French boy names have a charming and romantic vibe, reflective of French culture. Many classic and uniquely French baby boy names remain popular today, while new name trends also emerge in this stylish, influential country. Parents want a name that sounds lovely, carries meaning, and helps their son stand out in a positive way among all the little ones.
When selecting the perfect male first name for your little one, it helps to understand name origins and meanings. Below is a list of beautiful French boy names along with the meaning behind each one.
Antoine - Meaning 'priceless one', from the old French form of Anthony, which is derived from the Roman clan name Antonius. In Latin, Antonius is translated as 'praiseworthy'. Classic French boy name that works well internationally.
Henri - French form of Henry, meaning 'rules the home', which comes from Germanic Heimiric, from 'heim' (home) and 'ric' (power, ruler). Famous French people named Henri include King Henri IV and artist Henri Matisse.
Louis - Meaning 'famous warrior', from Clovis, composed of Frankish hlōd (famous) and wig (war, battle). Classic boy name popular in France for almost 1000 years. Many French kings were named Louis.
Gabriel - French form of biblical name meaning 'God is my strength'. Name of the angel Gabriel known as a messenger from God. Feminine form is Gabrielle.
Raphaël - French spelling of Hebrew 'Rafa'el' meaning 'God heals'. Name of an archangel known as a protector and healer. Popular artist Raphael depicted angels in his works.
Hugo - Derived from Old German 'Hug' meaning 'heart and mind'. Made popular by author Victor Hugo who gave the Hunchback of Notre Dame his name.
Aurelien - Meaning 'golden'. Associated with the gold flower named for the 5th century Saint Aurelian. He was an archbishop known for compassion.
Benoit - French form of Benedict meaning 'blessed one'. Name of medieval saint who developed Benedictine monastic tradition emphasizing community service.
Cedric - French variant of Saxon name Cerdic meaning 'chief'. Made literary by Sir Walter Scott's character Cedric the Saxon in the novel Ivanhoe.
Damien - French form of Latin 'Damianus' referencing the origin 'to tame'. Name of 2 early saints who died protecting their faith around the year 300.
Emile - French version of Roman 'Aemilius' meaning 'rival'. Gained popularity following 18th century philosopher/writer Jean-Jacques Rousseau's novel Emile.
Jacques - French equivalent of Jacob meaning 'he who supplants'. Iconic French figures with this name include astronomer Jacques Cassini and philosopher Jacques Derrida.
Luca - Variant of Luke that has a melodic Italian/French flair. From Greek Loukas meaning 'from Lucania', an ancient region of southern Italy.
Marius - Ancient Roman clan name as well as the first saint of Marseilles, France. Actor Marius Goring played in classic French films like Beauty and the Beast (1946).
Marcel - Roman name 'Marcellus' meaning 'young warrior'. French painter Marcel Duchamp pioneered conceptual art in the early 20th century.
Remi - Short form of Roman 'Remigius' meaning 'oarsman'. Name of the French-born apostle and bishop who baptized Clovis I in the 5th century.
Rémy - French spelling of Latin 'Remigius'. Jazz musician Remy Panassié pioneered the New Orleans jazz revival during the 1940s.
Théophile - French form of Greek 'Theofilos' meaning 'friend of God'. Philosopher and botanist Theophile de Bordeu pioneered the study of endocrinology in the 1700s.
Vincent - From Roman 'Vincentius' meaning 'to conquer'. St. Vincent of Saragossa was martyred in Spain - later became patron saint of Lisbon and Valencia.
Constant - French form of Latin 'Constantius' meaning 'steadfast'. Mathematician Constant Durand unveiled groundbreaking theorems in complex analysis during the late 1800s.
Étienne - French variant of the Greek 'Stephanos' meaning 'crown'. Name of the first Christian martyr St. Stephen as well as early saint & martyr St. Étienne the Younger.
Gaspard - Persian name meaning 'treasurer'. French finance minister under Louis XVIII was named Élie Gaspard Fromentin (1788-1860).
Hadrien - French spelling of Roman 'Hadrianus' meaning 'from Hadria'. Hadrien is the French name of Roman Emperor Hadrian who consolidated the vast empire in 117 AD.
Ives - Medieval form of Yves, itself derived from French medieval saint Ivo of Kermartin meaning 'yew tree'. Yves Montand was a French screen legend during the 20th century.
Jérôme - French form of Greek 'Hieronymos' meaning 'sacred name'. St. Jerome translated the Bible into the Latin Vulgate in the 4th century. French artist Jérôme Bosch painted eccentric, vivid works.
Olivier - From medieval name Alfher or Olfher meaning 'elf army'. Known from the French epic La Chanson de Roland about the knight Roland's great friend Count Olivier.
René - French form of older Latin 'Renatus' meaning 'reborn'. Groundbreaking artist René Magritte painted surrealism pieces like The Son of Man featuring an obscured face with an apple.
Thibault - French form of medieval Theobald meaning 'bold people'. Linked to the very first Count of Champagne, France in the 12th century.
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