French names
French names are prized worldwide for their sound, soft vowels, gentle stresses, and an effortless elegance that names like Amelie, Etienne, and Margaux carry into any language. Many are rooted in centuries of Catholic saint names, though French naming law only opened up to freer choices in 1993. A name as a small piece of style.
Adèle noble
Amaury work of power, brave
Amélie industrious, striving
Antoine the French form of Anthony, from the Roman name Antonius, of uncertain Etruscan origin
Auguste great, magnificent
Aurélie golden
Baptiste baptizer
Brigitte "the exalted one" (French and German form of Bridget)
Camille attendant, noble servant
Charlotte French feminine diminutive of Charles (Germanic karl, 'man')
Chloé blooming, verdant
Colette victory of the people
Céleste heavenly
Côme order, harmony, universe
Delphine woman from Delphi, or dolphin
Estelle star
Fleur flower
Geneviève tribe woman, white wave
Henri ruler of the household
Hugo mind, intellect, spirit
Jean God is gracious
Joséphine God will increase
Julien French form of Julian (Roman Iulianus); the root Julius is possibly from Greek ioulos, 'downy-bearded'
Juliette youthful
Laurent laurel, crowned with laurel
Louis famous warrior
Luc light
Léo lion
Manon bitter, or grace
Marc dedicated to Mars, warlike
Margaux pearl
Marguerite pearl, daisy flower
Mathis gift of God
Maxime the greatest
Nicolas victory of the people
Noé rest, comfort
Noémie pleasantness, my delight
Océane ocean
Odile wealthy, fortune
Olivier olive tree
Pierre rock, stone
Renaud well-advised ruler
Rémy oarsman
Simone one who hears
Solange solemn, dignified
Sébastien venerable, revered
Théo gift of God
Violette violet flower
Xavier new house, bright
Yvette yew wood, archer
Élodie foreign riches
Éloise healthy, wide
Émile rival, eager, industrious
Étienne crown
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