First Names in France: A Comprehensive Guide to Popular French Names

Are you looking for the perfect French name for your baby? France has a rich history of beautiful and meaningful names, and choosing the right one can be an exciting yet daunting task. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a list of popular French first names, along with their detailed meanings and origins, giving you valuable insight into the cultural significance behind each name. From classic and traditional choices to more modern and unique options, this list has something for everyone. Let's explore the fascinating world of French names together!
1. **Adèle:** noble, kind, of noble race, from the German "adal" meaning "noble" and "heid" meaning "kind."
2. **Alain:** handsome, harmonious, from the Breton "alan" meaning "handsome" and "harmonious."
3. **Alexandre:** defender of mankind, from the Greek "alexandros" meaning "defender of mankind."
4. **Alice:** noble, of noble kind, from the German "adal" meaning "noble" and "heid" meaning "kind."
5. **Amélie:** industrious, work, from the German "amal" meaning "work" and "heid" meaning "kind."
6. **André:** manly, strong, from the Greek "andros" meaning "man."
7. **Anne:** grace, favor, from the Hebrew "Hannah" meaning "grace" or "favor."
8. **Antoine:** priceless, invaluable, from the Latin "Antonius" meaning "priceless" or "invaluable."
9. **Arthur:** bear, strong, from the Celtic "arth" meaning "bear" and "ur" meaning "strong."
10. **Audrey:** noble strength, from the Old English "Æðelrīc" meaning "noble strength."
11. **Baptiste:** baptized, from the Greek "baptistēs" meaning "baptizer."
12. **Benjamin:** son of the right hand, from the Hebrew "ben-yamin" meaning "son of the right hand."
13. **Bernard:** brave as a bear, from the German "bernhard" meaning "brave as a bear."
14. **Bertrand:** bright, illustrious, from the German "berht" meaning "bright" and "rand" meaning "edge, border."
15. **Blanche:** white, fair, from the Old French "blanc" meaning "white."
16. **Camille:** young chambermaid, from the Latin "camillus" meaning "young chambermaid."
17. **Caroline:** free man, from the German "karl" meaning "free man."
18. **Catherine:** pure, from the Greek "katharos" meaning "pure."
19. **Charles:** free man, from the German "karl" meaning "free man."
20. **Charlotte:** free man, from the German "karl" meaning "free man."
21. **Chloé:** blooming, green, from the Greek "chlōrós" meaning "blooming" or "green."
22. **Christian:** follower of Christ, from the Greek "christos" meaning "anointed one."
23. **Claire:** bright, clear, from the Latin "clarus" meaning "bright" or "clear."
24. **Clément:** merciful, gentle, from the Latin "clemens" meaning "merciful."
25. **Clémentine:** merciful, gentle, from the Latin "clemens" meaning "merciful."
26. **David:** beloved, from the Hebrew "david" meaning "beloved."
27. **Denis:** belonging to Dionysus, from the Greek "Dionysius" meaning "belonging to Dionysus," the god of wine.
28. **Diane:** divine, from the Greek "Artemis" meaning "divine," the goddess of the hunt.
29. **Émile:** industrious, rival, from the German "amal" meaning "work" and "heid" meaning "kind."
30. **Émilie:** industrious, rival, from the German "amal" meaning "work" and "heid" meaning "kind."
31. **Éric:** ever ruler, from the Old Norse "eirikr" meaning "ever ruler."
32. **Esther:** hidden, star, from the Persian "istar" meaning "star."
33. **Étienne:** crown, wreath, from the Greek "stephanos" meaning "crown."
34. **Eugène:** well-born, noble, from the Greek "eugenes" meaning "well-born."
35. **Eva:** life, from the Hebrew "Chavah" meaning "life."
36. **Félix:** lucky, happy, from the Latin "felix" meaning "lucky" or "happy."
37. **Florence:** flourishing, from the Latin "florere" meaning "to flourish."
38. **François:** free man, from the German "franko" meaning "free man."
39. **Gabriel:** God is my strength, from the Hebrew "gavri'el" meaning "God is my strength."
40. **Gaël:** bright, shining, from the Gaelic "gael" meaning "bright" or "shining."
41. **Guillaume:** helmet, protector, from the German "wilhelm" meaning "helmet" or "protector."
42. **Hélène:** light, torch, from the Greek "Helene" meaning "light" or "torch."
43. **Henri:** ruler of the house, from the German "heinrich" meaning "ruler of the house."
44. **Hugo:** mind, spirit, from the German "hugo" meaning "mind" or "spirit."
45. **Isabelle:** devoted to God, from the Hebrew "Elisheva" meaning "my God is an oath."
46. **Jacques:** supplanter, from the Hebrew "Ya'aqov" meaning "supplanter."
47. **Jean:** God is gracious, from the Hebrew "Yochanan" meaning "God is gracious."
48. **Jeanne:** God is gracious, from the Hebrew "Yochanan" meaning "God is gracious."
49. **Jérémie:** the Lord will exalt, from the Hebrew "Yirmeyahu" meaning "the Lord will exalt."
50. **Jérôme:** holy name, from the Greek "hieronymus" meaning "holy name."
51. **Julien:** youthful, downy-bearded, from the Latin "Iulius" meaning "youthful" or "downy-bearded."
52. **Justine:** fair, just, from the Latin "justus" meaning "fair" or "just."
53. **Léa:** lioness, tired, from the Hebrew "Leah" meaning "lioness."
54. **Léa:** lioness, tired, from the Hebrew "Leah" meaning "lioness."
55. **Léon:** lion, from the Greek "leon" meaning "lion."
56. **Léonie:** lioness, from the Greek "leon" meaning "lion."
57. **Louis:** famous warrior, from the German "hludwig" meaning "famous warrior."
58. **Lucas:** bringer of light, from the Greek "loukas" meaning "bringer of light."
59. **Lucille:** bringer of light, from the Greek "loukas" meaning "bringer of light."
60. **Madeleine:** from the town of Magdala, from the Hebrew "Migdal" meaning "tower."
61. **Manon:** God is gracious, from the Hebrew "Yochanan" meaning "God is gracious."
62. **Marc:** war god, from the Latin "Mars" meaning "war god."
63. **Marguerite:** pearl, from the Greek "margarites" meaning "pearl."
64. **Marie:** bitter, rebellious, from the Hebrew "Miriam" meaning "bitter" or "rebellious."
65. **Marion:** sea, from the Latin "mare" meaning "sea."
66. **Martin:** war god, from the Latin "Mars" meaning "war god."
67. **Mathilde:** mighty in battle, from the German "mathild" meaning "mighty in battle."
68. **Maxime:** greatest, from the Latin "maximus" meaning "greatest."
69. **Michel:** who is like God, from the Hebrew "Mikha'el" meaning "who is like God?"
70. **Nathan:** God has given, from the Hebrew "Natan" meaning "God has given."
71. **Nicolas:** victory of the people, from the Greek "nikē" meaning "victory" and "laos" meaning "people."
72. **Noémie:** pleasantness, from the Hebrew "No'emi" meaning "pleasantness."
73. **Olivia:** olive tree, from the Latin "oliva" meaning "olive tree."
74. **Paul:** small, humble, from the Latin "paulus" meaning "small" or "humble."
75. **Pauline:** small, humble, from the Latin "paulus" meaning "small" or "humble."
76. **Pierre:** stone, rock, from the Greek "petros" meaning "stone" or "rock."
77. **Raphaël:** God has healed, from the Hebrew "Rapha'el" meaning "God has healed."
78. **Rémi:** oarsman, from the Latin "remigius" meaning "oarsman."
79. **René:** reborn, from the Latin "renatus" meaning "reborn."
80. **Richard:** brave ruler, from the German "ric" meaning "ruler" and "hard" meaning "brave."
81. **Robert:** bright fame, from the German "hrod" meaning "fame" and "berht" meaning "bright."
82. **Romain:** from Rome, from the Latin "romanus" meaning "from Rome."
83. **Rose:** rose, from the Latin "rosa" meaning "rose."
84. **Samuel:** God has heard, from the Hebrew "Shmu'el" meaning "God has heard."
85. **Sarah:** princess, from the Hebrew "Sarah" meaning "princess."
86. **Sébastien:** venerable, from the Greek "sebas" meaning "venerable."
87. **Simon:** listener, from the Hebrew "Shimon" meaning "listener."
88. **Solène:** sun, from the Latin "sol" meaning "sun."
89. **Sophie:** wisdom, from the Greek "sophia" meaning "wisdom."
90. **Théo:** God, from the Greek "theos" meaning "God."
91. **Théodore:** gift of God, from the Greek "theos" meaning "God" and "dōron" meaning "gift."
92. **Thomas:** twin, from the Aramaic "ta'oma" meaning "twin."
93. **Timothée:** honoring God, from the Greek "timotheos" meaning "honoring God."
94. **Valentin:** strong, healthy, from the Latin "valentinus" meaning "strong" or "healthy."
95. **Victor:** conqueror, from the Latin "victor" meaning "conqueror."
96. **Victoria:** victory, from the Latin "victoria" meaning "victory."
97. **Vincent:** conquering, victorious, from the Latin "vincere" meaning "to conquer."
98. **Virginie:** spring, green, from the Latin "virgineus" meaning "springtime" or "green."
99. **Xavier:** bright house, from the Basque "xabier" meaning "bright house."
100. **Yann:** God is gracious, from the Hebrew "Yochanan" meaning "God is gracious."
101. **Yohann:** God is gracious, from the Hebrew "Yochanan" meaning "God is gracious."