User-created list
The 100 most common names in France
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of 5
Claude
French from Latin
"lame; enclosure"
Claude is a soft-spoken French name that conjures up the pastel colors of Monet and harmonies of Debussy. In France, it is used for girls as well, in fact in the Tracy Chevalier novel Lady and the…
Pascal
French; English
"of the Passover; Easter"
The French-accented Pascal was historically used for sons born at Easter, and can make an interesting choice for a boy with Gallic roots arriving around that holiday. Pascal has a number of notable…
Thierry
French variation of Theodoric
"ruler of the people"
A hugely popular choice in France back in the 60s and 70s, Thierry took the number one spot in 1964,though it has since dropped out of the French Top 500. Derived from the Germanic Theodoric (not a…
Olivier
French
"olive tree"
More and more frequently heard as the Gallic version of Oliver, Olivier could be seen as a tribute to the great British actor, Sir Laurence O.
Alexandre
French variation of Alexander
"defending men"
What's the difference between Alexander, the usual English spelling of this deeply classical name, and Alexandre, the French version? English speakers might find the proper French pronunciation…
François
French variation of Francis
Francois is the ultimate sophisticated French name.
Didier
French
"desired, beloved"
Didier is kind of a Desiree for boy--a lively, confident name that's widely used in France and has definite possibilities here. It's the name of an early French saint.
Dominique
French form of Dominic, Latin
"belonging to the lord"
Unisex option Dominique peaked for boys at Number 170 in 1991, perhaps due to the popularity of basketball player Dominique Wilkins. While it has now fallen out of the popularity charts in both the…
Guillaume
French variation of William, German
"resolute protection"
An everyday name in France, a charismatic possibility elsewhere, Guillaume is a French form of the classic Germanic William. It's heyday was back in the 1980s and 90s, when it ranked in the French…
Jérôme
Jérôme is the French form of Jerome, ultimately derived from the Greek name Hieronymos, meaning 'sacred name.' This masculine name carries considerable historical weight through Saint Jerome, the…
Antoine
French variation of Anthony
"priceless one"
Antoine is a venerable French name that is still stylish in its native habitat, where it is in the Top 30. In the US, it was most popular in the 1970s and '80s, reaching Number 262 in 1985. There…
Marc
French, Welsh and Catalan variation of Mark
Designer (as in Marc Jacobs) form of Mark. An international classic, but long falling in popularity as a boys' name.
Maxime
French variation of Maximus
Common in France, but could be confused with the feminine Maxine here.
René
French
"reborn"
Here, it's strictly for girls, though Celine Dion's boy Rene-Charles reminded us of its masculine origins.
Romain
Romain is a masculine name of French origin derived from the Latin 'Romanus,' meaning 'Roman' or 'from Rome.' This classic name has been used in France for centuries, honoring the historical…
Guy
French
"wood"
The patron saint of comedians and dancers (also known as St Vitus) has a name that is both the ultimate everyman, and has a hint of British aristocracy. In the States, Guy was most popular in the…
Jean-Pierre
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.
Franck
Franck is a masculine name of French origin, serving as a variant spelling of the more common Frank. Derived from the Germanic tribal name 'Frank,' which meant 'free man' or 'javelin,' it carries…
Gilles
Gilles is a French masculine name derived from the Latin name Aegidius, which means 'shield' or 'young goat'. Popular throughout medieval France, Gilles became associated with the 7th-century hermit…