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French names are beloved for their elegance, lyrical sound, and timeless charm. Rooted in history, religion, nature, and nobility, French names often carry deep meaning while sounding effortlessly stylish. Whether you’re looking for a romantic baby name, a refined character name, or just love French culture, this list offers plenty of inspiration. In this guide, you’ll find 100 French names—male, female, and unisex—along with their meanings and origins. From traditional picks to modern favorites, each name is a little piece of France you can carry with you.
Popular French Girl Names and Meanings
Amélie – “Hardworking” or “industrious”
Élodie – “Foreign riches” or “wealth”
Chloé – “Blooming” or “green shoot”
Juliette – A French diminutive of Julia, meaning “youthful”
Camille – Traditionally unisex, meaning “attendant at a religious ceremony”
Manon – A diminutive of Marie; means “beloved”
Claire – “Clear” or “bright”
Sophie – “Wisdom”
Madeleine – “From Magdala”; classic and elegant
Céleste – “Heavenly”
Anaïs – A Provençal version of Anna, meaning “grace”
Geneviève – “Woman of the race” or “tribe woman”
Léa – French form of Leah, meaning “weary” or “delicate”
Noémie – “Pleasantness” or “gentle”
Vivienne – “Alive” or “lively”
Margaux – Variant of Margot, meaning “pearl”
Océane – “Ocean”
Rosalie – “Rose”
Hélène – “Torch” or “light”
Fleur – “Flower”
Popular French Boy Names and Meanings
Louis – “Famous warrior”; a royal favorite
Étienne – French version of Stephen, meaning “crown”
Julien – “Youthful” or “descended from Jupiter”
Théo – Short for Théodore, meaning “gift of God”
Luc – “Light”
Hugo – “Mind” or “intellect”
Gabriel – “God is my strength”
Mathis – French form of Matthew, meaning “gift of God”
Baptiste – “Baptist” or “to dip”
Antoine – French form of Anthony, meaning “priceless one”
Léo – “Lion”
Noé – French for Noah, meaning “rest” or “comfort”
Benoît – “Blessed”
Gaspard – “Bringer of treasure”
Damien – “To tame” or “subdue”
Rémy – “Oarsman” or “remedy”
Maxence – Derived from Maximus, meaning “greatest”
Armand – “Soldier” or “warrior”
Cédric – Possibly means “chief” or “bounty”
Quentin – “Fifth”
Unisex French Names and Meanings
Camille – “Acolyte” or “attendant”; used for both boys and girls
Claude – “Lame” or “enclosure”; a classic unisex option
Dominique – “Belonging to the Lord”
Sacha – French form of Sasha, meaning “defender of mankind”
Alexis – “Helper” or “defender”
Lou – Short form of Louis or Louise
Noël – “Christmas”; festive and warm
Marion – A French diminutive of Marie
Charlie – A nickname-style unisex name
Valéry – Derived from Valerius, meaning “strong”
Romantic and Elegant French Names
Isabelle – “God is my oath”
Laurent – “Laurel-crowned”
Aurélie – “Golden”
Théophile – “Lover of God”
Delphine – “From Delphi” or “dolphin”
Alain – “Little rock” or “handsome”
Éloïse – “Healthy” or “wide”
Tristan – “Sorrowful” or “bold”
Colette – “Victorious people”
Romain – “From Rome”
Nature-Inspired French Names
Forêt – “Forest”
Neige – “Snow”
Rivière – “River”
Étoile – “Star”
Lune – “Moon”
Pluie – “Rain”
Ciel – “Sky” or “heaven”
Rose – “Rose” flower
Jardin – “Garden”
Laurier – “Laurel tree”
Unique and Rare French Names
Aimé – “Beloved”
Clémence – “Mercy” or “gentleness”
Cyprien – “From Cyprus”
Maëlys – “Chief” or “prince”
Gaël – “Generous” or “joyful”
Alizée – “Trade wind”
Maël – “Prince” or “chief”
Isidore – “Gift of Isis”
Zélie – Possibly means “zealous” or “solemn”
Philomène – “Lover of strength” or “song”
Names from French Literature and History
Hugo – Victor Hugo, author of Les Misérables
Jean – From philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Voltaire – Enlightenment writer and satirist
Joséphine – Wife of Napoleon Bonaparte
Molière – Famous playwright
Napoléon – French emperor
Rousseau – Philosopher and social theorist
Colette – Renowned French novelist
Émile – From Émile Zola
Camus – Albert Camus, philosopher and writer
Short and Stylish French Names
Léon – “Lion”
Maud – “Powerful battler”
Nina – “Little girl” or “dreamer”
Gisèle – “Pledge”
Lys – “Lily”
Aude – From a medieval heroine
Yves – “Yew wood”
Zoé – “Life”
Léa – Short and timeless
Émile – “To strive” or “to excel”
French names are effortlessly charming and filled with elegance, meaning, and heritage. Whether you prefer timeless classics, modern favorites, or rare gems, the world of French names offers something for every personality and purpose.
From names inspired by nature and literature to those rooted in faith and nobility, these 100 French names and their meanings are a celebration of sound, culture, and identity. Use this list as a guide for baby names, fictional characters, or simply to fall in love with the poetic beauty of French.
