French Famous Names: A Comprehensive Guide to Meaning and Origin

Looking for popular and meaningful French names? This comprehensive list explores the origins and significance behind some of the most beloved French names, offering insights into their history and cultural impact. Whether you're searching for a classic French name or a more unique choice, this guide provides a detailed exploration of each name's meaning, making it easier for you to find the perfect name for your little one.
1. **Adelaïde**: meaning "noble kind," it is a feminine name of Germanic origin, meaning "noble kind."
2. **Adrien**: meaning "from Hadria," a region of Italy.
3. **Agathe**: meaning "good, kind," a name of Greek origin, meaning "good, kind."
4. **Alain**: meaning "harmonious," of Celtic origin, meaning "harmonious."
5. **Albert**: meaning "bright, noble," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "bright, noble."
6. **Alexandre**: meaning "defender of mankind," a name of Greek origin, meaning "defender of mankind."
7. **Alfred**: meaning "wise counsel," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "wise counsel."
8. **Alice**: meaning "noble," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "noble."
9. **Aline**: meaning "noble kind," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "noble kind."
10. **Amélie**: meaning "work, labor," a name of German origin, meaning "work, labor."
11. **André**: meaning "manly, brave," a name of Greek origin, meaning "manly, brave."
12. **Angelique**: meaning "angel-like," a name of Greek origin, meaning "angel-like."
13. **Anne**: meaning "grace, favor," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "grace, favor."
14. **Antoine**: meaning "priceless, invaluable," a name of Latin origin, meaning "priceless, invaluable."
15. **Arnaud**: meaning "strong as a bear," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "strong as a bear."
16. **Arthur**: meaning "bear, strong," a name of Celtic origin, meaning "bear, strong."
17. **Augustin**: meaning "venerable," a name of Latin origin, meaning "venerable."
18. **Audrey**: meaning "noble strength," a name of Old English origin, meaning "noble strength."
19. **Baptiste**: meaning "one who baptizes," a name of Greek origin, meaning "one who baptizes."
20. **Barthélémy**: meaning "son of Talmai," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "son of Talmai."
21. **Basile**: meaning "kingly," a name of Greek origin, meaning "kingly."
22. **Béatrice**: meaning "she who brings happiness," a name of Latin origin, meaning "she who brings happiness."
23. **Benoît**: meaning "blessed," a name of Latin origin, meaning "blessed."
24. **Bernard**: meaning "brave as a bear," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "brave as a bear."
25. **Bertrand**: meaning "bright, illustrious," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "bright, illustrious."
26. **Blanche**: meaning "white," a name of French origin, meaning "white."
27. **Brigitte**: meaning "strong," a name of Celtic origin, meaning "strong."
28. **Camille**: meaning "free born," a name of Latin origin, meaning "free born."
29. **Caroline**: meaning "free woman," a name of Latin origin, meaning "free woman."
30. **Catherine**: meaning "pure," a name of Greek origin, meaning "pure."
31. **Cécile**: meaning "blind," a name of Latin origin, meaning "blind."
32. **Charles**: meaning "free man," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "free man."
33. **Charlotte**: meaning "free woman," a name of Latin origin, meaning "free woman."
34. **Chloé**: meaning "green shoot," a name of Greek origin, meaning "green shoot."
35. **Christian**: meaning "follower of Christ," a name of Greek origin, meaning "follower of Christ."
36. **Claire**: meaning "bright, clear," a name of Latin origin, meaning "bright, clear."
37. **Claude**: meaning "lame," a name of Latin origin, meaning "lame."
38. **Clément**: meaning "merciful, mild," a name of Latin origin, meaning "merciful, mild."
39. **Colombe**: meaning "dove," a name of Latin origin, meaning "dove."
40. **Corinne**: meaning "maiden," a name of Greek origin, meaning "maiden."
41. **Daniel**: meaning "God is my judge," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my judge."
42. **David**: meaning "beloved," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "beloved."
43. **Denis**: meaning "belonging to Dionysus," a name of Greek origin, meaning "belonging to Dionysus."
44. **Diane**: meaning "divine," a name of Greek origin, meaning "divine."
45. **Dominique**: meaning "belonging to the Lord," a name of Latin origin, meaning "belonging to the Lord."
46. **Édouard**: meaning "wealthy guardian," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "wealthy guardian."
47. **Émile**: meaning "rival," a name of Latin origin, meaning "rival."
48. **Éric**: meaning "ever ruler," a name of Norse origin, meaning "ever ruler."
49. **Estelle**: meaning "star," a name of Latin origin, meaning "star."
50. **Eugène**: meaning "well-born," a name of Greek origin, meaning "well-born."
51. **Eva**: meaning "life," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "life."
52. **Fabrice**: meaning "craftsman," a name of Latin origin, meaning "craftsman."
53. **Félix**: meaning "happy," a name of Latin origin, meaning "happy."
54. **Ferdinand**: meaning "bold traveler," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "bold traveler."
55. **Florence**: meaning "flourishing," a name of Latin origin, meaning "flourishing."
56. **François**: meaning "free man," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "free man."
57. **Gabriel**: meaning "God is my strength," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my strength."
58. **Gaston**: meaning "protector of the people," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "protector of the people."
59. **Geneviève**: meaning "white wave," a name of Celtic origin, meaning "white wave."
60. **Georges**: meaning "farmer," a name of Greek origin, meaning "farmer."
61. **Gérard**: meaning "brave spearman," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "brave spearman."
62. **Ghislain**: meaning "pledge of God," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "pledge of God."
63. **Gilles**: meaning "youthful," a name of Greek origin, meaning "youthful."
64. **Guillaume**: meaning "helmet of will," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "helmet of will."
65. **Henri**: meaning "ruler of the home," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "ruler of the home."
66. **Hubert**: meaning "bright mind," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "bright mind."
67. **Hugo**: meaning "mind, intellect," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "mind, intellect."
68. **Jacqueline**: meaning "supplanter," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "supplanter."
69. **Jacques**: meaning "supplanter," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "supplanter."
70. **Jean**: meaning "God is gracious," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is gracious."
71. **Jeanne**: meaning "God is gracious," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is gracious."
72. **Jérémie**: meaning "the Lord will exalt," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "the Lord will exalt."
73. **Jocelyn**: meaning "cheerful," a name of Celtic origin, meaning "cheerful."
74. **Joseph**: meaning "God will increase," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God will increase."
75. **Judith**: meaning "praised," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "praised."
76. **Jules**: meaning "youthful," a name of Latin origin, meaning "youthful."
77. **Julien**: meaning "youthful," a name of Latin origin, meaning "youthful."
78. **Justine**: meaning "just," a name of Latin origin, meaning "just."
79. **Laurent**: meaning "laurel," a name of Latin origin, meaning "laurel."
80. **Léa**: meaning "weary," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "weary."
81. **Léonie**: meaning "lioness," a name of Greek origin, meaning "lioness."
82. **Léon**: meaning "lion," a name of Greek origin, meaning "lion."
83. **Léopold**: meaning "brave people," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "brave people."
84. **Lilas**: meaning "lilac," a name of Persian origin, meaning "lilac."
85. **Lise**: meaning "pledge of God," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "pledge of God."
86. **Louis**: meaning "famous warrior," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "famous warrior."
87. **Luc**: meaning "light," a name of Latin origin, meaning "light."
88. **Lucien**: meaning "light," a name of Latin origin, meaning "light."
89. **Lucille**: meaning "light," a name of Latin origin, meaning "light."
90. **Madeleine**: meaning "tower," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "tower."
91. **Magali**: meaning "my light," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "my light."
92. **Marc**: meaning "warlike," a name of Latin origin, meaning "warlike."
93. **Marie**: meaning "bitter," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "bitter."
94. **Marguerite**: meaning "pearl," a name of Greek origin, meaning "pearl."
95. **Marilou**: meaning "bitter sea," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "bitter sea."
96. **Martin**: meaning "warlike," a name of Latin origin, meaning "warlike."
97. **Mathilde**: meaning "mighty in battle," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "mighty in battle."
98. **Maude**: meaning "powerful battle," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "powerful battle."
99. **Maurice**: meaning "dark skinned," a name of Latin origin, meaning "dark skinned."
100. **Michel**: meaning "who is like God?," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "who is like God?"
101. **Monique**: meaning "adviser," a name of Greek origin, meaning "adviser."
102. **Nadine**: meaning "hope," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "hope."
103. **Nathalie**: meaning "born on Christmas Day," a name of Latin origin, meaning "born on Christmas Day."
104. **Nicolas**: meaning "victory of the people," a name of Greek origin, meaning "victory of the people."
105. **Noémie**: meaning "pleasantness," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "pleasantness."
106. **Olivia**: meaning "olive tree," a name of Latin origin, meaning "olive tree."
107. **Odile**: meaning "wealthy," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "wealthy."
108. **Oscar**: meaning "divine spear," a name of Norse origin, meaning "divine spear."
109. **Pascal**: meaning "Easter," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "Easter."
110. **Patrick**: meaning "nobleman," a name of Latin origin, meaning "nobleman."
111. **Paul**: meaning "small," a name of Latin origin, meaning "small."
112. **Pauline**: meaning "small," a name of Latin origin, meaning "small."
113. **Philippe**: meaning "lover of horses," a name of Greek origin, meaning "lover of horses."
114. **Pierre**: meaning "rock," a name of Greek origin, meaning "rock."
115. **Raphaël**: meaning "God has healed," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God has healed."
116. **Raymond**: meaning "wise protector," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "wise protector."
117. **Rémy**: meaning "oar," a name of Latin origin, meaning "oar."
118. **René**: meaning "reborn," a name of Latin origin, meaning "reborn."
119. **Richard**: meaning "brave ruler," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "brave ruler."
120. **Robert**: meaning "bright fame," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "bright fame."
121. **Roger**: meaning "famous spearman," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "famous spearman."
122. **Roland**: meaning "famous land," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "famous land."
123. **Roméo**: meaning "pilgrim to Rome," a name of Latin origin, meaning "pilgrim to Rome."
124. **Rose**: meaning "rose," a name of Latin origin, meaning "rose."
125. **Sabine**: meaning "from the Sabine hills," a name of Latin origin, meaning "from the Sabine hills."
126. **Samuel**: meaning "God has heard," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God has heard."
127. **Sandra**: meaning "defender of mankind," a name of Greek origin, meaning "defender of mankind."
128. **Sarah**: meaning "princess," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "princess."
129. **Sébastien**: meaning "venerable," a name of Greek origin, meaning "venerable."
130. **Serge**: meaning "servant," a name of Latin origin, meaning "servant."
131. **Simon**: meaning "listener," a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "listener."
132. **Solange**: meaning "holy," a name of Latin origin, meaning "holy."
133. **Sophie**: meaning "wisdom," a name of Greek origin, meaning "wisdom."
134. **Stéphane**: meaning "crown," a name of Greek origin, meaning "crown."
135. **Sylvie**: meaning "from the forest," a name of Latin origin, meaning "from the forest."
136. **Tanguy**: meaning "fire," a name of Celtic origin, meaning "fire."
137. **Théo**: meaning "God," a name of Greek origin, meaning "God."
138. **Thierry**: meaning "ruler of the people," a name of Germanic origin, meaning "ruler of the people."
139. **Thomas**: meaning "twin," a name of Aramaic origin, meaning "twin."
140. **Timothée**: meaning "honoring God," a name of Greek origin, meaning "honoring God."
141. **Tristan**: meaning "sad, sorrowful," a name of Celtic origin, meaning "sad, sorrowful."
142. **Valérie**: meaning "strong, healthy," a name of Latin origin, meaning "strong, healthy."
143. **Vanessa**: meaning "butterfly," a name of Greek origin, meaning "butterfly."
144. **Victor**: meaning "conqueror," a name of Latin origin, meaning "conqueror."
145. **Victoria**: meaning "victory," a name of Latin origin, meaning "victory."
146. **Vincent**: meaning "conquering," a name of Latin origin, meaning "conquering."
147. **Virginie**: meaning "maiden," a name of Latin origin, meaning "maiden."
148. **Vivienne**: meaning "lively," a name of Latin origin, meaning "lively."
149. **Xavier**: meaning "bright house," a name of Basque origin, meaning "bright house."
150. **Yvette**: meaning "yew tree," a name of French origin, meaning "yew tree."