Top French Names for Baby Girls and Their Meanings
Have you been dreaming of French names for your baby girl? Whether you have French heritage or are looking for a girl’s name with an air of je ne sais quoi, then you’re in the right place. You’ll find many options in this list of 50 French names for baby girls, including ones you could use for either a first name or a middle name. Our categories include names that are popular, unique, cute, pretty, beautiful, and old-fashioned.
Key Takeaways
Pampers Picks
Discover the perfect baby name and learn its unique meaning and origin with our Baby Name Generator. Filter by gender, theme, origin, or letter to find a name you love—and explore the story behind it.
Most Popular French Girl Names
To make your search a little easier, we’ve gathered 50 French girl names in one place—so you can explore a variety of styles, meanings, and sounds without feeling overwhelmed.
French girl names often feel effortlessly elegant, but many also come with rich histories, literary ties, or nature-inspired meanings. Some are classic names that have stayed stylish for generations, while others feel fresh again thanks to modern spellings and revived vintage charm. That blend of beauty, history, and versatility is part of what makes French names so appealing.
1. Eléa. This short French form for Eleanor is a more modern version of the old-fashioned girl’s name. Other variant spellings include Elea, Eleah, Elléa, Elëa, Élea, and Éléa.
2. Lya. This is a variant spelling of the names Leas and Leah, which have Hebrew origins and mean “weary.” Although the meaning isn’t too interesting, the sound of the French girl’s name is simple and pretty. Other spellings include Lia, Liah, Lyah, Lïa, and Liia.
3. Elyna. A variant spelling for the name Elena, which comes from the Greek name Helen, meaning “torch.” In Greek mythology Helen’s kidnapping is what prompts the Trojan War. But the name is more often used to honor an early Christian saint. Other modern spellings include Elina, Ellina, Élina, and Élyna.
4. Anna. This name is recognized in pretty much every language. It has biblical origins and was originally spelled Hannah until the Middle Ages, when the spelling changed to the more common Anna after the saint.
5. Lili. This diminutive of Elisabeth or Elizabeth could also refer to the flower. Other spellings include Lilli, Lillie, Lilly, Lily, and Lyli.
6. Noémie. This is the French version of the girl’s name Naomi. It can also be spelled Noemi. It comes from a Hebrew name that means “pleasantness,” a rather sweet and pretty meaning for your baby girl.
7. Sophia. This French girl’s name has Greek origins and means “wisdom.” The name has been common among royalty. It’s a wise choice for your little princess! The name can also be spelled Sofia. In France, the variant Sophie was more common at one point, but Sophia is now more popular.
8. Julia. This is the feminine form of the Roman male name Julius. Julia has been a very common girl’s name since the eighteenth century. In France, the variant spelling Julie was more common, but in recent years Julia has overtaken it in popularity. An adorable diminutive for your daughter could be Juliette.
9. Louise. This is the French feminine form of Louis, which was the name of 18 kings of France. The male name lost popularity after the French Revolution. The female name peaked in popularity in the United States in the early 1900s and has been declining ever since. Why not give this old-fashioned girl’s name a second chance?
10. Ella. Like Eléa in the no. 1 spot, this name is also a diminutive of Eleanor. It may also be related to the German girl’s name Alia. Either way it’s a very classy name.
11. Éléanor. This is the French spelling of the girl’s name Eleanor, which is derived from the Old French name Alienòr. The most famous Eleanor in French history was Eleanor of Aquitaine, who was first queen of France and then queen of England. The name was very popular throughout the Middle Ages and has remained so.
12. Charlotte. This French female version of the name Charles is derived from the German name Karl, which means “man.” The name Charlotte was very popular in France and England during the twentieth century but not so much in the United States until 2014.
13. Aliénor. This girl’s name is close to the original French spelling of the name Eleanor except that it starts with the letter A. The name comes from Aenor, which was Eleanor of Aquitaine’s birth name. However, since Eleanor shared a name with her mother, she was referred to as alia Aenor, which meant “the other Aenor,” and hence her new name was born.
14. Aurélie. This is the French female version of the Roman cognomen (family name) Aurelius. It means “golden” or “gilded,” which was a fitting name for Roman emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius. Aurélie is a fitting name for your golden child, too. Another spelling option you might consider is Aurélia.
15. Benoîte. You would recognize this French girl’s name as the male name Benedict, which means “blessed” in Latin. Your daughter is most definitely a blessing!
16. Capucine. This name simply means nasturtium in French. The beautiful flower and its leaves are very popular for culinary and herbal uses. It’s a great option if you’re into floral baby girl names.
17. Désirée. This is the French version of the Roman name Desiderata, which means “desired” in Latin. You’re probably already familiar with this name without the accents.
18. Félicité. As the French version of the Roman name Felicitas, which means “fortune” in Latin, the name may bring your baby girl good luck.
19. Gaëlle. This is the French female version of the male name Gaël. Both names refer to those who speak Gaelic. The names are common in Brittany, a region of France that was inhabited by Celtic peoples (some of whom would have spoken Gaelic) who migrated from the British Isles between the third and ninth centuries.
20. Haydée. The French version of Haidee, which likely means “modest” or “reverent” in Greek, this name was popularized by Lord Byron in his poem Don Juan. It’s a great choice for poetry and literature lovers.
21. Inès. This is the French version of the girl’s name Agnes but spelled in an unusual way. Other variants include Ines and Inèz.
22. Joëlle. This is the French female form of the male name Joel, a Hebrew name that means “Yahweh is God.” Joel was a minor prophet in the Bible. If you’re thinking of a biblical name for your daughter, this one might be a unique option.
23. Léontine. The female form of the Greek male name Leontios, which means “lion,” is the perfect choice for your little lioness. It’s a fierce French girl’s name that’s unique.
24. Maëlle. The French version of the male name Maël, a Celtic word that means “prince” or “chieftain.” The name has ties to Brittany, as does Gaëlle on this list. Paired together, the names could work well for twin girls.
25. Océane. In French this girl’s name simply means “ocean.” It could be the perfect name for your baby girl if you’re a lover of the ocean and ocean life. And its pronunciation (AW-SHE-AN) is pretty and unique.
26. Olympe. This is the French form of the Ancient Greek female name Olympias, which was also the name of the mother of Alexander the Great. The name comes from the highest mountain in Greece that was thought to be the home of the gods.
27. Reine. In French this girl’s name simply means “queen,” which is the ideal name for your little royal.
28. Solène. This is a variant of the French girl’s name Solange. Both names derive from the Latin word sollemnis, which means “solemn” or “religious.” But you don’t have to be solemn or religious to choose this unique and elegant name.
29. Chloé. This French girl’s name of Greek origin means “green shoot” and refers to the plants, flowers, and trees budding in spring. The Greek goddess of agriculture Demeter was also referred to as Chloe, which is the English spelling without the accent.
30. Colette. This is a variant of the name Nicolette, which is a diminutive of Nicole. Colette was also the name of a saint who gave all her money to help the poor. Choose this cute name if you’d like to instill altruism in your daughter.
31. Coralie. In Latin and Greek this name means “coral.” If you love the colors of ocean coral, choose this cute name.
32. Cosette. This cute French girl’s name comes from a word that means “little thing,” an adorable meaning. Theater fans and literature lovers will recognize the name from Les Misérables.
33. Daphné. Derived from a Greek word that means “laurel,” the name also has roots in mythology. Daphne was a nymph who was transformed into a laurel tree. The name can be written without the accent or with two Es like Daphnée.
34. Élise. This name is the shortened version of Elisabeth, which comes from the Hebrew girl’s name that means “my God is an oath.” Variant names include Lili and Lise.
35. Léna. This girl’s name has both French and Hungarian roots. It’s also commonly used as a short form for names like Helena, Magdalene, or Yelena.
36. Lucie. This is the French form of the name Lucia, which derives from the male Latin name Lucius. The girl’s name and its variant spellings became popular in Christian Europe after Saint Lucia.
37. Manon. This French name is a diminutive of Marie, which was a very popular girl’s name in France. Manon, however, has a cuter ring to it. And, if you’re a fan of opera you’ll recognize this name from either the Puccini or Massenet opera.
38. Noèle. This is the French girl’s version of the boy’s name Noël, which means “Christmas” in French. Traditionally, either name was given to a child born on the holiday. What an adorable idea!
39. Sabine. This is the French spelling of the name Sabina, which has Roman roots and refers to the Sabines, who were a group of ancient Italians.
40. Théa. This is French short version of girls’ names like Dorothea, Theodora, and Theresa. The Greek root word theos means “God.”
41. Virginie. This French form of the name Virginia comes from Latin and means “maid” or “virgin.” A cute French diminutive for the name is Gigi. In France, the name peaked in popularity in 1975, which means it’s time to bring it back!
42. Zoé. With the accent, this is the French and Hungarian spelling of the name Zoe, which means “life” in Greek. It’s also considered a Jewish version of the name Eve. The name really came into popularity in the nineteenth century before peaking in the United States in 2012.
43. Alizée. This name stems from a French word that means “trade wind.” You may like this beautiful girl’s name if you’re looking for a name inspired by nature.
44. Amélie. This is the French version of the name Amelia or Amalia. In German the root word amal means “work.” Although it’s not the most enticing meaning, in French it’s a very beautiful girl’s name. You may also recognize the name from the quirky French film from 2001.
45. Angélique. This French girl’s name was derived from the Latin word angelicus, meaning “angelic.” What a beautiful and fitting name for your baby girl!
46. Béatrice. This is the French version of the name Beatrix, which means “voyager” in Latin. The more common spelling is Beatrice. Spelled either way, this is a beautiful name with a unique meaning, perhaps one you'll choose if you love to travel and plan on showing your daughter the world! Cute nicknames include Bea or Trixie.
47. Bérénice. This name has Greek roots and means “bringing victory.” The name even appears in the Bible. In English, you’d likely recognize this name as Veronica.
48. Camélia. This name is based on the prized flowering shrub that is often grown in ornamental gardens. The tea plant is also included in this genus of flowering plant. If you’re a lover of gardens, nature, or tea, you’ll especially like this beautiful French girl’s name.
49. Geneviève. The origin of this name is uncertain, but it started out as a medieval name that could have come from German words that meant “kin” and “wife.” Fun fact: The French saint with this name is the patron saint of Paris. Although the name used to be more popular in France, it’s growing in popularity in the United States.
50. Régine. You’re likely to recognize this French girl’s name as Regina, which means “queen” in Latin. It’s a beautiful name and meaning for your daughter.
Still Exploring? Discover More Baby Names, Themes, and Inspiration
Still searching for the one? Dive into even more baby name ideas by theme, meaning, origin, style, popularity, and beyond. This is where you’ll discover fresh inspiration from every corner of our baby name lists.
FAQs AT A GLANCE
Common French girl names include favorites like Anna, Louise, Charlotte, Julia, and Éléanor. These names are popular for their elegant sound, familiar style, and timeless appeal.
The Bottom Line
With any luck, you've selected the best French girl’s name on this list for your daughter. If you're still hunting for inspiration, check out our list of international baby names and our top 1,000 baby girl names.
Still looking? Our Baby Name Generator is another way to find the perfect name for your daughter. This handy tool lets you search thousands of names using filters like first letter and theme to narrow down names more easily.
Read more about Pregnancy
Join a World of Support
through Pregnancy and Parenthood.
TRACK WITH TOOLS
LEARN WITH EXPERTS
GET REWARDED
Where You Already Belong