Guide

French names: meanings, origins & pronunciation

A handpicked guide to 100 popular French girl and boy names — what they mean, where they come from, and how to say them.

50 of 50 names shown

Popular French girl names

Adèle
/ah-DEL/
Origin:Germanic
Meaning:Noble, of noble kind
Agnès
/an-YES/
Origin:Greek
Meaning:Pure, chaste
Alice
/ah-LEES/
Origin:Germanic
Meaning:Noble, of noble birth
Amélie
/ah-may-LEE/
Origin:Germanic
Meaning:Hard-working, industrious
Anaïs
/ah-nah-EES/
Origin:Hebrew
Meaning:Grace, favor
Aurélie
/oh-ray-LEE/
Origin:Latin
Meaning:Golden
Brigitte
/bree-ZHEET/
Origin:Celtic
Meaning:Exalted one, strength
Camille
/kah-MEEY/
Origin:Latin
Meaning:Young ceremonial attendant
Capucine
/kah-poo-SEEN/
Origin:Latin
Meaning:Nasturtium flower
Céleste
/say-LEST/
Origin:Latin
Meaning:Heavenly
Charlotte
/shar-LOT/
Origin:Germanic
Meaning:Free woman
Chloé
/klo-AY/
Origin:Greek
Meaning:Young green shoot, blooming
Claire
/KLAIR/
Origin:Latin
Meaning:Bright, clear
Clémence
/klay-MAHNS/
Origin:Latin
Meaning:Mercy, mildness
Colette
/ko-LET/
Origin:Greek
Meaning:People of victory
Delphine
/del-FEEN/
Origin:Greek
Meaning:From Delphi; dolphin
Élise
/ay-LEEZ/
Origin:Hebrew
Meaning:God is my oath
Éloïse
/ay-loh-EEZ/
Origin:Germanic
Meaning:Healthy, wide
Émilie
/ay-mee-LEE/
Origin:Latin
Meaning:Rival, eager
Estelle
/es-TEL/
Origin:Latin
Meaning:Star
Fleur
/FLUHR/
Origin:French
Meaning:Flower
Gabrielle
/gah-bree-EL/
Origin:Hebrew
Meaning:God is my strength
Geneviève
/zhen-vee-EV/
Origin:Germanic
Meaning:Tribe woman
Hélène
/ay-LEN/
Origin:Greek
Meaning:Shining light
Inès
/ee-NES/
Origin:Greek
Meaning:Pure
Isabelle
/ee-zah-BEL/
Origin:Hebrew
Meaning:Devoted to God
Jeanne
/ZHAN/
Origin:Hebrew
Meaning:God is gracious
Joséphine
/zho-zay-FEEN/
Origin:Hebrew
Meaning:God shall add
Juliette
/zhoo-lee-ET/
Origin:Latin
Meaning:Youthful
Léa
/lay-AH/
Origin:Hebrew
Meaning:Weary; lioness
Louise
/loo-EEZ/
Origin:Germanic
Meaning:Renowned warrior
Lucie
/loo-SEE/
Origin:Latin
Meaning:Light
Madeleine
/mahd-LEN/
Origin:Hebrew
Meaning:From Magdala
Manon
/mah-NOHN/
Origin:Hebrew
Meaning:Bitter; beloved
Margaux
/mar-GO/
Origin:Greek
Meaning:Pearl
Marie
/mah-REE/
Origin:Hebrew
Meaning:Beloved; bitter
Mathilde
/mah-TEELD/
Origin:Germanic
Meaning:Mighty in battle
Nathalie
/nah-tah-LEE/
Origin:Latin
Meaning:Born on Christmas day
Noémie
/no-ay-MEE/
Origin:Hebrew
Meaning:Pleasantness
Océane
/o-say-AHN/
Origin:Greek
Meaning:Ocean
Pauline
/po-LEEN/
Origin:Latin
Meaning:Small, humble
Rose
/ROZ/
Origin:Latin
Meaning:Rose, flower
Sabine
/sah-BEEN/
Origin:Latin
Meaning:Of the Sabines
Salomé
/sah-lo-MAY/
Origin:Hebrew
Meaning:Peace
Sophie
/so-FEE/
Origin:Greek
Meaning:Wisdom
Sylvie
/seel-VEE/
Origin:Latin
Meaning:From the forest
Valentine
/vah-lahn-TEEN/
Origin:Latin
Meaning:Strong, healthy
Véronique
/vay-ro-NEEK/
Origin:Greek
Meaning:True image
Violette
/vee-o-LET/
Origin:Latin
Meaning:Violet flower
Yvette
/ee-VET/
Origin:Germanic
Meaning:Yew tree

About French names

French names draw from a rich mix of Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Germanic, and Celtic roots — a legacy of Roman Gaul, Christianisation, and the Frankish kingdoms. Classics like Marie, Jean, Pierre, and Catherine have stayed in the top charts for centuries, while modern parents increasingly favour shorter names such as Léo, Hugo, Léa, and Chloé.

Pronunciation tips: the final consonant is usually silent (Laurent = lo-RAHN), the letter r is guttural, and accented vowels (é, è, ê) change the sound but not the stress — French is famously even-stressed across syllables.

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