User-created list
The 100 most common names in France
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Christine
French variation of Christina
"Christian"
Christine was the dominant feminine variation of Christopher forty or fifty years ago, when French E -endings were preferred over A s; it was a Top 20 name for several years, from 1966 to 1974. But…
Valérie
Valérie is the French form of Valerie, a feminine name derived from the Latin 'Valerius,' meaning 'to be strong' or 'health, strength.' The addition of the accent mark (é) maintains the authentic…
Sandrine
French variation of Alexandra, Greek
"defending men"
Sophisticated French choice. Or toxic petrochemical, as Ross on Friends famously joked when Rachel suggested it for their fictional daughter.
Stéphanie
Véronique
French variation of Veronica
The sleek French version of Veronica has considerable class and chic.
Céline
French variation of Celeste
"heavenly"
French Canadian singer Dion made us notice this variation, but most parents would prefer the Selene spelling.
Chantal
French
"stone, boulder"
Though associated with a French saint noted for her holiness and strength of character, this name is somewhat dated and it might be better to look to one of the more modern names popular for little…
Christiane
German and French feminine form of Christian
There are not one but two notable modern women with this name: journalist Christiane Amanpour and physician/author Christiane Northrup. In Germany, the pronunciation is kris-tee-AH-na while in…
Patricia
Latin
"noble, patrician"
Patricia still sounds patrician, though its scores of nicknames definitely don't. Wildly popular from the forties (alternately Number 3 and 4 throughout the decade) to the sixties, Patricia has been…
Brigitte
French variation of Brighid
"strength or exalted one"
Brigitte is the French version of the ancient Irish Brighid long associated with 1950s sex symbol Brigitte Bardot. If you want to pronounce Brigitte the French way, it's brih-ZHEET.
Jeanne
French variation of Jean
"God is gracious"
Pronounced just like Jean in the English-speaking world, but as the more unusual zhahn in France, this has sailed away with the first wave of French favorites: Denise, Michelle, et soeurs.
Hélène
Aurélie
French form of Aurelia, Latin
"golden one"
Popular in Quebec and Belgium, this French form of the stylish Aurelia may appeal to those who enjoy Elodie and Amelie but want something with that appealing golden meaning. Popular in France back in…
Emilie
Spelling variation of Emily; German and Scandinavian feminine form of Aemilius
Unlike most creative spellings, this one isn't overly trendy or overdone—in fact, it's quite delicate and pretty. However, it is clearly suffering from the plethora of similar names that are flowing…
Laurence
Latin
"from Laurentum"
A feminine form in France, this boyish choice could make a fresh alternative to Lauren or Laura -- or be an inventive way to honor Grandpa Larry.
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.
Léa
Hebrew
"weary"
French version of Leah, currently popular with French-speaking parents. In this spelling, it looks pleasingly like the female equivalent of Leo (or Léo), and sounds like Leia.
Dominique
French, feminine variation of Dominic, Latin
"belonging to a lord"
Had a surge of popularity in the Dynasty days, now has subsided in the wake of fresher French choices like Destry and Delphine, though it retains its sense of sophistication. It's one of the most…
Jeannine
French variation of Jean
"God is gracious"
This feminine form of Jean was most popular in the 1930s in its home country, and in the 1960s in the US. It's fallen off the Top 1000 list since, but perhaps cute retro nickname Jeannie could tempt…
Christelle
Diminutive of Christine, French
"a Christian"
Christelle is a feminine name of French origin, developed as a diminutive form of Christine, which itself derives from the Greek 'Christos' meaning 'anointed one.' The suffix '-elle' adds a delicate,…