User-created list
French Names
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Seraphine
French from Hebrew
"burning ones"
Seraphine is the Gallic version of the angelic name Seraphina. But while Seraphina has been rising rapidly since Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck chose it for their second daughter, Seraphine has been…
Serge
French variation of ancient Roman family name Sergius
"servant"
Old saints' and popes' name that went to France in the 1920s with the Russian Ballets Russes; in its Russian form, Sergei, it retains an artistic, almost effete air.
Sibylle
French, German,, Greek
"seer, prophetess"
Derived from the Greek term for a female prophet or oracle, Sibylle is a French and German variant of Sybil. Associated with wisdom, this spelling of the name is the current favorite in France,…
Suzette
French diminutive of Susannah, Hebrew
"lily"
Suzette has a kind of clunky retro charm – so kitsch it's almost cool again.
Suzanne
French variation of Susan
"lily"
Suzanne became popular along with Susan but has just dropped out of the Top 1,000. Wait a generation (or two) in the US, though in France Suzanne is once again tres chic.
Tatienne
Toinette
French, diminutive of Antoinette
"priceless one"
Probably too close for comfort to "toilette." Antonia conveys the same idea with a more mellifluous sound.
Valentine
French variation of Valentina
"strength, health"
For a girl, we'd say Val-en-teen, though many would insist on pronouncing it like the holiday.
Victoire
Victorine
French variation of Victoria, Latin
"victory"
Victorine is appealing if you know it's an authentic vintage French girls' name, less so if you assume it's an awkward feminization, ala Davette or Richardine.
Vienne
Variation of Vienna, place-name
Vienne came to Western consciousness as the name of the French heroine of the popular 1990s book and then movie Chocolat . Vienne is a variation of Vienna, the name of the Austrian capital that has…
Virginie
French variation of Virginia, Latin
"virginal, pure"
Say Virginie they way they do in Paris -- VAIR-zhin-ee -- and it sounds elegant and appealing. But Americans might pronounce it like virgin-y, which is a no-go.
Vivianne
Variant of Vivian, Latin
"life"
Vivian is the classic spelling, now in the Top 100, while Vivien is the most common alternative. This one foregrounds the "Anne," and so could serve as a nod to a relative or friend by that name.
Yolande
Yolande is a feminine name of medieval French origin derived from the Germanic elements 'yol' meaning 'viking' or 'valiant' and 'lande' meaning 'land' or 'territory'. It was introduced to England…
Yves
French
"yew wood"
On paper, with its stylish ties to fashion legend Yves Saint-Laurent (born Henri), Yves looks great, but the pronunciation--EVE-- could lead to gender confusion. German variation Ivo might be cooler…
Yvette
French, feminine of Yves
"yew tree"
This French name has the elegance of other '-ette' names like Colette and Odette, and is a botanical name without being too obvious about it. Related to the sleek French name Yves, it was popular in…
Yvon
Yvon is a masculine name of French origin, serving as a variation of Yves or Yvonne. Derived from the Germanic element 'iv,' meaning 'yew tree,' which symbolized strength and endurance in ancient…
Yvonne
French
"yew wood"
Peaking in the 1950s, Yvonne has now dropped out of the Top 1000 in 2003 and doesn't look set to return soon, although its rare Y initial might endear it to some. Yvaine, from Neil Gaiman's Stardust…