There are so many adorable French girl names to choose from, so it's no surprise if you have some on your baby name list. France is a country that conjures up images of rolling hills and beautiful scenery, divine cuisine like crusty baguettes and sweet cakes. And don't forget the gorgeous language that we'd all love to be able to speak.
Whether you’re embracing your heritage, or just looking for something a little unusual for your upcoming arrival, the French have some of the most beautiful names around for your baby girl.
Your little girl might be the only Amelie in the playground, but we’re sure you’ll love her romantic sounding, chic name forever. One French celebrity moniker is actress Margot Robbie, whose first name which has grown in popularity in recent years, originated in France. If you're after some classic and popular french baby girl names, we've rounded up some of our favourites to add to your list.
Popular French girl names
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Amelie - A traditional French name meaning ‘hard-working’, Amelie has been put back on the popular list thanks to the 2001 film.
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Clemence - Calm and composed, with an utterly French pronunciation (‘clay-mahnz’), this adorable name means ‘mild and merciful’.
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Brigitte - For a long time, this name has been associated with the famous Brigitte Bardot, yet this beautiful girls name means ‘strength’ or ‘exalted one’.
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Chloé - Similar to the English version in spelling, but different in pronunciation (‘kloh-ay’), this beautiful name means ‘blooming’ and is historically linked to the Greek goddess of agriculture.
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Clara - Meaning ‘bright’ and ‘clear’ this French name is growing in popularity.
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Elodie - Meaning ‘foreign riches’, Elodie is a major character in Emile Zola’s novel The Earth.
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Ines - Meaning ‘pure’, this will appeal to those seeking an unusual, yet classic name for their new baby girl.
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Juliette - Meaning ‘youthful’, this name is slowly but surely becoming more popular than its English counterpart.
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Madeleine - Despite its slightly forgettable meaning, ‘woman from Magdala or high tower’, this popular name has a beautiful ring to it.
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Emmeline - Forget that it means ‘work’, this archaic, exotic French name will definitely stand out on the class register.
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Gabrielle - Meaning ‘God is my strength’, this is actually designer Coco Chanel’s real name.
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Isabelle - Meaning ‘pledged to God’, Isabelle is another more common French name.
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Adeline - The French diminutive of the name Adele, this old fashioned name, meaning ‘nobility’, has a particular charm.
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Esme - Meaning ‘esteemed and beloved’, Esme is also popular thanks to the character Esme Cullen in the blockbuster Twilight trilogy.
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Eloise - Meaning ‘healthy’, this cute French name is probably one of the most popular on the list, thanks to its appearance in the TV show Lost.
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Coco - The nickname of the legendary French designer Coco Chanel, Coco has since become a cute name in its own right.
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Lucienne - Possibly one of the most French sounding names on this list, pronounced ‘loo-SYEN’, this lovely name means ‘light’.
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Lilou - Meaning ‘lily’ and pronounced ‘lee-loo’, we’re sure you’ll agree it has a fresh, modern feel to it.
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Fleur – Meaning flower, suggests delicacy, and is associated with strength and resilience.
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Leonie – Leonie or Léonie is a Latin-origin feminine given name meaning "lioness", from the masculine personal name Leon (meaning "lion").
Unusual French girl names
If you're looking for a more unusual girl name, then these French options might be just what you're looking for.
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Joëlle
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Coralie
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Sabine
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Manon
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Théa
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Angélique
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Françoise
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Gisèle
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Martine
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Jolie
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Violette
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Camille
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Henriette
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Jacqueline
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Madeleine
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Mireille
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Anais
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Remi
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Nicolette
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Eleanore
Old fashioned French girl names
Old fashioned girl names are making a real resurgence the past few years, but if you're looking for something a little different, you may find it in these old fashioned French names.
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Colette
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Sylvie
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Marguerite
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Agathe
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Béatrice
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Geneviève
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Céline
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Christiane
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Cosette
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Daphné
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Antoinette
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Renée
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Élise
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Yvonne
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Lorraine
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Margaux
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Francine
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Annette
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Mallory
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Marianne
Cute French girl names
We love a cute sounding baby girl name, and there are some very sweet French options that could even make cute nicknames for your girl.
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Lili
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Belle
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Ottilie
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Estelle
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Noèle
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Ciel
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Remy
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Eléa
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Aurélie
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Lucie
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Mathilde
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Fifi
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Ila
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Bibi
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Raine
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Paris
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Avril
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Rochelle
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Allura
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Georgette
Don’t worry if your due date is fast approaching and you still haven’t found a name that feels like the one. Head to our baby name generator where you’ll find thousands of names to fall in love with, from more traditional sounding names, to unique baby names from all around the world.
Lorna White is the Senior Digital Writer for Mother&Baby. After running the Yours magazine website, specialising in content about caring for kids and grandchildren, Lorna brought her expertise to Mother&Baby in 2020. She has a keen interest in a range of topics from potty training and nutrition to baby names and early development and has a wide range of experienced medical experts and professionals at her fingertips. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her two young sisters, dog walking and enjoying the outdoors with her family.