Classy French Girl Names

French girl names are a great choice whether you need a name for your baby girl or searching for names for your latest novel. French girl names have a beautiful sound and elegance to them.

Here is a list of some my favorite French female names. Some names like Armelle and Gwenola are Celtic from Brittany France.

Next to the name in parenthesis is the English translation equivalent.

A
Amélie (Amelia)
Annette (little Anne)
Antoinette (little Antony)
Armelle
Audrey

B
Blandine (derived from the Roman name Blandina)
Brigitte (Bridget)

C
Claire (Clara)
Clémence (feminine form of Clement)
Colette (short form of Nicolette)

D
Danielle
Delphine (from the Latin meaning woman from Delphi)
Dominique

E
Élise (Elizabeth)
Élodie
Estelle
Eugénie (feminine form of Eugene)

G
Gabrielle (feminine form of Gabriel)
Giselle
Gwenola

On some French calendars each day lists the Roman Catholic saint who's anniversary is commemorated. It has been the custom of French culture to name your child after a saint.

H
Hélène (Helen)
Héloïse (Eloise)
Hortense (from the Latin Hortensa)

I
Irène (Irene)
Isabelle (Isabel)

J
Jacqueline (feminine form of Jacques)
Joselyne
Josette (little Josephine)

L
Lucie (Lucy)

The name Marie is given alone or as a two name first name. In modern French culture this is not so much the custom as it was say 50 years ago.



M
Marie (Mary)
Marie-paule (Mary Paul)
Marie-claire (Mary Claire)
Marie-therese (Mary Theresa)
Mégane (Megan)
Micheline
Monique (Monica)

P
Pascaline (feminine form of Pascal)
Paulette (little Paul)
Pierrette [feminine form of Pierre (Peter)]

S
Sabine
Simone (feminine form of Simon)
Sylvie (Sylvia)

T
Thérèse (Theresa)

V
Valérie (Valerie)
Véronique (Veronica)
Violaine

Y
Yvonne (feminine form of Yves)
Yvette

Z
Zoé

In French social customs you celebrate your name day. The name day is the feast day of the saint you are named after. Your family and friends might give you a card or small gift for your saints day. Of course you celebrate your own birthday on your birthday but your saint’s day is an extra bonus.

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