ilahwillah's list "Both Unique and Classic French Girl Names" of 20 great name ideas: Georgette - Janette!

Both Unique and Classic French Girl Names

Girl names of French origin-some classic, and some completely unique. This list may include a few variants of French names. All of these names I absolutely adore!

Has a musty 1940s feel.  Try Georgia -- or Georgiana.

Georgette

Aurelie is the delicate French variation of Aurelia, one of the most improbable popular names of recent years. Both versions of the name are lovely, but it might be difficult to insist that Americans pronounce Aurelie the attractive <a href="https://forvo.com/word/aur%C3%A9lie/#fr">French way</a> rather than like plain old orally.

Aurelie

Soft and delicate French name rarely heard here.

Arianne

Also spelled Anael, this offers a new spin on an old standard. Or even a couple of old standards, if you count Annabelle.

Anaelle

Though it may not be as sweet and gentle as, say, Violet, the purple-hued Hyacinth still might hold some appeal for the parent seeking a truly unusual flower name. 
 
In Greek mythology, Hyacinthus was a Spartan youth accidentally killed by Apollo, from whose blood sprang a beautiful and fragrant flower, and it is also the name of several saints; Hyacinth became exclusively female in the nineteenth century. To the ancients, Hyacinth was, in addition to being a bluebell-like blossom, the name of a precious stone.
 
Hyacinth Bridgerton is the youngest child of the fictional Bridgerton family, named in alphabetical order from A-H. There is a character named Hyacinth Robinson in Henry James's The Princess Casamassima and Hyacinth Bucket is the social-climbing character on the British sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, with sisters named Daisy, Rose, and Violet. To underscore her pretentiousness, Hyacinth Bucket insisted that her last name be pronounced as "bouquet".
 
You might also consider the Spanish version, Jacinta.

Hyacinth

This is a soft, soignée <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/497/french-names-for-girls">French girls' name</a>that has become familiar here via singer Solange Knowles, younger sister of Beyonce.
 It is also the name of a martyred ninth century saint, a poor shepherdess who came to a tragic end while defending her honor. Among other things, St Solange is a patron saint of rain.
 Solange would make a striking, sophisticated choice, though alternative forms include Solenne, Soline, and Solenn, which are currerntly more popular in France. Pronunciation in French: SAW-LAH(n)ZH, though in English, so-LAHNZH (zh like the z of azure or the g of beige) may be heard.
 
Given to 33 girls in the US in a recent year, Solange coincides with the German word for "so long as".

Solange

An appealing name almost unknown in our culture but with roots in several others; worldlier than cousins Celia and Delia. 

Zelia

The addition of the h makes it more Old World, which is not the direction you want to push Matilda in.

Mathilda

Pronounced just like Jean in the English-speaking world, but as the more unusual zhahn in France, this has sailed away with the first wave of French favorites: Denise, Michelle, et soeurs.

Jeanne

While Rochelle may sound like a twist on Rachel, it has a different origin entirely. Rather than having Biblical and Hebrew ties, it comes from the name of a city on the west coast of France, La Rochelle. Meaning "little rock", it rose to prominence in the 1930s, likely popularized by the actress Rochelle Hudson (though she was born Rachael).
 
A familiar and well-used choice throughout the second half of 20th-century, Rochelle has seen less use in recent years. It dropped from the US and UK Top 1000 in 1999 and 2007 respectively and a recent year saw it given to less than 40 girls. 
 
Notably borne by actress Rochelle Aytes and singer and presenter Rochelle Hume, Rochelle may be out of style, but it does have potential as a route to unisex nickname Rocky.

Rochelle

Zoelle is a modern-sounding name combining the stylish Zoe, which means life, with the trendy Elle, French for "she". Could make for a zippier spin on sweet Noelle.

Zoelle

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.

Liliane

Suzette has a kind of clunky retro charm – so kitsch it's almost cool again. 

Suzette

A name with a surprising amount of history--it was the name of the wife of Ptolemy I of Egypt, occurs in the New Testament, and belonged to a fourth century saint.  In the US, it has long been spelled and pronounced Bernice.  Nicknames include Bernie, Berry, Binnie and Bunny.

Berenice

Eliane is a melodic name with the very fashionable El- beginning. Lovely and lilting as it is, be aware that there are many El- variations around these days, and little girls called Ellie as a result.


Eliane

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.

Emmanuelle

If you loved Nicole growing up but now are looking for a new spin, Nicoletta may interest you. The slightly sleeker French version is Nicolette. A shorter form is Coletta, or you could shorten it even further to Nico or Etta.

Nicoletta

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.

Roux

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 and is also popular in Spain.


Thais

Janette is a feminine name derived from Jane, which ultimately comes from the Hebrew name Yochanan meaning "God is gracious." This French diminutive form adds refinement and elegance to the simpler Jane. Janette enjoyed modest popularity in English-speaking countries during the mid-20th century, particularly in the 1940s-1960s, often as an alternative to the more common Janet. The name combines classic origins with a softly feminine sound. While less commonly given to babies today, it retains a timeless quality that avoids feeling dated. Janette offers the perfect balance between familiarity and distinctiveness, recognizable without being overused, and carries the graceful, meaningful heritage of its root name.