countries, it enjoys some usage in Spanish-speaking communities. The name strikes a balance between familiarity and uniqueness, offering an elegant alternative to more common classical names.
- Piaf
Origin:
French surnameMeaning:
"sparrow"Description:
Possible musical tribute name to the waiflike, husky-voiced midcentury French singer who was given this last name because of her birdlike quality.
- Cornelie
Description:
Cornelie is a feminine name of Latin origin, representing the French and German feminine form of Cornelius. The name derives from the Roman clan name Cornelius, possibly relating to the Latin word "cornu" meaning "horn." Cornelie carries aristocratic associations in European history, particularly in French and German noble families from the medieval period through the 19th century. While relatively uncommon today, it maintains an elegant, classical quality that connects to European cultural heritage. The name has a refined sound with its soft ending, distinguishing it from the more commonly known Cornelia. Cornelie offers parents a sophisticated choice with historical depth while remaining recognizable despite its rarity.
- Lazarie
Origin:
Feminine form of Lazare, French, HebrewMeaning:
"God is my helper"Description:
Derived from the French form of Lazarus, Lazare, ultimately from the Hebrew Eleazar, Lazarie may appeal to those who want a rare, Biblical inspired choice but also enjoy the sounds of Amelie, Avery, Elodie, or Azelie.
- Mailys
Origin:
French or BretonMeaning:
"chief or prince"Description:
Another female relative of Saint Mael.
- Armel
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"bear prince"Description:
The name of a sixth century Welsh saint who founded abbeys in Brittany, reconstituted for a modern girl.
The Nameberry App Is Live
Find your perfect baby name together in our app, now available on the App Store and Google Play.
- Swipe through thousands of names with your partner
- Names you match on are saved to your shared list
- Get personalized recommendations that learn based on your and your partner's preferences
- Partner with friends and family to find names you all love
- Backed by Nameberry's 20 years of data around name preferences.
