French inspiration
- Liliane
Origin:
French variation of LilianMeaning:
"lily, a flower"Description:
Now that Lily has become hugely popular, parents in love with this flower name are looking further afield for substitutes such as Liliane and Liliana.
- Louisiane
Description:
Louisiane is a feminine French name derived from Louis, which means 'renowned warrior' or 'famous in battle' from Germanic origins. This elegant variation likely draws inspiration from the French territory of Louisiana, named after King Louis XIV of France. The name combines the classic heritage of Louis with a romantic, feminine ending characteristic of French naming traditions. While uncommon even in French-speaking regions, Louisiane carries sophisticated European flair and cultural richness. It presents a more elaborate and distinctive alternative to the popular Louise or Louisa. With its flowing syllables and historic connections, Louisiane appeals to parents seeking a name with French elegance, royal associations, and geographic significance while remaining quite rare in usage.
- Lucienne
Origin:
French feminine variation of LucianMeaning:
"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.
- Mignonette
Origin:
Form of Mignon, FrenchMeaning:
"delicate, dainty"Description:
Mignonette is kind of a diminutive of a diminutive. Mignon is the French word for cute, so Mignonette is more or less cutie.
- Olivette
Origin:
Feminine form of Oliver, French, LatinMeaning:
"olive tree"Description:
A feminine form of Oliver and a diminutive of Olive, Olivette could make an interesting choice for those who love Colette and Violette, but also Olivia. It was used in the 19th century French opera Les noces d'Olivette and ranked in the Top 500 in France in the early half of the 20th century.
- Oliviane
Description:
Oliviane is a refined feminine name that appears to be an elaborate variation of Olivia, which derives from the Latin word 'oliva' meaning 'olive tree.' The addition of the elegant '-ane' suffix gives the name a French-inspired sophistication. Olive trees have symbolized peace, fertility, and bounty since ancient times, lending the name meaningful associations. Though quite rare in usage statistics, Oliviane offers an uncommon alternative for parents who appreciate the popularity of Olivia but desire something more distinctive. The name has a graceful, flowing quality with its four syllables and soft consonants. Oliviane bridges classical roots with a contemporary feel, making it timeless yet unique.
- Olivier
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"olive tree"Description:
More and more frequently heard as the Gallic version of Oliver, Olivier could be seen as a tribute to the great British actor, Sir Laurence O.
- 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.
- Reinette
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"little queen"Description:
Reinette was the childhood nickname of Madame La Pompadour, perhaps a cute short form for Regina or Reina but hardly worthy of the full name on the birth certificate today.
- Étoile
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"star"Description:
Novel French twist on Starr or Stella.
- Deveraux
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"of Evreux; riverbank"Description:
Swashbuckling name worthy of a hero in a romance novel. Deveraux or Devereaux is drawn from the town of Evreux in France and combined with the prefix de- denoting it likely referred to a noble of that area.
- Ciel
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"sky"Description:
This simple yet evocative French word name was chosen for her daughter by model Niki Taylor. While Ciel may be pronounced in French with two syllables, many will pronounce it as "seal" and there may be confusion with Celia and sister Ceil.
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.
