314 Cute & Classic French Girl Names

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Are you expecting a baby girl and looking for french girl names? Then this post is for you. I collected a list of more than 300 popular French girl names with meaning for you. I also assembled a list of the most classic French names for girls, perfect if you are looking for a timeless name for your baby.

And to add some French day-to-day culture and insight into French life, I provide you as well with the most popular French names for girls. It’s a list put together by the French Statistics Institute and shows you how French parents are calling their girls these days.

French girls names make a perfect choice for parents looking to give their daughter a unique name that stands out. Especially if you are looking for a French baby name for an air of sophistication and charm, often associated with French culture and history.

French girl names are beautiful and dreamy, remembering images of Monet’s water lilies, Parisian streets lined with café tables, and the countryside of the South of France.

Whether you are more up for classic French girl names like Juliette or prefer modern French baby names like Lou or Izia, you surely find the right name in this post.

Because I collected more than 300 beautiful French names for you. From common French girl names and the most popular French names for girls, up to unique French girl names and classic, timeless names. Every Inspiration you need to find the perfect name for your baby girl.

Top French Girl Names: How to use this List

To find a broad selection of French girl names for you, I did a lot of research. But I also added the names of my French friends and their kids, and the names of girls that are in the classes of my children. Plus, I added the names I had on my personal list – just that I got 2 boys in the end.

However, this list contains many names and I tried to put them in orders and categories, so it’s easier for you to find what you’re looking for. For starters, you find a list of the most common French girl names from 2021. Followed by unique French girls names, classic french names and finally an alphabetical list you can browse through.

I also added the French girl names meaning. Don’t be surprised if many of them seem to mean one and the same thing. That’s simply because most names lead back to ancient roots and developed many versions and variations over the course of the centuries. For example Marie, Maria, Marilou, Marine, Marion, Marianne, Marilène, and so on.

French Girl Names: Save to use thanks to strict French laws

If you are wondering if picking one of the French girls’ names from this list for your baby is safe, then rest assured. Different from many other countries, you cannot name your child whatever you like in France.

French parents have to obey strict rules when naming their children. When a baby is born, the parents have to register the birth at the mayor’s house. If the registrar thinks the name is not appropriate or not in the interest of the child, they simply refuse.

And if you think that this is harsh, until 1966 it was even only allowed to name a child after a Christian saint, in the French version. While it was very restrictive, it was also right-out racist, excluding not non-French names and names from French regions. Celtic names from Brittany, for example. But also names like Mohamed, Kevin, or Anna.

Anyway, it is way less strict now in France, luckily, but the authorities are still having a word to say about accepting a name, or not. They aim to prevent mockery and therefore are not allowing ridiculous names. So if you pick a French name for girls, you can be sure that it’s registrar approved. It won’t be one of the French baby names that are related to a brand or TV show, but also not to celebrities or objects.

For example, names that were rejected were Nutella, Fraise (strawberry), Prince-William, Deamon, Léo-Pard, and Excel.

So, what I am trying to say here is that you don’t have to fear picking a French name that means something weird, dodgy, vulgar, or inappropriate in French. But to be safe, I added some extra info to the French Girls name with meaning.

Most Popular French Girl Names in 2021

Without further ado, here’s the list* of the 100 Top French Girl Names that the French named their girls in 2021:

*This list is provided by Insee.fr

The best Classic French Girl Names for your baby daughter

Given the history of the strict naming rules in France, classic French girl names are still very popular today. Many french parents chose a traditional French girl name for their daughters, rather than going for modern names.

In my son’s classes, for example, girls are called Agathe, Emma, and Chloé, but also Elisa and Louise.

Classic French Girl names that are cute choices even in the 21st century are these:

• Agathe (meaning: good, honorable)
• Audrey (meaning: noble, strength)
• Aurélie (meaning: golden)
• Camille (meaning: helper to the priest, but also flower)
• Catherine (meaning: pure)
• Cécile (meaning: sixth in welsh and blind in Latin)
• Charlotte (meaning: free woman)
• Chloé (meaning: blooming)
• Christine (meaning: follower of Christ)
• Claire (meaning: clear, bright)
• Delphine (meaning: from Delphi) (not dolphin)
• Eloise (meaning: famous warrior)
• Emmanuelle (meaning: God is with us)
• Florence (meaning: flourishing, prosperous)
• Hélène (meaning: light)
• Julie (meaning: youthful)
• Laure (meaning: laurel, but also victory)
• Laurence (meaning: bright one)
• Louise (meaning: renowned warrior)
• Lucille (meaning: light)
• Manon (meaning: in welsh: beautiful queen and, in French, a diminutive of Marie)
• Margaux (meaning: pearl)
• Marie (meaning: mother of Jesus Christ, and star of the sea)
• Marlène (meaning: from Magdala, but also the star of the sea)
• Mathilde (meaning: might and strength)
• Pauline (meaning: small)
• Rose (meaning: rose, flower)
• Salomé (meaning: peace)
• Sophie (meaning: wisdom)

Popular, Classic, and Unique French Girl Names in alphabetical order

And finally, the complete list of the cutest and best French girl names for your baby girl. I put them in alphabetical order, and some of them will be familiar because they popped up in one of the lists above. I also added the meaning.

French Girl Names that Start with A

#1  Adalaide, Adélaïde: meaning a noble person

#2 Adalene, Adaline, Adeline, Adelyn: meaning a noble person

#3 Adèle, Adelle: meaning noble

#4 Adrienne, Adriene: meaning from the city of Hadria

#5 Agathe: meaning good

#6 Agnès: meaning pure

#7 Aimée: meaning beloved

#8 Alba: meaning sunrise

#9 Albane: meaning white, fair-skinned

#10 Albertine: meaning noble or bright

#11 Alexandrine: meaning defender of men

#12 Alexine: meaning defender of men

#13 Alice: meaning noble or light

#14 Aliénor: meaning light, torch

#15 Aline: meaning noble

#16 Alix: meaning noble

#17 Alizée: meaning joyful

#18 Alma: meaning kind

#19 Alodie: meaning wealthy

#20 Alphonsine: meaning ready for battle (female version of Alphonse)

#21 Alya: meaning sky, heaven

#22 Amalie, Amélie: meaning hardworking

#23 Amandine: meaning worthy of love

#24 Ambre: meaning Jewel

#25 Amelia: meaning hardworking

#26 Amy, Aimée: meaning beloved or well-loved

#27 Anaëlle: meaning favor or grace

#28 Anaïs: meaning graceful, merciful or holy

#29 Anastasie: meaning resurrection

#30 Andrée: meaning brave (female version of André)

#31 Anelise, Annelise: meaning from the grace of God

#32 Angeline: meaning messenger of God

#33 Angélique: meaning messenger of God

#34 Anna: meaning grace

#35 Annabelle: meaning favored grace

#36 Annette: meaning graceful

#37 Anne: meaning grace

#38 Antonine: meaning praiseworthy

#39 Antoinette: meaning praiseworthy

#40 Apolline: meaning strength – after the greek god Apollo

#41 Arielle: meaning lion of God

#42 Armande: meaning army man (unisex name)

#43 Armeline: meaning armed

#44 Astrid: meaning divinely beautiful

#45 Aubrey: meaning elf/ supernatural ruler

#46 Audette: meaning a bird

#47 Audrey: meaning strength

#48 Augustine: meaning the great, magnificent

#49 Aurelie: meaning golden

#50 Aurore/Auroette: meaning dawn

#51 Ava: meaning life

#52 Aveline: meaning hazelnut

#53 Avice: meaning a refuge in battle

#54 Avriel/Avril/Avryll: meaning spring and April

#55 Aya: goddess

French Girl Names that Start with B

#56 Babette: meaning God is my oath

#57 Barbe: meaning traveler from a foreign land (it also means beard)

#58 Béatrice: meaning makes you happy

#59 Belle: meaning beautiful

#60 Bénédicte: meaning blessed

#61 Bernadette: meaning brave as a bear

#62 Berthe: meaning bright, glorious

#63 Bijou: meaning jewel

#64 Blanche: meaning white

#65 Blisse: meaning delight or joy

#66 Brielle: meaning heroine of God

#67 Brigitte: meaning magnificent and great

French Girl Names that Start with C

#68 Camille: helper to the priest, but also flower

#69 Capucine: meaning nasturtium (the flower)

#70 Carole, Carolina, Caroline: free woman

#71 Catherine: meaning pure and clear

#72 Cécile: (meaning: sixth in welsh and blind in Latin)

#73 Celeste: meaning “heavenly”.

#74 Clémentine: meaning merciful, mild

#75 Célestine: meaning “heavenly”.

#76 Célestine: meaning heavenly

#77 Célia: meaning heavenly

#78 Céline: meaning heavenly

#79 Cerise: meaning cherry

#80 Cezanne: name of the artist and “big flower) (unisex name)

#81 Chanel: meaning water pipe but I assume it’s a reference to the brand

#82 Chantae: meaning singer

#83 Chantal: meaning stone

#84 Charlie: meaning free woman or man, from Charlotte or Charles

#85 Charlotte: meaning a strong woman, free woman

#86 Chloé, Chloë: meaning flourishing, blooming

#87 Christine: meaning follower of Christ

#88 Claire, Clarette: meaning bright, clear

#89 Clara: meaning “bright” or “gentle”.

#90 Clarisse: meaning “bright” or “gentle”.

#91 Claudine: meaning schwach

#92 Clémence: meaning merciful

#93 Clotilde, Clothilde: meaning famous in battle

#94 Colette: meaning people of victory

#95 Constance: meaning constant

#96 Coralie, Coraline: meaning coral

#97 Corinne: meaning beautiful maiden

#98 Cosette: meaning victorious but also small thing

French Girl Names that Start with D

#99 Danielle: Meaning God is the judge

#100 Delphine: Meaning: from Delphi (not dolphin)

#101 Denise: Meaning “devoted to the wine god, Dionysius”.

#102 Deborah: Meaning bee

#103 Desiree: Meaning desired and longed for

#104 Diane: Meaning divine

#105 Dominique: Meaning belonging to the Lord

French Girl Names that Start with E

#106 Édelie: Meaning having high principles, qualities

#107 Édith: Meaning blessed with riches

#108 Edmée: Meaning rich protection

#109 Eglantine: Meaning wild rose

#110 Elaina, Elaine: Meaning bright, shining light

#111 Elayne: Meaning a ray of light

#112 Éléna: shining light

#113 Eléonore: Meaning bright, shining light

#114 Elise: Meaning my God is abundance

#115 Ella: meaning fairy Maiden

#116 Elle: Meaning sun ray

#117 Élodie: Meaning foreign riches

#118 Eloise, Héloïse: Meaning: famous warrior

#119 Ember: Meaning speark

#120 Émeline: Meaning peaceful home, hard working

#121 Émilie: Meaning excelling in all things

#122 Emma: Meaning whole or universal

#123 Emmanuelle: Meaning God is with us

#124 Emmy: Meaning whole or universal

#125 Emy: Meaning whole or universal

#126 Esme, Esmée: Meaning esteemed, beloved one

#127 Estelle: Meaning star

#128 Étiennette: Meaning woman with crown, garland

#129 Eugénie: Meaning well born

#130 Eulalie: Meaning a sweetly-speaking person

#131 Éva: Meaning life

French Girl Names that Start with F

#132 Fabienne: Means bean grower (sounds weird, but the name goes also back to the Fabius family)

#133 Faustine – Meaning fortunate one

#134 Fea: Meaning fairy

#135 Felia: Meaning happy and lucky

#136 Félice: Meaning lucky

#137 Fernande: Meaning adventurous

#138 Fleur, Fleurine: Meaning flower, blossoming

#139 Florence: Meaning flower, blossoming

#140 Florentine: Meaning “blossoming”.

#141 Floriane – Meaning flower, blossoming

#142 Fosette: Meaning love of helping others

#143 Francine: Meaning from France or free woman

#144 Françoise: Meaning from France or free woman

#145 Frédérique – Peaceful ruler

French Girl Names that Start with G

#146 Gabrielle: Meaning God is my Strength (female version of Gabriel)

#147 Gaelle: Meaning foreigner, cheerful or happy

#148 Garance: Meaning the plant rose madder

#149 Genevieve: Meaning “tribe woman”, celtic version of Jennifer

#150 Georgette: Meaning “farmer”.

#151 Geraldine: Meaning ruler with a spear

#152 Gertrude: Meaning strength

#153 Giselle: Meaning: promise, pledge

#154 Gwenaëlle: Meaning blessed and generous

#155 Gwendoline: Meaning fair, blessed

French Girl Names that Start with H

#156 Hélène: Meaning bright, shining

#157 Héloïse: Meaning “famous warrior”.

#158 Henriette: Meaning Keeper of the hearth.

#159 Honorine: Meaning woman of honour

#160 Hortense: Meaning gardener

#161 Huguette: Meaning bright in mind and spirit

French Girl Names that Start with I

#162 Imaé: Meaning present

#163 Inés: Meaning pure

#164 Iris: Meaning rainbow

#165 Isabelle: Meaning pledged to God

#166 Izia: Meaning woman of the throne

French Girl Names that Start with J

#167 Jacqueline: Meaning may god protect

#168 Jade: Meaning Jade, the precious stone

#169 Jeanine: Meaning god is gracious

#170 Jeanne: Meaning God is gracious (female version of Jean)

#171 Joelene: Meaning pretty, beauty

#172 Joëlle: God will be willing

#173 Jolie: Meaning pretty

#174 Josephine: Meaning Jehovah shall grow

#175 Josette: Meaning Jehovah shall grow

#176 Joy: Meaning Happiness

#177 Julia: Meaning youthful

#178 Juliette, Juliet: Meaning youthful

French Girl Names that Start with L

#179 Laetitia: Meaning happiness

#180 Lana: Meaning shining, light, blessed

#181 Laure: Meaning laurel (the plant)

#182 Laurence: Meaning bright one

#183 Léa: Meaning delicate

#184 Léana: Meaning sun ray

#185 Léna: Meaning light, bright

#186 Léonie: Meaning lion

#187 Léonore: Meaning shining light

#188 Liana: Meaning to climb like a vine, twine around like a vine

#189 Lila: Meaning night, beauty

#190 Lille: Meaning lily

#191 Lilou: Meaning lily

#192 Lily: Meaning purity and innocence

#193 Lina: Meaning sunlight, small palm tree

#194 Lise: Meaning god’s promise

#195 Livia: Meaning blue

#196 Lizette: Meaning God’s promise

#197 Lola: Meaning sorrow, from Dolores

#198 Lorraine: Meaning from the province of Lorraine, also a famous army

#199 Lou: Meaning famous warrior

#200 Louise: Meaning brave, famous warrior

#201 Louna: Meaning moon

#202 Lourdes: Meaning from the town of Lourdes

#203 Lucie: Meaning “illuminating and light”.

#204 Lucienne: Meaning “light”.

#205 Lucile or Lucille: Meaning “light”.

#206 Ludivine: Meaning people’s friend

#207 Luna: Meaning moon

#208 Lya: Meaning wary but also lioness

#209 Lyana: Meaning eye of the light

#210 Lydie: Meaning woman from Lydia, Greece but also elegance

#211 Lyna: Meaning ray of sunshine

French Girl Names that Start with M

#212 Madeleine, Madelyn: Meaning from the city of Magdala

#213 Maëlie: Meaning chief, princess

#214 Maëlle, Maëlys: Meaning chief, princess

#215 Magalie/ Magalie: Meaning from Magdala

#216 Mailys: Meaning chief, princess

#217 Malory, Mallory: Meaning unfortunate

#218 Manette: Meaning star of the sea

#219 Minette: Meaning faithful, defender

#220 Manon: Meaning star of the sea but also diminutive of Marie

#221 Margot/Margaux: Meaning pearl

#222 Marguerite: Meaning pearl but also daisy

#223 Maria: Different meanings: Of the Sea, bitter, beloved, or rebellious

#224 Marianne: Star of the Sea and grace

#225 Marie: French for Mary, but also the star of the sea

#226 Marilou: French for Mary, combined with Louise

#227 Marine: from the sea

#228 Marion: Star of the Sea and beloved

#229 Marjolaine/Marjorie: Meaning peark

#230 Marlène: Meaning from Magdala

#231 Marthe: Meaning mistress of the house

#232 Merveille: Meaning miracle

#233 Mathilde: Meaning strength in battle

#234 Mathilda: might, strength

#235 Maya: from Mary but means also dream, fortune and beauty

#236 Mélanie: Meaning little dark-haired girl

#237 Meline: Meaning honey and brave

#238 Melusine: after the spirit of fresh water in a holy river

#239 Mia: Meaning beloved

#240 Michelle: Meaning resembles God

#241 Mila: Meaning hardworking and gracious

#242 Mirabelle: Meaning wonderful, but it’s also the name of a little plum

#243 Mirielle: Meaning wonderful, peace and admiration

#244 Monique: Meaning wise counselor, advisor

#245 Muriel: Meaning sparkling or shining sea

#246 Mya: Meaning the great one

#247 Mylène: Meaning merciful but also a combination of Marie and Hélène

French Girl Names that Start with N

#248 Nadège: Meaning hope

#249 Natalie: Meaning birthday of the Lord

#250 Nathanaëlle: Meaning given by god

#251 Neige: meaning snow

#252 Nelya: Meaning bright and shining one

#253 Nicole: Meaning people of victory

#254 Nicolette: Meaning people of victory

#255 Nina: Meaning little girl, but also favor and grace

#256 Ninette: Meaning little girl, but also favor and grace

#257 Noelle: Meaning Christmas

#258 Noémie: Meaning good, pleasant, lovely

#259 Nour: Meaning radiance

French Girl Names that Start with O

#260 Océane: Meaning from the ocean

#261 Octavie: Meaning eighth

#262 Odette: Meaning wealthy

#263 Odile: meaning wealthy

#264 Olivia: Meaning olive, peace

#265 Oriane: Meaning gold and sunrise

French Girl Names that Start with P

#266 Paris: Meaning Paris, the capital of France but can also be translated to “defender)

#267 Pascale: Meaning Easter

#268 Pasqualine: Meaning Easter

#269 Patrice: Meaning noble (unisex, more commonly used as a boy’s name)

#270 Paulette: humble, diminutive of Pauline

#271 Pauline: Meaning little

#272 Perrine: Meaning rock

#273 Philomène: Meaning loved one, a friend of strength

#274 Pierrette: Meaning rock, strength (female version of Pierre)

#275 Prisca: Meaning ancient, with great esteem

French Girl Names that Start with R

#276 Reine: Meaning queen

#277 Renée: Meaning born again or reborn

#278 Risette: Meaning smile

#279 Rochelle: Meaning woman who is like a rock

#280 Romane, Romaine: Meaning from Rome

#281 Romy: Meaning dew of the sea

#282 Rosalie: Meaning rose

#283 Rose: Meaning rose, the flower

#284 Roxane: Meaning bright sun

French Girl Names that Start with S

#285 Sabine: Meaning women of the Sabine tribe (some of the most famous paintings in the Louvre are showing the Sabine women defending their tribe)

#286 Salomé: Meaning peace

#287 Sandrine: Meaning helper and defender

#288 Sara: Meaning princess

#289 Séraphine: Meaning burning, flaming

#290 Severine: Meaning stern, serious

#291 Sidonie: Meaning woman of Sidon, captivates

#292 Simone: Meaning hearing or listening, God has heard

#293 Sofia: Meaning wisdom

#294 Solange, Solenne: Meaning solemn, religious

#295 Sophie: Meaning wise, wisdom

#296 Stéphanie: Meaning crown, glory

#297 Suzanne: Meaning lily

#298 Suzette: Meaning graceful lily (Check out these French Food Facts to know about the creation fo the Crêpe Suzette)

#299 Sybille: Meaning oracle, prohetess

#300 Sylvie: Meaning from the forest

French Girl Names that Start with T

#301 Thaïs: Meaning Beloved, strong bond

#302 Théa: Meaning goddess

#303 Theoline: Meaning god’s gift

#304 Thérèse: Meaning to reap, to gather, late summer

#305 Thiphaine: Meaning manifestation of GOd

French Girl Names that Start with V

#306 Valentine: Meaning strength, healthy (female version of Valentin)

#307 Valerie: Meaning strong and brave

#308 Véronique: Meaning victory bringer and true image

#309 Victoire: Meaning victory

#310 Violette: Meaning violet, the flower

#311 Virginie: Meaning pure maiden

#312 Vivienne: Meaning life

French Girl Names that Start with Y

#313 Yasmine: Meaning jasmine flower

#314 Yolanthe: Meaning violet, the flower

#315 Yvette: Meaning archer (female version of Yves)

#316 Yvonne: Meaning yew wood

French Girl Names that Start with Z

#317 Zélie: Meaning azalea, noble and also heaven

#318 Zoe: Meaning vibrant and full of life

Voilà, that’s probably the most extensive list of French names for girls that you can find. I hope you found a cute French name for your baby girl or at least inspiration and ideas to consider. I would have picked Pauline, Lucille or Gaëlle, if I had girls 🙂

FAQ French Girl Names

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