Exploring 50 Popular French Names for Boys and Girls
French names have a timeless charm and elegance that make them a favorite choice for parents around the world. Known for their melodic sound and deep meanings, French names carry a sense of sophistication and cultural richness.
Whether you’re looking for a name that reflects your heritage, or you’re simply drawn to the beauty of the French language, exploring French names can be a delightful journey. In this article, we’ll delve into a variety of French names, from classic to modern, and uncover their meanings and origins. Join us as we explore these enchanting names and find the perfect one for your little one.
Popular French Names for Boys
1. Alexandre
Meaning: Defender of the people.
Famous Namesakes:
Alexandre Dumas: Renowned French writer, author of “The Three Musketeers” and “The Count of Monte Cristo.”
Alexandre Desplat: Acclaimed French film composer known for his work on movies like “The Shape of Water” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”
2. Antoine
Meaning: Priceless one or highly praiseworthy.
Famous Namesakes:
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: French writer and aviator, best known for “The Little Prince.”
Antoine Griezmann: Professional French footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid and the French national team.
3. Benoît
Meaning: Blessed.
Famous Namesakes:
Benoît Mandelbrot: Mathematician known for developing the field of fractal geometry.
Benoît Magimel: French actor known for his roles in “The Piano Teacher” and “The Connection.”
4. Charles
Meaning: Free man.
Famous Namesakes:
Charles de Gaulle: Leader of the Free French Forces during WWII and former President of France.
Charles Aznavour: Famous French-Armenian singer, songwriter, and actor.
5. Claude
Meaning: Lame or enclosure.
Famous Namesakes:
Claude Monet: Founder of French Impressionist painting.
Claude Debussy: French composer, a prominent figure in Impressionist music.
6. Edgar
Meaning: Wealthy spear.
Famous Namesakes:
Edgar Degas: Famous French Impressionist artist.
Edgar Allan Poe: American writer known for his macabre and mystery tales.
7. Edmond
Meaning: Prosperous protector.
Famous Namesakes:
Edmond Rostand: French poet and dramatist, author of “Cyrano de Bergerac.”
Edmond Halley: English astronomer known for Halley’s Comet.
8. Emile
Meaning: Rival.
Famous Namesakes:
Emile Zola: Influential French novelist and playwright.
Emile Hirsch: American actor known for his roles in “Into the Wild” and “Speed Racer.”
9. Étienne
Meaning: Crown or garland.
Famous Namesakes:
Étienne de La Boétie: 16th-century French philosopher and writer.
Étienne Daho: Influential French pop singer and songwriter.
10. Gabriel
Meaning: God is my strength.
Famous Namesakes:
Gabriel Fauré: French composer known for his Requiem and Pavane.
Gabriel Byrne: Irish actor who has starred in films like “The Usual Suspects” and “Miller’s Crossing.”
11. Georges
Meaning: Farmer or earthworker.
Famous Namesakes:
Georges Bizet: French composer best known for the opera “Carmen.”
Georges St-Pierre: Retired Canadian professional mixed martial artist and former UFC champion, of French-Canadian descent.
12. Henri
Meaning: Ruler of the household.
Famous Namesakes:
Henri Matisse: Leading figure in modern art known for his use of color and his fluid, original draughtsmanship.
Henri Cartier-Bresson: Pioneering French photographer considered the father of modern photojournalism.
13. Hugo
Meaning: Mind or intellect.
Famous Namesakes:
Victor Hugo: Renowned French writer known for “Les Misérables” and “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.”
Hugo Lloris: Professional French footballer and captain of the French national team.
14. Jacques
Meaning: Supplanter.
Famous Namesakes:
Jacques Cousteau: Renowned French naval officer, explorer, and conservationist known for his studies of the sea.
Jacques Chirac: Former President of France.
15. Jean
Meaning: God is gracious.
Famous Namesakes:
Jean-Paul Sartre: Influential French existentialist philosopher and writer.
Jean Reno: Popular French actor known for his roles in “Léon: The Professional” and “The Da Vinci Code.”
16. Louis
Meaning: Famous warrior.
Famous Namesakes:
Louis XIV: Known as Louis the Great or the Sun King, he was King of France for over 72 years.
Louis Pasteur: Pioneering microbiologist and chemist who created the first vaccines for rabies and anthrax.
17. Lucas
Meaning: Light-giving or illumination.
Famous Namesakes:
Lucas Bravo: French actor known for his role in the Netflix series “Emily in Paris.”
Lucas Moura: Brazilian footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur, known for his fluency in French and connection to French culture.
18. Mathieu
Meaning: Gift of God.
Famous Namesakes:
Mathieu Kassovitz: French director, actor, and screenwriter known for the film “La Haine.”
Mathieu Amalric: French actor and filmmaker known for “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” and “Quantum of Solace.”
19. Nicolas
Meaning: Victory of the people.
Famous Namesakes:
Nicolas Sarkozy: Former President of France.
Nicolas Cage: American actor with French ancestry, known for his versatile acting career.
20. Olivier
Meaning: Olive tree, symbolizing peace.
Famous Namesakes:
Olivier Martinez: French actor known for his roles in “Unfaithful” and “S.W.A.T.”
Olivier Giroud: Professional French footballer who plays for AC Milan and the French national team.
21. Philippe
Meaning: Lover of horses.
Famous Namesakes:
Philippe Petit: French high-wire artist famous for his walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in 1974.
Philippe Starck: Influential French designer known for his interior, product, and architectural designs.
22. Pierre
Meaning: Rock or stone.
Famous Namesakes:
Pierre-Auguste Renoir: Leading painter in the development of the Impressionist style.
Pierre Curie: Renowned physicist and Nobel Prize winner, known for his work on radioactivity.
23. Raphaël
Meaning: God has healed.
Famous Namesakes:
Raphaël Varane: French professional footballer who plays for Manchester United and the French national team.
Raphaël Enthoven: French philosopher and radio host.
24. Thibault
Meaning: Brave people.
Famous Namesakes:
Thibault de Champagne: Medieval French poet and composer.
Thibaut Courtois: Belgian professional footballer known for his time with Real Madrid, also fluent in French.
25. Vincent
Meaning: Conquering or victorious.
Famous Namesakes:
Vincent van Gogh: Although Dutch, the famous painter lived and worked in France, contributing significantly to French art.
Vincent Cassel: French actor known for his roles in “Black Swan” and “Ocean’s Twelve.”
Popular French Names for Girls
1. Amélie
Meaning: Work or industrious.
Famous Namesakes:
Amélie Mauresmo: Former professional tennis player and winner of two Grand Slam singles titles.
Amélie Nothomb: Belgian Francophone novelist known for her novels like “Hygiene and the Assassin.”
2. Camille
Meaning: Attendant at a religious ceremony.
Famous Namesakes:
Camille Claudel: French sculptor known for her works in bronze and marble.
Camille Saint-Saëns: Renowned French composer, organist, and conductor known for “The Carnival of the Animals.”
3. Chloe
Meaning: Blooming or fertility.
Famous Namesakes:
Chloe Sevigny: American actress and fashion designer known for her roles in “Boys Don’t Cry” and “Big Love.”
Chloé Zhao: Chinese filmmaker known for directing the Academy Award-winning film “Nomadland.”
4. Claire
Meaning: Clear or bright.
Famous Namesakes:
Claire Danes: American actress known for her roles in “Romeo + Juliet” and “Homeland.”
Claire Denis: French film director known for films like “Beau Travail” and “High Life.”
5. Élise
Meaning: God is my oath.
Famous Namesakes:
Élise Crombez: Belgian model known for her work with major fashion brands.
Élise Lucet: French investigative journalist and television presenter.
6. Fleur
Meaning: Flower.
Famous Namesakes:
Fleur Pellerin: Former French Minister of Culture and Communication.
Fleur East: British singer-songwriter and rapper who gained fame on “The X Factor.”
7. Gabrielle
Meaning: God is my strength.
Famous Namesakes:
Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel: Legendary French fashion designer and founder of the Chanel brand.
Gabrielle Union: American actress known for her roles in “Bring It On” and “Being Mary Jane.”
8. Isabelle
Meaning: God is my oath.
Famous Namesakes:
Isabelle Adjani: French actress known for her roles in “Camille Claudel” and “Queen Margot.”
Isabelle Huppert: Renowned French actress known for her work in films like “Elle” and “The Piano Teacher.”
9. Jacqueline
Meaning: Supplanter.
Famous Namesakes:
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis: Former First Lady of the United States and fashion icon.
Jacqueline Bisset: British actress known for her roles in “Bullitt” and “Day for Night.”
10. Juliette
Meaning: Youthful or downy.
Famous Namesakes:
Juliette Binoche: French actress known for her roles in “The English Patient” and “Chocolat.”
Juliette Lewis: American actress and singer known for her roles in “Cape Fear” and “Natural Born Killers.”
11. Laure
Meaning: Laurel.
Famous Namesakes:
Laure Manaudou: French Olympic swimmer and gold medalist.
Laure Prouvost: French contemporary artist known for her installations and video art.
12. Léa
Meaning: Weary or delicate.
Famous Namesakes:
Léa Seydoux: French actress known for her roles in “Blue Is the Warmest Colour” and “Spectre.”
Léa Drucker: French actress known for her work in theater and film.
13. Louise
Meaning: Famous warrior.
Famous Namesakes:
Louise Bourgeois: French-American artist known for her large-scale sculpture and installation art.
Louise Brooks: Iconic American actress and dancer during the silent film era.
14. Madeleine
Meaning: Woman from Magdala.
Famous Namesakes:
Madeleine Albright: Former U.S. Secretary of State.
Madeleine Peyroux: American jazz singer and songwriter.
15. Margaux
Meaning: Pearl.
Famous Namesakes:
Margaux Hemingway: American fashion model and actress.
Margaux Fragoso: American author known for her memoir “Tiger, Tiger.”
16. Marie
Meaning: Bitter or beloved.
Famous Namesakes:
Marie Curie: Renowned physicist and chemist, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.
Marie Antoinette: Queen of France known for her extravagant lifestyle.
17. Mathilde
Meaning: Battle-mighty.
Famous Namesakes:
Mathilde Seigner: French actress known for her roles in “Harry, He’s Here to Help” and “Rosine.”
Mathilde Laurent: French perfumer known for her work with Cartier.
18. Nathalie
Meaning: Christmas Day.
Famous Namesakes:
Nathalie Baye: French actress known for her work in films like “The Return of Martin Guerre” and “Catch Me If You Can.”
Nathalie Emmanuel: British actress known for her role in “Game of Thrones.”
19. Odette
Meaning: Wealthy.
Famous Namesakes:
Odette Annable: American actress known for her roles in “House” and “Cloverfield.”
Odette de Crécy: Fictional character in Marcel Proust’s “In Search of Lost Time.”
20. Renée
Meaning: Reborn.
Famous Namesakes:
Renée Zellweger: American actress known for her roles in “Bridget Jones’s Diary” and “Judy.”
Renée Fleming: Renowned American opera singer.
21. Sophie
Meaning: Wisdom.
Famous Namesakes:
Sophie Marceau: French actress known for her roles in “Braveheart” and “The World Is Not Enough.”
Sophie Turner: British actress known for her role as Sansa Stark in “Game of Thrones.”
22. Sylvie
Meaning: From the forest.
Famous Namesakes:
Sylvie Guillem: Acclaimed French ballet dancer.
Sylvie Vartan: French singer and actress.
23. Valérie
Meaning: Strong.
Famous Namesakes:
Valérie Lemercier: French actress, screenwriter, and director.
Valérie Trierweiler: French journalist and author, former partner of President François Hollande.
24. Véronique
Meaning: She who brings victory.
Famous Namesakes:
Véronique Sanson: French singer-songwriter and musician.
Véronique Vella: French actress and member of the Comédie-Française.
25. Vivienne
Meaning: Alive.
Famous Namesakes:
Vivienne Westwood: Iconic British fashion designer.
Vivienne Jolie-Pitt: Daughter of actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.
