Skip to content
NomezoNomezo

French girl names: 140+ female French names with meanings and pronunciation

149 names · Updated · By The Nomezo Editors · Save to Pinterest

Popular French girl names include Louise, Jade and Ambre, the top three names for baby girls born in France in 2025, according to INSEE. Timeless female French names like Claire, Sophie and Madeleine are just as French, and every one has a clear meaning.

Below are 140+ real French girl names in eleven groups: popular now, classic, unique, short, vintage, retro, French women's names from history and the arts, saints' names, names that work in English, nature names and regional names from Brittany, Occitania and the Basque Country. Each name comes with its meaning, its language of origin and a simple English respelling so you can say it the French way. We left out names whose origin is disputed.

Can't decide? Shuffle 6 random picks

  • Eulalie

    Sweetly speaking; Greek. Say uh-lah-LEE

  • Sandrine

    Defender of men; Greek. Say sahn-DREEN

  • Daphné

    Laurel; Greek. Say dahf-NAY

  • Jeanne

    God is gracious; Hebrew. Joan of Arc's French name. Say ZHAHN

  • Nadine

    Hope; Russian. Say nah-DEEN

  • Yaël

    Ibex, mountain goat; Hebrew. Say yah-EL

Find a French girl name on this page

Narrow 149 names by style, origin, the era they peaked in France, length, first letter or accent, or search the meanings.

Try:
Want endless ideas? Try the french name generator and generate new names in one click.

Classic French girl names

Timeless names that have been given in France for generations and still sound elegant today.

  1. Claire France #457 peak 1984: Clear, bright; Latin. Say KLAIR
  2. Isabelle France #652 peak 1965: God is my oath; Hebrew. Say ee-zah-BEL
  3. Sophie France #208 peak 1971: Wisdom, skill; Greek. Say soh-FEE
  4. Mathilde France #121 peak 1996: Strength in battle; Germanic. Say mah-TEELD
  5. Madeleine France #107 peak 1920: Woman of Magdala; Aramaic, via Greek. Say mad-LEN
  6. Élisabeth France #637 peak 1953: God is my oath; Hebrew. Say ay-lee-zah-BET
  7. Cécile France #1,342 peak 1971: Blind; Latin. Saint Cecilia is the patron of music. Say say-SEEL
  8. Anne France #704 peak 1971: Favor, grace; Hebrew. Say AHN
  9. Constance France #72: Steadfast, constant; Latin. Say kohn-STAHNSS
  10. Clémence France #78: Mercy, clemency; Latin. Say klay-MAHNSS
  11. Laure France #620 peak 1982: Laurel tree; Latin. Say LOHR
  12. Gabrielle France #47: God is my strength; Hebrew. Say gah-bree-EL
  13. Joséphine France #88: He will add; Hebrew. Say zhoh-zay-FEEN
  14. Pauline France #300 peak 1991: Small, humble; Latin. Say poh-LEEN
  15. Florence France #1,895 peak 1968: Flourishing, blossoming; Latin. Say flor-AHNSS

Unique French girl names

Real French names with long histories that you rarely hear outside France.

  1. Apolline France #58: Of Apollo; Greek, via Latin. Say ah-poh-LEEN
  2. Bérénice France #469 peak 1997: Bringing victory; Greek. Say bay-ray-NEESS
  3. Philippine France #350 peak 1994: Lover of horses; Greek. Say fee-lee-PEEN
  4. Solène France #431 peak 2000: Religious, solemn; Latin. Say soh-LEN
  5. Faustine France #206: Auspicious, lucky; Latin. Say fohs-TEEN
  6. Albane France #44: From Alba; Latin. Say al-BAHN
  7. Bertille France #474 peak 2008: Bright battle; Germanic. Say bair-TEE-yuh
  8. Ophélie France #706 peak 1996: Help; Greek. Say oh-fay-LEE
  9. Salomé France #119 peak 2001: Peace; Aramaic. Say sah-loh-MAY
  10. Eugénie France #380 peak 1902: Well born; Greek. Say uh-zhay-NEE
  11. Sidonie France #881 peak 1902: Of Sidon; Latin. Sidon was an ancient Phoenician city. Say see-doh-NEE
  12. Tiphaine France #1,969 peak 1989: Manifestation of God; Greek. Say tee-FEN
  13. Daphné France #260: Laurel; Greek. Say dahf-NAY
  14. Léontine France #508 peak 1904: Lion; Greek, via Latin. Say lay-ohn-TEEN
  15. Clarisse France #424 peak 2001: Clear, bright; Latin. Say klah-REESS
  16. Honorine France #851 peak 2000: Honor; Latin. Say oh-noh-REEN

Short French girl names

One- and two-syllable names that are easy to spell and hard to mispronounce.

  1. Lou France #12: Famous warrior; Germanic, short for Louise. Say LOO
  2. Ève France #359 peak 2003: Living, life; Hebrew. Say EV
  3. Lise France #95: God is my oath; Hebrew. Say LEEZ
  4. Maud France #976 peak 1981: Strength in battle; Germanic, from Mathilde. Say MOHD
  5. Elsa France #133 peak 1988: God is my oath; Hebrew, via German. Say el-SAH
  6. Alix France #37: Noble kind; Germanic. Say ah-LEEKS
  7. Clio Under 3 births in 2025 peak 1983: Glory; Greek, the muse of history. Say klee-OH
  8. Reine France #3,239 peak 1922: Queen; French, from Latin regina. Say REN
  9. Yaël France #1,274 peak 2008: Ibex, mountain goat; Hebrew. Say yah-EL
  10. Paule France #3,730 peak 1921: Small, humble; Latin. Say POHL
  11. Ada France #410: Noble; Germanic. Say ah-DAH

Vintage French girl names

Old-fashioned names from the early 1900s with a cozy, grandmother-chic feel.

  1. Colette France #321 peak 1937: Victory of the people; Greek, via Nicolette. Say koh-LET
  2. Simone France #539 peak 1924: He has heard; Hebrew. Say see-MOHN
  3. Josette Under 3 births in 2025 peak 1946: He will add; Hebrew, via Joséphine. Say zhoh-ZET
  4. Lucienne France #4,685 peak 1920: Light, brightness; Latin. Say loo-SYEN
  5. Paulette France #4,246 peak 1921: Small, humble; Latin. Say poh-LET
  6. Germaine Under 3 births in 2025 peak 1902: Brother; Latin. Say zhair-MEN
  7. Suzanne France #62: Lily; Hebrew. Say soo-ZAHN
  8. Blanche France #253 peak 1902: White, fair; Old French. Say BLAHNSH
  9. Henriette France #3,386 peak 1920: Home ruler; Germanic. Say ahn-ree-ET
  10. Gisèle France #646 peak 1930: Pledge, hostage; Germanic. Say zhee-ZEL
  11. Huguette Under 3 births in 2025 peak 1930: Heart, mind; Germanic. Say oo-GET
  12. Georgette Under 3 births in 2025 peak 1920: Farmer, earth worker; Greek. Say zhor-ZHET
  13. Jacqueline France #3,031 peak 1946: Supplanter, holder of the heel; Hebrew. Say zhak-LEEN
  14. Ernestine France #4,428 peak 1902: Serious, earnest; Germanic. Say air-nes-TEEN
  15. Augustine France #254 peak 1901: Venerable, great; Latin. Say oh-goos-TEEN
  16. Raymonde Under 3 births in 2025 peak 1920: Counsel protector; Germanic. Say ray-MOHND

Retro French female names from the 1950s to the 1970s

Names many French mothers and grandmothers were given after World War II. Few babies get them today, which makes them feel fresh again.

  1. Brigitte Under 3 births in 2025 peak 1959: Exalted one; Irish Gaelic. Say bree-ZHEET
  2. Sylvie France #3,187 peak 1964: Of the forest; Latin. Say seel-VEE
  3. Nathalie France #2,507 peak 1966: Born on Christmas Day; Latin. Say nah-tah-LEE
  4. Valérie France #5,492 peak 1969: To be strong; Latin. Say vah-lay-REE
  5. Christine France #2,194 peak 1963: Follower of Christ; Greek. Say krees-TEEN
  6. Dominique Under 3 births in 2025 peak 1955: Belonging to the Lord; Latin. Used for both girls and boys. Say doh-mee-NEEK
  7. Pascale Under 3 births in 2025 peak 1961: Relating to Easter; Latin. Say pahs-KAHL
  8. Françoise France #3,646 peak 1949: A Frenchwoman; Latin. Say frahn-SWAHZ
  9. Martine France #5,513 peak 1954: Dedicated to Mars; Latin. Say mar-TEEN
  10. Chantal France #5,697 peak 1954: Stony; French place name. Say shahn-TAHL
  11. Michèle France #2,509 peak 1947: Who is like God? From Hebrew. Say mee-SHEL
  12. Sandrine France #6,137 peak 1971: Defender of men; Greek. Say sahn-DREEN
  13. Stéphanie France #3,080 peak 1974: Crown, garland; Greek. Say stay-fah-NEE
  14. Delphine France #2,461 peak 1977: From Delphi; Greek, via Latin. Say del-FEEN

French women's names from history and the arts

Names carried by French painters, writers, singers and stars, with a grown-up elegance.

  1. Berthe Under 3 births in 2025 peak 1901: Bright; Germanic. Impressionist painter Morisot. Say BAIRT
  2. Diane France #69: Divine; Latin. De Poitiers was a Renaissance royal favorite. Say dee-AHN
  3. Emmanuelle France #997 peak 1980: God is with us; Hebrew. Actress Béart. Say eh-mah-noo-EL
  4. Anaïs France #157 peak 1993: Favor, grace; Hebrew, via Occitan. Diarist Nin was born near Paris. Say ah-nah-EESS
  5. Olympe France #139: Of Olympus; Greek. De Gouges wrote a 1791 women's rights declaration. Say oh-LAMP
  6. Laetitia France #1,778 peak 1982: Joy, happiness; Latin. Model and actress Casta. Say lay-tee-SYAH
  7. Adrienne France #3,812 peak 1910: From Hadria, a Roman town; Latin. Stage legend Lecouvreur. Say ah-dree-EN
  8. Yvette Under 3 births in 2025 peak 1930: Yew; Germanic. Singer Guilbert was painted by Toulouse-Lautrec. Say ee-VET
  9. Victorine France #1,557 peak 1901: Victory; Latin. Painter Meurent posed for Manet's Olympia. Say veek-toh-REEN
  10. Edwige France #6,079 peak 1972: Battle and fight; Germanic. Stage star Feuillère. Say ed-VEEZH
  11. Gilberte Under 3 births in 2025 peak 1926: Bright pledge; Germanic. A heroine of Proust's great novel. Say zheel-BAIRT
  12. Lucile France #470 peak 1990: Light; Latin. Wife of revolutionary Camille Desmoulins. Say loo-SEEL

French saints' names for girls

Names of saints honored in France. Each one comes with a feast day, or fête, that many French families still celebrate.

  1. Bernadette France #5,183 peak 1949: Brave bear; Germanic. The saint of Lourdes. Say bair-nah-DET
  2. Solange France #664 peak 1932: Religious, solemn; Latin. A French shepherdess saint. Say soh-LAHNZH
  3. Blandine France #1,182 peak 1986: Charming; Latin. A martyr of Lyon. Say blahn-DEEN
  4. Agnès France #566 peak 1964: Pure, chaste; Greek. Say ahn-YESS
  5. Clotilde France #700 peak 1902: Famous battle; Germanic. Queen and saint, wife of Clovis. Say kloh-TEELD
  6. Eulalie France #967 peak 2007: Sweetly speaking; Greek. Say uh-lah-LEE
  7. Félicité France #1,843 peak 1900: Good luck, fortune; Latin. Say fay-lee-see-TAY
  8. Bénédicte France #2,625 peak 1972: Blessed; Latin. Say bay-nay-DEEKT
  9. Irène France #538 peak 1930: Peace, tranquility; Greek. Say ee-REN
  10. Hildegarde France #4,019 peak 1912: Battle enclosure; Germanic. Say eel-duh-GARD
  11. Émilie France #379 peak 1980: Rival, striving to equal; Latin. Say ay-mee-LEE
  12. Mélanie France #1,173 peak 1986: Black, dark; Greek. Say may-lah-NEE

French girl names that work in English

French names that English speakers can say and spell easily, with or without the accents.

  1. Amélie France #547 peak 1991: Work, industrious; Germanic. Say ah-may-LEE
  2. Céleste France #55: Heavenly, of the sky; Latin. Say say-LEST
  3. Élise France #131 peak 2001: God is my oath; Hebrew. Say ay-LEEZ
  4. Estelle France #518 peak 1973: A star; Latin. Say es-TEL
  5. Margot France #46: A pearl; Greek. Say mar-GOH
  6. Vivienne France #2,914 peak 1937: Alive; Latin. Say vee-VYEN
  7. Adeline France #1,096 peak 1991: Noble one; Germanic. Say ad-LEEN
  8. Nicole France #824 peak 1947: Victory of the people; Greek. Say nee-KOL
  9. Renée France #3,820 peak 1920: Born again; Latin. Say ruh-NAY
  10. Rosalie France #247 peak 1903: Rose; Latin. Say roh-zah-LEE
  11. Noémie France #165 peak 1996: Pleasantness, sweetness; Hebrew. Say noh-ay-MEE
  12. Valentine France #82: Strong, healthy; Latin. Say vah-lahn-TEEN
  13. Danielle France #4,059 peak 1947: God is my judge; Hebrew. Say dahn-YEL
  14. Nadine France #698 peak 1962: Hope; Russian. Say nah-DEEN
  15. Aurélie France #1,864 peak 1983: Golden one; Latin. Say oh-ray-LEE

French nature and flower names for girls

Names taken from flowers, gems, the sea and the sky.

  1. Fleur France #450 peak 2006: A flower; French. Say FLUR
  2. Violette France #180: Violet flower; French, from Latin. Say vyoh-LET
  3. Capucine France #63: Nasturtium flower; French. Say kah-poo-SEEN
  4. Garance France #106: Madder plant, used for red dye; French. Say gah-RAHNSS
  5. Perle France #925 peak 2007: Pearl; French. Say PERL
  6. Océane France #284 peak 2000: The ocean; French. Say oh-say-AHN
  7. Aurore France #144 peak 1986: The dawn; Latin. Say oh-ROR
  8. Marguerite France #490 peak 1906: A pearl; Greek. Also the French word for daisy. Say mar-guh-REET
  9. Flore France #650 peak 1991: Flower; Latin. Say FLOR
  10. Églantine France #2,924 peak 2006: Sweetbriar, a wild rose; French. Say ay-glahn-TEEN
  11. Iris France #11: A rainbow; Greek. Say ee-REESS

Breton, Occitan and Basque girl names

Regional names from Brittany in the northwest, Occitania in the south and the French Basque Country.

  1. Maëlle France #153 peak 2005: Princess, chief; Breton. Say mah-EL
  2. Gwenaëlle France #2,165 peak 1976: Blessed and generous; Breton. Say gweh-nah-EL
  3. Enora France #314: Honor; Breton. Say ay-noh-RAH
  4. Rozenn France #1,014 peak 1974: Rose; Breton. Say roh-ZEN
  5. Annaïg France #5,494 peak 1973: Favor, grace; Breton, from Hebrew. Say ah-nah-EEG
  6. Nolwenn France #1,005 peak 2002: Holy one from Noyal; Breton. Say nol-WEN
  7. Armelle France #1,558 peak 1972: Bear prince; Breton, from Old Welsh. Say ar-MEL
  8. Magali France #7,108 peak 1973: Woman of Magdala; Occitan, from Aramaic. Say mah-gah-LEE
  9. Azalaïs France #6,452: Noble kind; Occitan, from Germanic. Say ah-zah-lah-EESS
  10. Maialen France #6,397 peak 2007: Woman of Magdala; Basque, from Aramaic. Say my-AH-len

How to pick the right name

Say it with the stress at the end

French puts a light stress on the last syllable, so Louise is loo-EEZ and Margaux is mar-GOH. Say the respelling out loud with your last name before you decide.

Keep the accent if you want the French sound

Accents change how a name is read. Without its accent, Chloé tends to become KLOH-ee in English, while the French say kloh-AY.

Pick a meaning you love

Every name here has a real meaning, from Clémence (mercy) to Aurore (dawn). A meaning gives you a small story to share with your daughter one day.

Think about short forms

Long French names shorten naturally: Élisabeth can become Lise or Élise, and Mathilde has the old short form Maud. Make sure you like the nickname too.

French girl names: 149 ideas from Nomezo

Save this list for later

Pin it to a naming board, or tap the heart next to any name to keep it in your favorites on this device.

Save to PinterestOpen favorites

French-origin names and names used in France

By The Nomezo Editors · Updated October 22, 2026 · How we research names

Most French girl names were not born in French. They arrived from Latin and Greek with the Church, from Hebrew through the Bible, and from the Germanic languages of the Franks, then took a French shape: Hannah became Anne, Helena became Hélène. Only a handful are French words, like Fleur and Capucine. Brittany, Occitania and the Basque Country add their own names. Here is where the 149 names on this page come from.

  • 48Latin
  • 30Greek
  • 24Germanic (Frankish)
  • 23Hebrew and Aramaic
  • 10French words
  • 10Breton, Occitan, Basque
  • 4Arabic, Spanish, Irish, Russian

France's top 100 girl names for 2025 (INSEE)

These are the first names given to girls born in France in 2025, from INSEE, the national statistics institute. INSEE counts every spelling separately, so Chloé (1,275 births) and Chloe (30) are two names, and it counts only the first given name. Births are rounded to the nearest five. Underlined names are on this page, and the tag beside each name in the lists above shows its rank and, for names past their best, the year it peaked.

  1. 1Louise 3,070
  2. 2Jade 2,925
  3. 3Ambre 2,805
  4. 4Alma 2,500
  5. 5Alba 2,360
  6. 6Rose 2,320
  7. 7Emma 2,310
  8. 8Romy 2,245
  9. 9Adèle 2,225
  10. 10Alice 2,130
  11. 11Iris 2,105
  12. 12Lou 2,040
  13. 13Agathe 2,000
  14. 14Inaya 1,990
  15. 15Anna 1,925
  16. 16Nour 1,750
  17. 17Lina 1,740
  18. 18Charlie 1,715
  19. 19Olivia 1,685
  20. 20Julia 1,685
  21. 21Mia 1,665
  22. 22Victoire 1,610
  23. 23Jeanne 1,605
  24. 24Giulia 1,600
  25. 25Léonie 1,555
  26. 26Eva 1,535
  27. 27Esmée 1,530
  28. 28Juliette 1,505
  29. 29Sofia 1,500
  30. 30Zoé 1,430
  31. 31Léna 1,340
  32. 32Alya 1,315
  33. 33Luna 1,295
  34. 34Chloé 1,275
  35. 35Nina 1,235
  36. 36Victoria 1,215
  37. 37Alix 1,120
  38. 38Léa 1,110
  39. 39Romane 1,095
  40. 40Ava 1,075
  41. 41Charlotte 1,075
  42. 42Elena 1,065
  43. 43Lucie 1,015
  44. 44Albane 950
  45. 45Lyana 910
  46. 46Margot 905
  47. 47Gabrielle 885
  48. 48Emy 855
  49. 49Aya 835
  50. 50Livia 830
  51. 51Théa 825
  52. 52Yasmine 820
  53. 53Lola 815
  54. 54Mila 815
  55. 55Céleste 795
  56. 56Lyna 780
  57. 57Margaux 775
  58. 58Apolline 745
  59. 59Aria 740
  60. 60Maria 735
  61. 61Arya 725
  62. 62Suzanne 720
  63. 63Capucine 710
  64. 64Sarah 705
  65. 65Ella 700
  66. 66Jannah 690
  67. 67Inès 690
  68. 68Mya 680
  69. 69Diane 680
  70. 70Lily 670
  71. 71Ayla 665
  72. 72Constance 660
  73. 73Louna 655
  74. 74Lya 650
  75. 75Camille 640
  76. 76Maya 635
  77. 77Valentina 635
  78. 78Clémence 635
  79. 79Maryam 605
  80. 80Judith 595
  81. 81Amélia 590
  82. 82Valentine 585
  83. 83Ellie 580
  84. 84Nora 570
  85. 85Thaïs 570
  86. 86Mariam 570
  87. 87Rym 565
  88. 88Joséphine 560
  89. 89Sophia 560
  90. 90Lila 560
  91. 91Héloïse 560
  92. 92Éléonore 555
  93. 93Fatoumata 550
  94. 94Joy 540
  95. 95Lise 540
  96. 96Zélie 535
  97. 97Lana 530
  98. 98Aïcha 530
  99. 99Jennah 525
  100. 100Andréa 515

Source: INSEE, Fichier des prénoms, 2025 edition (births in France since 1900, published July 2026). Marie, No. 1 for most of the 20th century, is No. 101.

A century of No. 1 girl names in France

Marie topped every year from 1900 to 1954. Since then, French favorites have changed every few years, which is why a name can sound like a grandmother, a mother or a baby. The peak year in each tag above tells you which.

  1. 1900 to 1954Marie
  2. 1955Martine
  3. 1956 to 1958Marie
  4. 1959Brigitte
  5. 1960Catherine
  6. 1961 to 1964Sylvie
  7. 1965 to 1971Nathalie
  8. 1972 to 1973Sandrine
  9. 1974 to 1977Stéphanie
  10. 1978 to 1981Céline
  11. 1982 to 1986Aurélie
  12. 1987Julie
  13. 1988 to 1990Elodie
  14. 1991Marine
  15. 1992 to 1994Laura
  16. 1995 to 1996Manon
  17. 1997 to 2004Léa
  18. 2005 to 2013Emma
  19. 2014Jade
  20. 2015Louise
  21. 2016 to 2019Emma
  22. 2020 to 2021Jade
  23. 2022 to 2025Louise
Most given girl names by generation
GenerationBornTop three girl names
Baby boomers1946 to 1964Marie, Martine, Françoise
Generation X1965 to 1980Nathalie, Isabelle, Sandrine
Generation Y1981 to 1996Aurélie, Elodie, Julie
Generation Z1997 to 2012Léa, Manon, Emma

Source: INSEE yearly files and Insee Première no. 2127, 80 ans de prénoms (2026).

The top girl name in each region of France

Louise leads nationally, but Jade wins in the east, Ambre in the north, Alba along the Mediterranean and Alma in Paris and its region. Overseas, Inaya leads Réunion, Mayotte, Martinique and French Guiana.

Most given girl name by region, 2025
NameRegions where it was No. 1 in 2025
LouiseNouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Brittany (level with Adèle after rounding)
JadeAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Grand Est, Normandy (level with Ambre after rounding)
AmbreHauts-de-France, Centre-Val de Loire
AlbaProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Corsica
AdèlePays de la Loire
AlmaÎle-de-France
InayaRéunion, Mayotte, Martinique, French Guiana
LunaGuadeloupe

Say it the French way

French names are easier than they look once you know a dozen sounds. Stress is light and falls on the last syllable, a final e is silent, and accents change the vowel. Check any name below; the ones on this page come with a hand-written respelling.

French name sound check

Try:

French sounds in girl names
SpellingSounds likeExample
Final eSilent, but the consonant before it is heardLouise: loo-EEZ
éayChloé: kloh-AY
è, êehAdèle: ah-DEL
an, ena nasal ahn, no n at the endConstance: kohn-STAHNSS
in, aina nasal sound close to the a in bangFaustine keeps the n: fohs-TEEN
ona nasal ohnSimone keeps the n: see-MOHN
ouooLouise, Lou
uee with rounded lips (no English match)Lucie: loo-SEE, closer to lü-SEE
j, g before e or izh, like the s in measureJeanne: ZHAHN
chshChantal: shahn-TAHL
gnnyAgnès: ahn-YESS
illusually ee-yBertille: bair-TEE-yuh
au, eauohMargaux: mar-GOH
oiwahVictoire: veek-TWAHR
ë, ïthe vowel is said separatelyMaëlle: mah-EL; Anaïs: ah-nah-EESS

Accents, compound names and pet forms

Accents are part of a French name, and INSEE counts each spelling as a different name: in 2025, 1,275 girls were registered as Chloé and 30 as Chloe, 350 as Maëlle and 15 as Maelle. French registers accept only the accents French itself uses, so a Spanish ñ or a regional mark can be refused.

A compound name joins two names with a hyphen or a space, Marie-Claire or Marie Claire, and counts as one name; commas separate several first names. Any name on the birth certificate can become the one a person goes by every day.

Pet forms run through French family life: a Marie may grow up as Manon or Marion, an Élisabeth as Babette or Lisette. Some, like Manon and Lou, became full names in their own right.

French pet forms
NamePet forms and short forms
ÉlisabethBabette, Lisette, Lise
MargueriteMargot, Maguy
MarieManon, Marion, Mariette, Maryse
AnneAnnette, Nanette, Ninon, Nanon
AnnaAnouk
JeanneJeannette, Jeannine
SuzanneSuzette, Suzon
MadeleineMado
GabrielleGaby
LouiseLou, Loulou
IsabelleIsa
FrançoiseFanny
JoséphineJosette, Fifi
CatherineCathy
GenevièveGinette
MathildeMaud, the old French form

Name days: when to wish bonne fête

French calendars print a saint for each day, and many families still wish a Louise "bonne fête" on hers. Dates follow the French Catholic calendar; some names have more than one saint, so families pick the one they like.

  • Geneviève3 JanuarySaint Geneviève, patron of Paris
  • Agathe5 FebruaryAgatha of Catania
  • Bernadette18 FebruaryBernadette of Lourdes
  • Isabelle22 FebruaryBlessed Isabelle of France
  • Mathilde14 MarchSaint Mathilda
  • Louise15 MarchLouise de Marillac
  • Clémence21 MarchBlessed Clémence
  • Emma19 AprilEmma of Sangau
  • Zoé2 Mayalso 5 July
  • Solange10 MaySaint Solange
  • Sophie25 MayMadeleine-Sophie Barat
  • Jeanne30 MayJoan of Arc
  • Blandine2 JuneMartyr of Lyon
  • Clotilde4 JuneQueen Clotilde
  • Chloé13 JulySaint Clelia; there is no Saint Chloé
  • Camille14 JulyCamillus de Lellis
  • Madeleine22 JulyMary Magdalene
  • Anne26 JulySaint Anne
  • Anna26 JulySaint Anne
  • Claire11 AugustClare of Assisi
  • Marie15 AugustThe Assumption
  • Inès10 SeptemberBlessed Inès
  • Thérèse1 Octoberalso 15 October, Teresa of Ávila
  • Victoire15 NovemberSaint Victoire
  • Marguerite16 Novemberalso 12 January and 16 October
  • Élisabeth17 Novemberalso 4 July
  • Cécile22 NovemberCecilia of Rome
  • Lucie13 DecemberLucy of Syracuse
  • Alice16 Decemberalso 9 January
  • Adèle24 DecemberSaint Adela

Naming a baby in France: the rules, then and now

  • Free choice since 1993

    Since the law of 8 January 1993, parents choose first names freely. Before that, a law of 1803 limited names to those in calendars of saints and the figures of ancient history, which is why older lists feel so traditional.

    Service-Public.fr; loi n° 93-22

  • What happens to an odd name

    The registrar cannot refuse a name, but must alert the public prosecutor if it seems against the child's interest, and a family judge can strike it. Courts refused Nutella and Fraise (strawberry) for baby girls in 2015; the parents of Fraise were allowed Fraisine.

    Service-Public.fr; The Local, 2015

  • French accents only

    A 2014 circular allows only the accents French uses: à, â, ä, é, è, ê, ë, ï, î, ô, ö, ù, û, ü, ÿ and ç, plus æ and œ. A Breton boy named Fañch won his tilde on appeal in 2018, but a 2021 law to allow regional marks was struck down.

    Circulaire du 23 juillet 2014, via Weka

  • No limit on the number of names

    French law sets no maximum, though a registrar can flag a list that seems against the child's interest. A hyphen or a space makes one compound name, commas separate names, and any of them can be the everyday name.

    Service-Public.fr

  • Declare the birth within five days

    The birth, with the chosen names, is declared at the town hall within five days, not counting the day of birth, or eight days in some communes of French Guiana. After that, a court judgment is needed.

    Service-Public.fr

General information, not legal advice; check Service-Public.fr before you register a birth.

Across the French-speaking world

French-speaking parents elsewhere make their own choices. Quebec and Wallonia love Emma, Olivia and Charlotte, Brussels put Nour first for the first time, and French-speaking Switzerland leads with Sofia. In the US, French names do best when they are easy to spell without accents.

Top girl names in French-speaking places
PlaceTop namesYear and source
QuebecEmma, Olivia, Charlotte, Alice, FlorenceRetraite Québec, 2025 (Olivia and Charlotte tied)
Wallonia, BelgiumOlivia, Louise, EmmaStatbel, 2025, as reported by VRT
BrusselsNour, Lina, SofiaStatbel, 2025, as reported by VRT
French-speaking SwitzerlandSofia, Olivia, AlmaFederal Statistical Office, 2025
United States (French names)Charlotte (#2), Eloise (#49), Josephine (#53), Adeline (#59), Margot (#102), Juliette (#110)Social Security Administration, 2025

From this list to three finalists

  1. 1. Use the finderFilter by origin, the era a name peaked, length or accent, and heart five to ten names.
  2. 2. Say each one aloudWith your surname, in the sound check above, and once at full English speed.
  3. 3. Mix the erasKeep one popular name, one rising and one vintage: the peak years in the tags show which is which.
  4. 4. Compare and let family voteOpen favorites to rate names, compare them with your surname, and send relatives a vote link.

Open your favorites

Sources and how we checked

Every rank, count and peak year comes from INSEE's first-names file, with the year stated. Meanings come from published name dictionaries, and we leave out names whose origin is disputed. Respellings follow standard French as spoken in Paris.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most popular French girl name?

Louise was the most given girl name in France in 2025, with about 3,070 births, according to INSEE. Jade and Ambre came second and third.

What are some unique French girl names?

Apolline, Bérénice, Sidonie, Tiphaine and Garance are real French names that are rarely heard outside France. Each has a long history and a clear meaning.

How do you pronounce French girl names?

French usually stresses the last syllable and often drops a final e, so Claire is KLAIR and Louise is loo-EEZ. The letter j, and g before e or i, sound like the s in measure, as in Jeanne (ZHAHN).

What are common French women's names?

Many French women born from the 1950s to the 1970s are named Nathalie, Isabelle, Sylvie, Christine or Martine. Famous French women's names include Berthe, Simone, Colette and Joséphine.

What is a name day in France?

A name day, or fête, is the feast day of the saint who shares your name. Many French calendars still print the saint of the day, and families often wish each other a bonne fête.

Which French girl names are rising right now?

Names that reached their highest count in 2021 to 2025 include Adèle, Iris, Agathe, Victoire, Albane, Céleste, Olympe and Diane, according to INSEE. Louise has been No. 1 four years running, from 2022 to 2025.

What were the most popular girl names in France in the 1970s and 1980s?

Nathalie led from 1965 to 1971, then Sandrine (1972 to 1973), Stéphanie (1974 to 1977), Céline (1978 to 1981) and Aurélie (1982 to 1986), according to INSEE. Marie had been No. 1 almost every year from 1900 to 1958.

Can French parents choose any first name?

Almost. Since 1993 the choice is free, but a registrar who thinks a name is against the child's interest must alert the prosecutor, and a family judge can strike it. French courts refused Nutella and Fraise for baby girls in 2015.

Does INSEE count Chloé and Chloe as the same name?

No. INSEE counts every spelling separately: in 2025 it recorded 1,275 baby girls named Chloé and 30 named Chloe. It also counts only the first given name, and rounds each figure to the nearest five.

Can a French first name use letters like ñ?

Only the accents French uses are accepted on civil records: à, â, ä, é, è, ê, ë, ï, î, ô, ö, ù, û, ü, ÿ and ç, plus æ and œ. A Breton boy, Fañch, won his tilde on appeal in 2018, but the rule itself has not changed.

How do French compound names like Marie-Claire work?

A hyphen or a space joins two names into one compound name, so Marie-Claire and Marie Claire are both single names, while Marie, Claire are two. French law sets no maximum number of names, and any of them can be the everyday name.

When are the name days for Louise, Emma and Jeanne?

In the French calendar Louise is celebrated on 15 March, Emma on 19 April, Jeanne on 30 May (Joan of Arc), Claire on 11 August and Marie on 15 August. Some names have more than one saint, so families choose.

More by origin and generators

See every page in Names by Origin →