Francophile Naming Guide -- Literature Names Beyond Moliere, Hugo, & Verne for Girls

Elvira

Spanish

"white, fair"

Before there was the campy TV Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Elvira was the long-suffering wife of Don Juan, and remnants of those negative, gothic images still cling to it, though they are fading.…

Eulalie

French form of Eulalia, Greek

"sweetly speaking"

Eulalie hasn't ranked in the US Top 1000 since 1899, but its French roots might make it more appealing to modern ears than its sister Eulalia. "Eulalie" is a poem by Edgar Allan Poe, and the name…

Eurydice

Greek

"wide justice"

Flowing and intriguing, Eurydice is a name from Greek mythology, borne by the wife of musician Orpheus. After she is poisoned by a snake and condemned to the underworld, Orpheus attempts to rescue…

Fanchette

Fanchette is a delicate feminine name with French origins, functioning as a diminutive form of Frances or Françoise. The charming '-ette' suffix adds a distinctly feminine, dainty quality…

Fanny

Diminutive of Frances, English from Latin

"from France; free man"

As this word is less often used to mean derriere, it becomes more possible to view Fanny as the kind of appealingly quaint nickname name, like Josie and Nellie, that many parents are favoring now.

Feliciana

Feliciana is a feminine name with Latin origins, derived from 'felix' meaning 'happy,' 'fortunate,' or 'lucky.' This elegant name represents the feminine form of Feliciano and is related to Felicity.…

Flore

Flore is a delicate French name derived from the Latin "flora," meaning "flower." This elegant, simple name carries connections to Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers and spring, symbolizing youth,…

Florentine

Latin

"flowering; flourishing; from Florence"

Florentine is an unusual member of a group of names destined for great popularity for girls. Its primary members are Flora and Florence, but rarer choices such as Flory and Fleur and Florentine are…

Florine

French

This rare and archaic French name is a little too close to Chlorine for our liking. Despite its flowery origins, Florine has a warrior history - Florine of Burgundy was a female French crusader, who…