French Names from the 1900's & 1910's

Andrea — a feminine form of Andrew (and a male name in several European cultures) — comes with a good selection of pronunciations — ANN-dree-a, AHN-dree-a, or ahn-DRAY-a — each with a slightly different image: girl next door/slightly affected/downright mysterious

Ange is a feminine name of French origin meaning 'angel,' though it can occasionally be used for boys in France as well. Simple yet evocative, this name directly references celestial beings and carries strong spiritual associations across many cultures. The name's brevity gives it a distinctive quality compared to longer forms like Angela or Angelica. Ange has maintained consistent usage in French-speaking regions but remains relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries, where it offers a subtle, sophisticated alternative to more common angelic names. The name conveys qualities of purity, goodness, and spiritual beauty within its compact, elegant form.

With Angelina becoming so popular thanks to Ms. Jolie, this could be a new twist—but everyone will always misunderstand it as Angelina. While it currently ranks at Number 951 in the US, it's Number 352 in France.

Angelique was the fastest-rising girl name of 2021, influenced by French-Mexican actress Angelique Boyer, who starred in the telenovela Imperio de mentiras (Empire of Lies).

The French word for angel is Ange, but Angèle is the French version of the name Angela, and feels much fresher nowadays.

Anna has become the dominant form of the Ann family, offering a touch of the international to English speakers and a bit more style than the oversimplified Ann or Anne.

The name of the sainted mother of the Virgin Mary was among the top girls’ names for centuries, in both the original English Ann spelling and the French Anne. Both left the Top 100 around 1970 but Anne is still among the most classic names for girls, although others are more likely to choose the original Hannah, the Anna variation, or even Annabel or Annabella.

Annette is a French diminutive of Ann which was among the first wave of widely-used girls' names from France, now neglected for so long that it's almost starting to feel stylish again.

Antoine as a feminine name represents an unusual gender application of what is traditionally a French masculine name. Antoine is the French form of Anthony, derived from the Roman family name Antonius of uncertain Etruscan origins. While Antoine is firmly established as a male name in French-speaking regions, its occasional use for girls may stem from its melodic quality or as a feminine variation of Antonia. The name has a sophisticated European flair with its French pronunciation (ahn-TWAHN). As a feminine name, Antoine is quite uncommon, making it a distinctive choice. The crossover usage creates an interesting gender-neutral option, though parents should be aware that it may cause some confusion as it remains predominantly masculine in traditional usage patterns.

Antonia is stronger than most feminized boys’ names, reflecting the pioneer spirit of Willa Cather's classic novel My Antonia. Antonia is hovering near the bottom of the US popularity list, which may be an excellent reason for you to use it.

The roles of vintage French girl names are filled with now-rare feminizations, such as Antonine. More usual forms today are Antonia or even Antoinette.

French given and surname.

Arthur, once the shining head of the Knights of the Round Table, is, after decades of neglect, now being polished up and restored by stylish parents, inspired perhaps by the new generation of royals. Arthur has led the list of possible names for the young British princes, chosen as a middle name for Prince Louis, son of William and Catherine, Prince and Princess of Wales.

Augusta is a dignified name reminiscent of wealthy great-aunts, but with the fashion for both August and Gus for boys, Augusta could get some fresh energy.

French version of August, for both sexes. And for those who feel the spelling of August is too plain.

This form and its German variant Augusten are moving up fast as the preferred long forms of the trendy Gus.

Traditionally used by the ultrareligious, the French boys' name Baptiste comes from the Greek word meaning "to dip". Baptiste is one of the Top 100 Boy Names in France.