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Francophile Naming Guide -- French Silent Film Actresses
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Bleuette
Claude
Latin
"lame; enclosure"
Yes, we tend to think of Claude as a male name and Claudia and Claudette as the female, but this ancient clan name is used in France for girls as well as boys, and could make a distinctively chic boy…
Denise
French, feminine variation of Denis
"god of Nysa"
Denise was a French favorite of the fifties and sixties but is less chic now. In 2020 it broke back into the Top 1000 after a five-year hiatus, catapulted into style by reality TV star Denisse Novoa…
Dolly
English, diminutive of Dorothy
"gift of God"
Sweet and cosy with a touch of sass, this nickname-y choice was a familiar option up until the sixties in the US. Then, for a while, it was a bit of a one-person name, associated with singer Dolly…
Ève
Florelle
Florelle is a delicate feminine name with French and Latin influences, derived from 'flor' meaning 'flower.' This charming diminutive form creates the meaning 'little flower' or 'flowering.' The name…
Françoise
French variation of Frances
"from France; free man"
In France it's sometimes bestowed as a patriotic gesture; in English-speaking places it has an air of genteel sophistication.
Gaby
Gaby is a warm, approachable feminine name typically used as a shortened form of Gabrielle or Gabriela, names derived from Hebrew meaning 'God is my strength.' This friendly diminutive has gained…
Georgette
French, feminine variation of George
Has a musty 1940s feel. Try Georgia -- or Georgiana.
Germaine
Feminine variation of Germain, French
"from Germany"
Linked to the early days of feminism via Germaine Greer, this saint's name feels neither French nor German enough -- which just might make it the perfect blend of the two cultures. All forms of…
Gina
Diminutive of Regina, Eugenia, Georgina, and similar, English, German, Spanish
"queen; well born; farmer"
A short form for a whole variety of names, this short form has been used across Europe as a stand-alone since the 1920s. It spiked in popularity in the 1950s, owing to the fame of Italian actress…
Héléna
Huguette
Irène
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.
Josette
French,pet form of Josephine, feminine of Joseph, Hebrew
"Jehovah increases"
One of the group of French 'ette'-ending names that emigrated to this country in the last century, though never as popular as some others, such as Claudette and Paulette--it did have a little…
Josseline
Julienne
French from Latin
"youthful or sky father"
Fine in France, but here it means vegetables sliced into thin strips.
Lili
Spelling variation of Lily or diminutive of Lilian
Lili has been blooming in many forms for a couple of decades now. The Lili version will surely get more attention now that the Duke and Duchess of Susses, aka Harry and Meghan, are using is as a…
Lucienne
French feminine variation of Lucian
"light"
Lucienne is a soft and ultra-sophisticated French-accented option in the Lucy family, one that could provide a fresh alternative to such fatigued Gallic choices as Danielle and Michelle. So if you're…