French Names for Girls

November 13, 2020

Welcome to our list of the 50 most popular French girls names. Each name has a short explanation of its meaning along with a cool fact about the name. 

This list is perfect for:

  • Parents looking for a French baby name
  • People who want to change their name via deed poll to a more French sounding one
  • People who want to find out which are the most popular French names

***If you like this article be sure to check out our list of 50 most popular: 

Scottish names for boys

Greek names for boys

Italian Names for boys

Greek Names for Girls

Welsh Names for Girls

Arabic Names for Girls

Russian Names for Boys

French Names for Boys

So without further interruption here is the list of the 50 most popular French names for girls. 

  1. Abrielle

This is a unique French variation for a girl that’s derived from the name Abrial. It can mean “woman of God”, but it can also mean “secure” or “open”. It is considered a feminine version of the name “Abraham”.

  1. Amelie

This name means hardworking, but many parents have named their girls Amelie due to the 2001 French film of the same name.

  1. Audrey

Audrey means “strength and nobility”. Audrey Tatou is a French actress and model who has made this name popular in recent times.

  1. Aurore

Derived from “Aurora”, the name of the Roman goddess of the dawn, Aurore means golden and lively.

  1. Avignon

This lovely French girl’s name designates a city located in Southeastern France that was the headquarters for Catholic Popes during the Middle Ages.

  1. Belle

A name that today means “beautiful”. Originally it came from the Old English word “belle” which literally meant “bell”, and it may have developed from the name for a person who lived near a bell or even a person who functioned as a bell ringer as their occupation.

  1. Brigette

The first lady of France, Brigitte Macron is perhaps the most salient person who bears this name which means “great or magnificent2.

  1. Blaise

Blaise is derived from Basilius, a Greek word that means “worthy of kings” or “worthy of royalty”.

  1. Camille

Camille is an ideal name for a newborn baby girl, meaning “perfect” or “unblemished”.

  1. Coraline

A simple name with a simple meaning, Coraline means “of or having to do with coral”, but its popularity comes from the children’s novel and movie of the same name.

  1. Charlotte

This is the feminine or diminutive version of the name “Charles”.  It is a common name that has been popular since the 14th century. It means “petit” or “a person with freedom”.

  1. Chloe

Chloe is a name that designates a young, green shoot from a plant. It is an excellent choice for a daughter born to parents who have an appreciation for nature. Derived from the same scientific words “chloroplast” or “chlorine” it has Greek roots (no pun intended) that relate to fresh budding plants in the spring.

  1. Cosette

This name originates from the word “chosette” which means a thing that is very small or tiny, but some authorities on the evolution of its use in recent history give it the meaning “victorious”. It didn’t become popular until Hugo published his novel Les Miserables with “Cozette” as a main character.

  1. Davignon

This name means “a person who is loved very dearly”. Originally, it was a name designating “a person from Avignon”. 

  1. Delphine

This French girl’s name means either “dolphin” or “woman from Delphi”. Delphine is the French form of the Roman name “Delphina” which is the feminine for “Delphinius”, designating residence in Delphi which was the location of the famous Oracle of Delphi.

  1. Elise

This is a religious name meaning “God’s promise”, “oath of God”, or “God is a source of satisfaction”. It is a shortened variant of the name “Elizabeth”.

  1.  Eloise / Elloise

This French girl’s name was especially popular in the early part of the century, but today, it’s making a comeback. It means “healthy” or “famous in war”. It is the feminine variant of the name Louis.

  1. Eulalie

This name is perfect for the future orator or singer. It means “a sweet-speaking person” or “well-spoken”. “Eulalie” is a poem that was written by Edgar Allan Poe and it became especially popular after the turn of the century.

  1. Fayette

This is the perfect name for a baby girl. It is the French diminutive for “fairy” meaning “little fairy” or “cute little fairy”. Lafayette was originally a surname that came from words that meant “a forest of beech trees”.

  1.  Fleur

Fleur is the French word for “flower”.

  1.  Gabrielle

Gabrielle is the French version of Gabriel, the archangel in charge of delivering messages from God. The name itself means “God is my strength”.

  1. Giselle

Giselle can mean “a pledge” or “a promise” or “beautiful like a star”. It is derived from the Germanic “gisil” which can also mean “hostage”. Some experts believe this was once a nickname for a child who was given as a pledge in a court of law.

  1. Hughette

This is another diminutive name that means “intelligent” or “bright in mind as well as spirit”.

  1. Inés

The French variant of the Spanish “Agnes”, this name means “chaste” and it emphasizes the name-bearer’s purity. 

  1.  Jeanne

Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc) righteously bore this name which means “God is gracious”. It is the feminine version of the name “John”.

  1.  Jolene

This modern name simply means “pretty”. It was created in the 1900’s by combining “Jo” with “Eileen” and it became especially popular after Dolly Parton released the song Jolene in 1973.

  1. Juliette

A French name list for girls wouldn’t complete without Juliette! Made famous in Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, this name means “youthful, beautiful, and energetic”.

  1.  Lilou

       This is the French word for a lily flower.

  1. Lizette

A name that means “God has consecrated” or “God is bountiful”. It is the diminutive of the name “Elizabeth”.

  1. Madeleine / Madeline

Madeline means “magnificent” and it designates a person with an elevated social status. Experts believe it derives from the Biblical “Mary Magdalene”.

  1.  Marie

This name is French for “Mary” and was inspired by the Biblical virgin mother of Jesus. It means “lady of the sea”.

  1.  Noelle

This is the perfect name for a girl who’s born on Christmas day or during the Christmas season. It means literally “born on Christmas”.

  1.  Noémie

A name that means “pleasant”, “winsome” or “lovely”. Noémie Lenoir is a French actress and model who has made this name popular.

  1.  Nadeleine

       Nadeleine means “a ray of hope”.

  1.  Ninette

This is a name that means “talented”, but it also has a religious meaning in that the talent is valuable to God.

  1.  Odette

Odette means or “very wealthy”. It is the femine variant of the name “Otto” which comes from the German “Odo” which means “rich”.

  1.  Rochelle

The name Rochelle is derived from the French word for “rock”. It therefore means “a woman who is strong like a rock”.

  1. Rosalee

Derived from the Latin word for rose, “rosa”, the name Rosalee means “a garden that’s full of roses”.

  1.  Risette

       This is a happy name meaning “pleasant little laugh”.

  1. Salomé

This is the French version of the Hebrew name Shalom, which means “peace”.

  1. Severine

A feminine variant of Severiano that means “a severe or stern person”. It is derived from the Latin “Severus” (famous from the novel Harry Potter and the character Severus Snape) which means “very grave” or “stern” and experts say this is the perfect name for a daughter who is destined to be a deep thinker.

  1.  Seychelle

This girl’s name is also a location. Seychelle is a beautiful island off the coast of Africa.

  1.  Sidonie

Both “Sidonie” and the English version of this name “Sidney” derive from Saint Denys (or Saint Denis) of Paris, a Christian martyr and saint.

  1. Simone

Simone means “one who hears” or “one who listens”. It is the female variant of “Simon” which is derived from the Hebrew name “Simeon”.

  1. Solange

A name that means “religious” and “solemn”. It is distinctively French and derives from the Roman name “Sollemnia”. It was made famous by a French shepherdess who was sainted after being martyred by a suitor.

  1. Stéphane

This name means “crown of glory”. The actress Stéphane Audran has made this name famous in recent times.

  1. Sylvie

The mythological Silvanus was the Latin god of the forest and this French nature-name, Sylvie means “from a forest” or “spirit of the wood”.

  1. Therese

Saint Therese is a popular religious figure in Christianity. She died at age 24, but was one of only three females to ever be declared a doctor of the Catholic Church. The name Therese means “to gather” or “to reap”.

  1. Yolanthe

A French girl’s name that today means “feminine but strong”. It is made up of the two parts: “Iole” (which means purple) and “Anthos” (which means blossom). “Iole” was the Greek daughter of King Eurytus of Oechlalia.

  1.  Zélie

Zélie was St. Therese’s mother. Zélie and her husband, Louis Martin, were Roman Catholics who parented five daughters who all became nuns. Therese was eventually canonized as a saint.

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