French Names for Boys: 160+ Popular & Unique Options

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Plus, discover the meanings and origins of each name
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There’s no denying that French names are beautiful—they have a certain je ne sais quoi that’s impossible not to love! If you’re looking for the perfect French boy’s name, whether you have French roots yourself or just admire how lovely and lyrical these names sound on the tongue, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ve included a wide variety of French names for boys, from the most popular names in France today to some of the rarest and most unique. As the French say, commençons (let’s begin)!

What are some cool French boy names?

  • Alain
  • Alexandre
  • Antoine
  • Célestin
  • Félix
  • Gabriel
  • Henri
Section 1 of 9:

The Most Popular French Names for Boys

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  1. First, let’s take a look at some of today’s most popular names in France! You’ll probably notice that quite a few French names have roots in other languages, particularly Latin. That’s because French is a romance language—it evolved directly from Vulgar Latin. France is also neighbors with Germany, Spain, Italy, and England, so you’ll notice some crossover with names from those countries, too! [1]
    • Alexandre - French name derived from the Greek Alexandros , meaning “defender of men.”
    • André - French name derived from the Greek Andreas , and a variant of the anglicized Andrew; it means “manly” or “warrior.”
    • Arthur - Latin and Celtic name popularized in France meaning “bear” or “strong man.”
    • Émile - French and German name meaning “rival” or “industrious.”
    • Etienne - French name meaning “crown” or “garland.”
    • Félix - French name with Latin origins meaning “happy” or “fortunate.”
    • Gabriel - Hebrew name popular in France meaning “man of God.”
    • Gaspard - French name with Persian roots meaning “bringer of treasure.”
    • Jules - French name with Latin and Greek roots meaning “youthful.”
    • Léo - French name with Latin roots meaning “lion.”
    • Lucas - Latin name popular in France meaning “bringer of light.”
    • Maël - French and Welsh name meaning “chief,” “prince,” or “hero.”
    • Mathéo - French form of the Hebrew Matthew , meaning “gift of God.”
    • Matis - French variant of Mathias , meaning “gift of God.”
    • Noé - French form of the Hebrew Noe , meaning “rest” or “peaceful.”
    • Olivier - French form of Oliver , which derives from the Latin olivarius , meaning “olive tree planter.”
    • Raphaël - French form of the Hebrew name Raphael , meaning “God has healed.”
    • Samuel - Hebrew name popular in France meaning “God has heard.”
    • Théo - French form of the Greek Theo , meaning “brave people” or “God’s gift.”
    • Timéo - French name with Latin and Italian roots meaning “honor.”
    • Timothée - French variant of the Greek name Timotheos , meaning “one who honors God.”
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Section 2 of 9:

Rare French Names for Boys

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  1. These French names are uncommon—perfect if you’re looking for a name that stands out, rather than one that’s uber-popular. Once again, many come from Latin and Greek roots (typical since France is a romance language) and cover a wide range of themes, from places in the world to nature!
    • Amaury - French name with Latin roots meaning “brave” or “power, ruler.”
    • Carvel - Old French name meaning “swampy dwelling.”
    • Célestin - French name with Latin roots meaning “heavenly” or “coming from the sky.”
    • Clovis - French and German name meaning “famous in battle.”
    • Cyprien - Spanish and French name meaning “from Cyprus.”
    • Évariste - French name derived from the Greek Evaristos , meaning “very pleasant.”
    • Firmin - French name with Latin roots meaning “firm, steadfast” or “strong.”
    • Florent - French name meaning “blooming” or “flourishing.”
    • Frayn - English name derived from Old French, meaning “foreign.”
    • Faustin - French name derived from the Roman Faustus , meaning “fortunate” or “lucky.”
    • Lazare - French form of the Greek Lazarus , meaning “God is my helper.”
    • Maxence - Latin and French name meaning “greatest” or “glorious.”
    • Théophile - French and Greek name meaning “God’s friend.”
    • Venance - French form of the Latin Venantius , meaning “hunting.”
    • Zéphirin - French form of the Greek Zephyrus , meaning “west wind.” Zephyrus was also the Greek god of the west wind.
Section 3 of 9:

Unique French Names for Boys

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  1. In this list, we’ll cover French names that have distinctly unique sounds. Some might be more common than others, but all of them feel super original and remarkable! If that’s what you’re looking for, check out the following French names for boys:
    • Aldéric - French and Germanic name meaning “noble ruler.”
    • Aloïs - French and German variant of Aloysius , a Latinized form of Louis . It means “famous warrior.”
    • Amédée - French variant of Amadeus meaning “to love God.”
    • Anthelme - French name derived from the German Anthelm , meaning “zeal” or “protection.”
    • Aristide - French form of the Greek Aristides , meaning “the best.”
    • Bérenger - French name derived from Old German meaning “bear” or “spear.”
    • Côme - French name derived from the Latin Cosmas or Kosmas , meaning “order” or “decency.”
    • Devereaux - French name meaning “from Évreux,” referring to a town in France called Eure.
    • Dieudonné - French name derived from the Roman Deusdedit , meaning “given by God.”
    • Edmé - French name meaning “wealthy protector.”
    • Émeric - French name based on the German Emmerich , meaning “whole ruler.”
    • Gaël - Breton name and possible variant of Gwenhael , a Breton saint from the 6th century; it also means “Gaelic.”
    • Gaultier - French form of the name Walter with German origins, meaning “ruler of the army.”
    • Honoré - French name derived from the Latin Honorius or Honoratus , meaning “honored one” or “esteemed.”
    • Sévère - French form of the Latin Severus , meaning “stern.”
    • Sylvain - French name of Latin origins meaning “woodland” or “of the forest.”
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Section 4 of 9:

Modern French Names for Boys

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  1. By now, you’ve probably also noticed that a significant portion of French names have religious (mainly Christian) undertones; that’s because in 1803, a law was passed requiring parents to give their children names considered “acceptable,” based on the Roman Catholic calendar and “persons known from ancient history.” Now that parents have more freedom, they can choose different, more modern names for their kids—like any of these: [2]
    • Axel - German, Dutch, and Icelandic name popular in France meaning “father of peace.”
    • Bastien - French shortened form of Sébastien, meaning “revered.”
    • Blaise - French name meaning “to lisp” or “stammer.”
    • Bruno - Old German name popular in France meaning “dark,” “dusky,” or “protection.”
    • Chandler - French name stemming from the word chandelier , meaning “candle maker.”
    • Chevy - French diminutive of chevalier , meaning “horseman” or “knight.”
    • Clark - English name common in France meaning “scribe” or “clerk.”
    • Damien - French name with Greek roots meaning “subdue” or “to tame.”
    • Darrel - French and English name that may come from the word airelle , meaning “huckleberry.” It can also mean “open,” or, from its English roots, “beloved.”
    • Dion - French name with Greek roots meaning “follower of Dionysus,” the Greek god of wine and merriment.
    • Fabien - French name with Latin roots meaning “bean grower.”
    • Gérard - French and German name meaning “spear ruler” or “strong with spear.”
    • Ilan - Hebrew and Arabic name popular in France meaning “tree” or “to announce.”
    • Julien - French name with Latin roots meaning “youthful” or “sacred to Jupiter.”
    • Marshall - French name originating as a Norman title, meaning “caretaker of the horses.”
    • Rémi (Rémy) - French, derived from the Latin name Remigius , meaning “oarsmen” or “rower.”
    • Thierry - French name derived from the Gothic Theodoric , meaning “ruler of the people.”
    • Zacharie - French form of the Hebrew Zachariah , meaning “God remembers.”
Section 5 of 9:

Old-Fashioned French Names for Boys

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  1. If you’re moving away from modern and prefer names with a little more history to them, these French names might just do the trick. Many have been used over centuries by various French nobles and aristocrats (not to mention aristocracy in neighboring countries, as well). Take a look at these old-fashioned French names for boys:
    • Alphonse - German name meaning “noble” or “ready for battle”; one notable bearer of the name is French novelist Alphonse Daudet.
    • Alain - French variant of the Celtic name Alan , meaning “little rock,” “handsome,” or “deer.”
    • Bernard - German and French name meaning “strong as a bear.”
    • Claude - French name with loots in latin meaning “lame.”
    • Denis - French name with Greek roots meaning “follower of Dionysus.”
    • Didier - French name with Latin roots meaning “of Desiderius,” and associated with the Latin term desiderium , which means “ardent desire.”
    • Édouard - French form of the Old English name Edward , meaning “rich guard.”
    • Gaston - French name meaning “from Gascony,” or, with its Germanic roots, “guest.”
    • Geoffrey - French name derived from the Old German words guda (god) and friþuz (peace); the anglicized version of the name is Jeffrey .
    • Guillaume - French form of the name William , meaning “resolute protector.”
    • Hervé - French name derived from the Old German Hariwig , meaning “battle worthy” or “warrior.”
    • Jacques - French form of the Hebrew Jacob , meaning “supplanter.”
    • Jean - French name meaning “God is gracious.”
    • Jérome - French name with Greek roots meaning “sacred name.”
    • Laurence - French name with Latin origins meaning “from Laurentum” (an ancient Roman city).
    • Maurice - French name with Latin roots meaning “dark-skinned.”
    • Montague - French name meaning “pointed hill.”
    • Pascal - French name meaning “Easter” or “Passover,” derived from the Latin Paschalis (the Hebrew term for Passover).
    • Raoul - French name derived from the Old English Rædwulf , meaning “wise wolf” or “red wolf.”
    • Régis - French name with Latin roots meaning “kingly.”
    • Thibault - French and Germanic name meaning “brave people” or bold people.”
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Section 6 of 9:

Cute French Names for Boys

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  1. These names don’t fit within a particular time period or rarity; rather, they just sound really adorable! If you want to give your baby a cute moniker to match their perfect little face, consider any of the following sweet-sounding French names:
    • Aimé - French name with Latin roots meaning “love,” “affection,” or “beloved.”
    • Alban - French name with Latin roots meaning “from Alba” or “white.”
    • Aubert - French name with German roots meaning “noble bright.”
    • Aubin - French variant of Albin , derived from the Latin albus , which means “white” or “bright.”
    • Barnabé - French name with Greek origins meaning “son of consolation,” derived from the name Barnabas .
    • Cédric - French version of the British and Welsh name meaning “kind” or “beloved.”
    • Clement - French name derived from the Latin Clemens , meaning “merciful” or “gentle.”
    • Éloi - French name with Latin roots meaning “chosen,” derived from the name Eligius (which was the name of a French saint known for his generosity).
    • Ghislain - French name derived from the Old German title Gislin ; it means “hostage” or “pledge.”
    • Gilles - French and Dutch name meaning “kid,” “small goat,” or “protection”; also a variant of the British Giles .
    • Noël - French name meaning “Christmas.”
    • Pierre - French form of the name Peter , meaning “rock” or “stone”; it’s derived from the Latin word petrus .
    • Quentin - Latin name meaning “fifth.”
    • Roland - French name with Old German origins meaning “famous land.”
    • Sorrel - French name with Old German origins meaning “reddish brown.”
    • Sébastien - French name derived from the Greek word sebastos , which means “venerable” or “revered.”
    • Sylvestre - French name derived from the Latin word silva , meaning “forest,” “wild,” “wooded,” or “rustic.”
    • Théodore - French name with Greek origins meaning “God’s gift.”
    • Valentin - French name derived from the Latin Valentinus (in turn derived from the word valens ), meaning “strong” or “powerful.”
Section 7 of 9:

Cool French Names for Boys

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  1. On the other hand, if “cute” isn’t your jam, maybe cool names will appeal instead! These names just stand apart from the rest because they have a totally chic and sophisticated feel—plus, a lot of them have cool meanings to match!
    • Adrien - French name with Greek and Latin roots meaning “from Hadria,” which refers to Adria (an aria of northern Italy associated with the Adriatic Sea).
    • André - French and Portuguese name derived from the Greek Andreas , meaning “manly” or “warrior.”
    • Armand - French form of the Germanic name Herman , meaning “army man.”
    • Beau - French name meaning “beautiful” or “handsome.”
    • Benoît - French name meaning “blessed,” derived from the Latin word benedictus .
    • Christophe - French name with Greek roots and a variant of Christopher meaning “bearing Christ.”
    • Corentin - French name meaning “friend” or “tempest”; it’s rooted in the words kar (friend) and coruentenn (hurricane or tempest).
    • Dorian - Greek name meaning “descendant of Dorus” or “from the sea.”
    • Frédéric - French form of the German name Friedrich , meaning “peaceful ruler” or “powerful peacemaker.”
    • Grégoire - French form of Gregory ; it has Latin origins, derived from the name Gregorius , meaning “watchful” or “vigilant.”
    • Guy - French name with German roots meaning “wood.”
    • Joël - French name with Hebrew origins meaning “Jehovah is the Lord.”
    • Léon - French name with Greek and Latin origins meaning “lion.”
    • Marcel - French name with Latin and Roman roots, meaning “from the God Mars.”
    • Nicolas - French variant of the Greek name Nikolaos , meaning “victory of the people.”
    • Rainier - French and German name and variant of the Anglo-Saxon Rainer , meaning “advice warrior.”
    • Yannick - French (Breton) name derived from Yann , which is another form of John . It’s rooted in the Hebrew language and means “God is gracious.”
    • Yves - French name meaning “yew” (a type of evergreen tree).
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Section 8 of 9:

Royal French Names for Boys

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  1. All of these majestic French names either once belonged to a historic ruler, or evoke the idea of royalty through their meaning. If you want a name recognizing your little boy as the prince he is, consider one of the following royal names: [3]
    • Adélard - Old German and French name meaning “noble strength.”
    • Antoine - French form of the Latin Antonius , meaning “priceless” or “highly praiseworthy.”
    • Auguste - French form of the Latin Augustus and the word Augere , meaning “great,” “venerable,” or “majestic.”
    • Augustin - French name with Latin origins; another variant of Augustus meaning “venerable” or “majestic.”
    • Aurélien - French name with Latin origins derived from the name Aurelius (the name of a 3rd-century Roman emperor) meaning “golden” or “gilded.”
    • Basile - French name derived form the Greek Basileios , meaning “royal” or “kingly.”
    • Charles - German name meaning “free man.” Many rulers of France, England, Spain, Hungary, and Portugal have been named “Charles,” going all the way back to Charlemagne (ruler of the Carolingian Empire).
    • Cyrille - French and Greek name meaning “master” or “lord.”
    • François - French name meaning “free man” as well as “Frenchman.”
    • Henri - French variant of the Germanic Heimerich and the English Henry , meaning “home ruler.”
    • Leroy - French name meaning “the king.”
    • Louis - French name derived from the Old German Ludwig , meaning “famous warrior.” Nineteen kings of France have borne the name “Louis” over the centuries!
    • Philippe - French name derived from the Greek Philippos , meaning “lover of horses.” It was commonly given to nobles (who could afford horses), including several kings of France.
    • Victor - Latin name meaning “conqueror.”
Section 9 of 9:

Gender-Neutral French Names

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  1. Even if you’re looking for boys’ names, it doesn't mean you have to pick a name exclusively for boys. Gender-neutral names are becoming more and more popular nowadays, and there are lots of gorgeous options to choose from—so, as the saying goes, don’t knock ’em until you try them! Here are some popular and unique French gender-neutral names:
    • Alix - French and German name meaning “noble.”
    • Ariel - Hebrew name popular in France meaning “lion of God.”
    • Aubrey - French and German name derived from the Old German title Alberich , meaning “elf ruler.”
    • Béné - French name with Latin roote, meaning “good.”
    • Bellamy - French and Norman name meaning “handsome friend” or “fine friend.”
    • Blair - Gaelic name popular in France meaning “field” or “battlefield.”
    • Camille - French name with Roman roots meaning “helper to the priest.”
    • Ciel - French name that comes from the word for “sky” or “heaven,” derived from the Latin caelum.
    • Dominique - French name with Latin origins meaning “of the Lord.”
    • Demy - French name meaning “half”; also means “Earth mother” in Greek.
    • Elie - French name with Hebrew origins meaning “Lord is my God” or “my God helps.”
    • Étoile - French name meaning “star.”
    • Fabrice - French and Latin name meaning “works with the hands” or “skilled craftsman.”
    • Lior - French name with Hebrew origins meaning “my light.”
    • Lou - French and Old German name meaning “famous warrior.”
    • Mahé - French shortened form of the name Matthew , meaning “gift of God” or “mighty.”
    • Nazaire - French form of the Hebrew Nazareth .
    • Noir - French name that directly translates to “black.”
    • Patrice - French name with Latin origins meaning “noble person.”
    • René(e) - French name derived from the Latin Renatus , meaning “rebirth” or “born again.”
    • Valéry - French name with Latin roots meaning “brave,” “healthy,” or “to be strong.”
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.rom.uga.edu/what-are-romance-languages
      2. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/name/Historical-and-cross-cultural-development-of-names
      3. ↑ https://historycooperative.org/french-royal-family-tree/

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