​
​
Advanced Search

Both Unique and Classic French Girl Names

  1. Joelle

    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Joel, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah is his God"

    • Description:

      Joel is one of those boys’ names that's never been super-popular yet has never been UNpopular either -- it's been in the Top 400 in the US since we started keeping statistics in 1880. So it's inevitable that its female form Joelle would gain visibility too, and indeed Joelle was used most widely during Joel's reign in the Top 100, from the late 1960s through the early 1990s.
  2. Capucine

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "nasturtium"

    • Description:

      Capucine was a chic French actress half a century ago and has been one of the most fashionable girl names in France in recent decades, ranking in France's Top 100. Capucine is also popular in French-speaking Belgium. To Americans and other English speakers, this name still feels fresh -- so fresh that last year, no baby girls were named Capucine in the US.
  3. 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?
  4. Hettie

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Henrietta, English

    • Meaning:

      "estate ruler"

    • Description:

      It may take another generation or so, but this category of Hettie-Lettie-Lottie names could make a comeback.
  5. Vianne

    • Origin:

      French, blend of Vivian and Anne

    • Description:

      A smooth and velvety Gallic choice first heard here as the heroine of the movie "Chocolat."
  6. Sidney

    • Origin:

      English from French

    • Meaning:

      "Saint Denis"

    • Description:

      While Sidney in this spelling has a long history as a girls' name, it fell off the Top 1000 from the early 50s until 1990. Then it reemerged as one of the newly chic androgynous names for girls, rising into the Top 300 before falling off the Top 1000 list again in 2016. Sydney is now the more fashionable form.
  7. Noemie

    • Description:

      Noemie is the French variation of Naomi, a name with Hebrew origins meaning 'pleasantness' or 'delightfulness.' In the Bible, Naomi was the mother-in-law of Ruth and a figure of loyalty and perseverance. The French spelling adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to this ancient name. Noemie typically uses the accent mark (Noémie) in French, though it's often simplified in English usage. The name has maintained steady popularity in France and French-speaking regions but remains relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries, giving it a distinctive quality. With its melodic three-syllable pronunciation (no-ay-mee), the name combines biblical heritage with French refinement, appealing to parents seeking a name that's both meaningful and graceful.

  8. Linnet

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "flaxen haired"

    • Description:

      Although the accent in Linnet is on the first syllable, it could be confused with the dated Lynette.
  9. Lianna

    • Origin:

      Variation of Liana, French

    • Meaning:

      "to climb like a vine"

    • Description:

      Subtle botanical choice with cross-cultural appeal. Streamlined Liana is more common.
  10. Suzette

    • Origin:

      French diminutive of Susannah, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "lily"

    • Description:

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

    • Origin:

      Japanese, French, Welsh, Vietnamese, Navajo

    • Meaning:

      "dance; May; cherry blossom; coyote"

    • Description:

      Cross-cultural winner.
  12. Janine

    • Origin:

      French variation of Jane

    • Description:

      Has lost all trace of its French accent.
  13. Romane

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "a Roman"

    • Description:

      The feminine version of the newly-stylish Roman -- and the longer form of the also-newly-stylish Romy -- would make a girls' choice that achieves that near-impossible balance of being both original and fashionable. This variation is far superior to Romaine, which is too lettuce-y.
  14. Claudine

    • Origin:

      French feminine variation of Claude

    • Description:

      There are much chicer versions of this name today, such as Claudie, Claudia, or Claude itself. Claudine is a name wobbling on the edge of extinction.
  15. Marcheline

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "warrior"

    • Description:

      Marcheline was the first name of Angelina Jolie's late mother, who was part French-Canadian, which Jolie and Brad Pitt used as the middle name for their twin daughter Vivienne. The name is related to the Latin Marcellus and Marcus, which come from Mars, the name of the God of War, and is often spelled Marceline. Jolie's mother's birth name was Marcia Lynne.
  16. Nelia

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Cornelia

    • Meaning:

      "horn"

    • Description:

      This lively and appealing name originated as a short form of Cornelia, but is well able to stand on its own. Nelia is also often in the Hispanic culture, where it can be a short form of Manuela. It did have some American usage in the late nineteenth century, and with Cornelia having a comeback, Nelia could follow.
  17. Rochelle

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "little rock"

    • Description:

      Long-standing French name that retains a feminine, fragile, and shell-like image.
  18. Nolwenn

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "shining, holy"

    • Description:

      Nolwenn is popular in Wales but would be a very adventurous choice in the US. Though with the increased visibility of names like Arwen, thanks to Lord of the Rings, it may not feel as odd going forward as it might have a generation ago. Other, similar ideas: Olwen, Anwen, Bronwen, Rowena.
  19. Fauna

    • Origin:

      Roman, English word name, from Latin

    • Meaning:

      "young deer; all the animals that live in a particular area"

    • Description:

      Fauna is the Roman goddess of the earth as well as one of the fairies who protected Disney's "Sleeping Beauty". It can also be considered a word name with a scientific, nature focused feel. Used to as a way to refer to all the animals in a particular area, habitat, or time period, many might think of the phrase "Flora and Fauna" on seeing the name.
  20. Liliane

    • Origin:

      French variation of Lilian

    • Meaning:

      "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.

Introducing the Nameberry App

Nameberry App
Find your perfect baby name together with our new mobile app.
  • 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.
Sign up to be notified when the app launches and to receive a discount on full access.
Nameberry App Logo