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French Names from the 1900's & 1910's

Ko
By Ko
Updated Thu Jan 01 1970
A classic touch of France
  1. Abel

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "breath"

    • Description:

      Abel, the name of Adam and Eve's unfortunate younger son, compensates with positive connotations: capable, competent, ready and willing.
  2. Adelaide

    • Origin:

      Variant of Adelheidis, German

    • Meaning:

      "noble, nobility"

    • Description:

      Adelaide is now heading straight uphill on the coattails of such newly popular sisters as Ava, Ada, and Audrey, and in the company of Adeline and Amelia. It was chosen by actress Katherine Heigl for the name of her second daughter.
  3. Adele

    • Origin:

      French diminutive of Adelaide

    • Meaning:

      "noble, nobility"

    • Description:

      Credit the award-winning single-named British singer for taking the girls’ name Adele from a quiet semi-retirement back into currency. Adele reentered the US Top 1000 popular baby names in 2011 and has remained there ever since.
  4. Adeline

    • Origin:

      French, diminutive of Adele

    • Meaning:

      "noble, nobility"

    • Description:

      Adeline has a lovely, old-fashioned "Sweet Adeline" charm, but has become so popular in the US under so many spellings and variations -- with Adalynn and Adalyn also popular -- that considered together it is far more popular than it first seems. Adorable nickname Addie is also pervasive.
  5. Adrien

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Adrian

    • Description:

      This spelling variation of the much more popular Adrian entered reentered the Social Security list after an over 100 year absence in 1999. The -en ending makes it sound like the feminine Adrienne. We suggest sticking with the all A Adrian for your little boy.
  6. Adrienne

    • Origin:

      Latin, feminine variation of Adrian

    • Meaning:

      "man from Adria"

    • Description:

      A long-integrated French feminine form of Adrian, now overshadowed by the a-ending version, but still a valid option, with considerable substance and dignity—though these days more parents would probably choose Adriana.
  7. Agathe

    • Origin:

      French variation of Agatha, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "good woman"

    • Description:

      Agathe is a hugely popular name in contemporary France, even if it's English-speaking counterparts have not yet warmed to the usual English version, Agatha. The French pronunciation is sure to trip up non-French speakers.
  8. Agnes

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "pure, virginal"

    • Description:

      Agnes is the Latin variation of the name Hagne, which itself derived from the Greek word hagnos, meaning "chaste." In medieval times, St. Agnes was a very popular saint, leading to its popularity as a girl's name. Agnes Grey is the title of one of the two novels written by Anne Brontë.
  9. Aimee

    • Origin:

      Variation of Amy, French

    • Meaning:

      "beloved"

    • Description:

      Amy was a 1970s favorite, and French spelling Aimee peaked in the same decade. Today, about 1500 baby girls are still named Amy every year in the US, versus about 150 named Aimee.
  10. Albanie

    • Description:

      Albanie is a feminine name of French origin, representing a lyrical feminine form of Albany or a variant spelling of Albanie, the French word for Albania. The name carries an elegant, romantic quality with its soft sounds and French aesthetic. As a place name, it connects to the historic Scottish title 'Duke of Albany' and the capital of New York State. Albanie remains quite rare in English-speaking countries, making it a distinctive choice that still feels accessible and pronounceable. With its three melodic syllables and feminine ending, Albanie offers parents a beautiful alternative to more common names like Melanie or Stephanie while maintaining a similar rhythmic flow.

  11. Albert

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "noble, bright"

    • Description:

      Albert has acquired a new gloss as one of the top royal baby boy names, a considerable upgrade from its serious, studious image (think Einstein, Schweitzer).
  12. Albertine

    • Origin:

      French feminine variation of Albert

    • Description:

      Albertine and Alberta are old-fashioned feminizations ala Geraldine and Roberta. This is the kind of name that sounds very dowdy until a hip celebrity chooses it, at which point we don't know how we missed its coolness all this time.
  13. Alfred

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "wise counselor; elf counsel"

    • Description:

      Alfred is up off his recliner! If you're looking for a path to Fred, you can go directly to Frederick or take the long way around with the so-out-it's-in-again Alfred. Alfred is quite popular in several European countries, especially England and Wales, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
  14. Alice

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "noble"

    • Description:

      Alice is a classic literary name that's both strong and sweet, ranking in the US Top 100 and popular throughout the western world. Alice is derived from the Old French name Aalis, a diminutive of Adelais that itself came from the Germanic name Adalhaidis, which is composed of the Proto-Germanic elements aþala, meaning "noble," and haidu, "kind, appearance, type."
  15. Alix

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "noble type"

    • Description:

      A chic and sassy French choice, popular in France but likely to be confused with the more prosaic Alex in English-speaking countries. Although sometimes used in the US as a variant spelling of Alex, the French name Alix actually derives from a medieval French form of the name Alice or Adelaide.
  16. Alphonse

    • Origin:

      French from German

    • Meaning:

      "noble, ready for battle"

    • Description:

      Rarely used, and for good reason. Alonzo is a preferable choice.
  17. Alphonsine

    • Description:

      Alphonsine is a feminine name derived from the masculine Alfonso or Alphonse, which originated from the Old Germanic elements "adal" (noble) and "funs" (ready) - meaning "ready for battle" or "noble and ready." The feminine form emerged in French-speaking regions, particularly in France, Belgium, and Quebec. Alphonsine enjoyed modest popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries but has since become quite rare. The name carries an elegant, vintage quality with its flowing sound and connection to European nobility. Saint Alphonsine, a 19th-century Vietnamese nun who became the first Vietnamese woman to join a religious institute, has provided some religious significance to the name.

  18. Ambroise

    • Description:

      Ambroise is the French form of the Latin name Ambrosius, which is derived from the Greek word 'ambrosia,' meaning 'immortal' or 'divine.' This name carries connotations of longevity and heavenly association. Ambroise was popularized by several saints, most notably Saint Ambrose of Milan, a 4th-century bishop and Doctor of the Church. In France, this classic name has maintained steady, though modest, usage throughout the centuries. While Ambroise never reached tremendous popularity in English-speaking countries, it remains appreciated for its sophisticated sound and rich historical connections. The name evokes a sense of timeless elegance with its mellifluous pronunciation and distinguished heritage.
  19. Anatole

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "from the east, rising sun"

    • Description:

      Anatole is one of the unique boys' names with an unusual-ish feel but an uncertain provenance, with a meaning related to sunrise and thus to fire. While it's Greek in origin, it is associated more closely with France. Anatole Kuragin is a dashing, roguish prince in Tolstoy's War and Peace.
  20. Andre

    • Origin:

      French and Portuguese variation of Andrew

    • Meaning:

      "strong and manly"

    • Description:

      Andre is one of the international forms of Andrew that has been familiar in the English-speaking world for decades without any need to be overly Anglicized - though round the world, it is more likely to be written as André.