Top French Names for Baby Girls and Their Meanings

On the hunt for a gorgeous French name for your baby girl? Whether you’ve got French roots yourself, or you just love a name with a bit of that effortless je ne sais quoi, you’re in the right spot. We’ve lined up 50 lovely French names for girls – plenty that’ll work as a first or middle name. Our list takes in modern favourites, one-of-a-kinds, sweet, pretty, classic and even some charming vintage options.

Explore our Baby Name Generator to find the perfect name and discover what makes every one unique—filter by gender, theme, origin, or first letter and enjoy the journey!

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Most Popular French Girl Names

We know the search can get overwhelming! Here are 50 beautiful French girl names all in one place, so you can easily check out a variety of meanings, sounds and vibes without getting lost.

1. Eléa. A newer, snappier twist on the ever-graceful Eleanor. Try spelling it Elea, Eleah, Elléa, Elëa, Élea or Éléa.

2. Lya. Spelling tweak on names like Leas and Leah, with cheerful shortness and a pretty ring. Lya comes from a Hebrew word meaning "weary," but it’s more about the sound than the meaning! Try Lia, Liah, Lyah, Lïa or Liia too.

3. Elyna. Another take on Elena. This one’s got ancient Greek roots—Helen means "torch", and in myths her story kicked off the Trojan War. But it's mostly picked today for its links to early saints. Other spellings: Elina, Ellina, Élina, or Élyna.

4. Anna. Recognised across the world, Anna actually started as Hannah in the Bible. It morphed to Anna in the Middle Ages after the saint.

5. Lili. Sweet and simple! Lili is a nickname for Elisabeth or just a nod to the lily flower. Also goes as Lilli, Lillie, Lilly, Lily and Lyli.

6. Noémie. The French take on Naomi, meaning "pleasantness" in Hebrew. Cute alternative spelling: Noemi.

7. Sophia. From Greek, Sophia means "wisdom"—fitting for a future queen! Sophie and Sofia are both great options too.

8. Julia. Feminine form of Julius, a name that’s stuck around since the 1700s. In France, Julie was the big hit for years, but Julia is topping charts now. Juliette is a dinky nickname for those into something extra cute.

9. Louise. French feminine version of Louis—yep, 18 French kings carried that name. Louise had her heyday in America a century ago, but maybe it’s time to bring her back?

10. Ella. Like Eléa, Ella’s a spin-off of Eleanor, maybe also related to Aliya. Loads of class, short and sweet.

11. Éléanor. Spell it this French way for even more medieval cred—Eleanor of Aquitaine wore the crown of both France and England. Been in style since the Middle Ages, honestly!

12. Charlotte. The girl version of Charles, coming from the German "Karl" ("man"). Charlotte had a long run in the UK and France, and is now catching on in the US too.

13. Aliénor. Hard to get more French than this! It’s a twist on Eleanor, linked to Aenor and, through family ties, "the other Aenor"—hence Aliénor was born.

14. Aurélie. Derived from a Roman family name, it means “golden”. All the more perfect for your little ray of light. You can also try Aurélia.

15. Benoîte. Like the boys’ name Benedict, which means “blessed” in Latin! A gentle name for your lucky girl.

16. Capucine. The French name for the nasturtium flower. Capucine is not just unique, it’s earthy and cool! If you love floral baby girl names, this could be perfect.

17. Désirée. The French version of Desiderata, literally meaning “desired.” Most likely you’ve seen it already—accent or not.

18. Félicité. Based on the Roman name Felicitas, it stands for “fortune”. Maybe it’ll bring your baby a bit of extra luck!

19. Gaëlle. Female version of Gaël, referring to people speaking Gaelic. Loads of Breton (north-west France) connections too—great if you want something with Celtic links! Pair it with Maëlle for twins.

20. Haydée. Probably means "modest" or "reverent" in Greek—Lord Byron made Haydée famous in his poem Don Juan.

21. Inès. Twist on Agnes, with other spellings like Ines and Inèz. The French style feels a little more chic.

22. Joëlle. Feminine form of Joel, a Hebrew name meaning “Yahweh is God”. A nice, less common idea if you’re drawn to biblical names but want something with a twist.

23. Léontine. From the Greek "Leontios" (meaning "lion"). An awesome choice for your little lion cub!

24. Maëlle. Girl version of Maël (from Celtic meaning “prince” or “chieftain"). Has Breton links too, just like Gaëlle.

25. Océane. Means, quite simply, "ocean". Gorgeous for anyone who’s obsessed with the sea. (Say it as "AW-SHE-AN").

26. Olympe. French from ancient Greek, via Olympias—the mum of Alexander the Great and named after Mount Olympus, home to the gods.

27. Reine. Literally "queen" in French! Because she’ll always rule your heart.

28. Solène. Linked to Solange from the Latin “solemnis”, meaning "solemn" or "religious", but you don’t have to be either to love how graceful it sounds.

29. Chloé. Means "green shoot" and is all about new beginnings. Linked to Demeter, goddess of the harvest.

30. Colette. A mini form of Nicolette (from Nicole). This one’s gentle and storied—Colette was also a saint who gave everything she had to those in need.

31. Coralie. Means "coral" (the colour or the reef) in both Latin and Greek. Ideal for fans of life under the sea or vibrant colours.

32. Cosette. Adorably—it means "little thing"! If you’re a fan of musicals or classic novels, you’ll spot Cosette in Les Misérables.

33. Daphné. Greek for "laurel", with roots in myth (Daphne the nymph transformed into a laurel tree). Spell it Daphnée for a fun twist.

34. Élise. Short for Elisabeth, from the Hebrew for "my God is an oath”. Lili and Lise are other sweet forms.

35. Léna. French and Hungarian in origin—often used as a cute short form for Helena, Magdalene or Yelena.

36. Lucie. The French version of Lucia, popular in Christian Europe since Saint Lucia made her mark.

37. Manon. Super sweet nickname for Marie and big in French opera (Puccini or Massenet fans will know this one!).

38. Noèle. Feminine twist on Noël (“Christmas”). So adorable—especially for a baby born around that time.

39. Sabine. The French of Sabina; its roots are Roman, referring to an ancient Italian people—the Sabines.

40. Théa. Short for Dorothea, Theodora, or Theresa. From Greek “theos” (“God”).

41. Virginie. French take on Virginia, from Latin for "maid" or "virgin.” Gigi makes a fun nickname. Was massive in France in the 70s—maybe time to revive?

42. Zoé. French and Hungarian spelling of Zoe, meaning “life” in Greek (and seen as the Jewish take on Eve). Massively popular in the UK today.

43. Alizée. Means “trade wind” in French—a soft, breezy, nature-inspired option.

44. Amélie. The French for Amelia/Amalia. In German it means “work”, which isn’t the flashiest meaning, but it’s stylish and cute—plus film fans will know it from "Amélie".

45. Angélique. French from the Latin “angelicus," or "angelic.” Couldn’t be a lovelier meaning for your new arrival.

46. Béatrice. French version of Beatrix (“voyager”). A name for explorers, dreamers and future world-travellers. Nicknames: Bea or Trixie.

47. Bérénice. Greek again (“bringing victory”), and she even appears in the Bible. In English: Veronica.

48. Camélia. Named after the camellia plant—lush flowers and the tea shrub itself. Lovely for anyone who loves gardening or nature!

49. Geneviève. This one’s got a mysterious origin but probably means “kin” and “wife” from old German. The Saint Geneviève is the patron saint of Paris—how chic is that?

50. Régine. French version of Regina, "queen" in Latin. Classic and elegant, a name brimming with confidence.

Still Exploring? Discover More Baby Names, Themes, and Inspiration

Still not feeling "the one"? There’s a whole world of baby name inspiration out there. Browse lists by theme, meaning, style, origin—or anything else you fancy! There's always something new to spark your imagination.

1. Dakota. From the Dakota people—this name means "friends" or "allies" in their language. It’s got a lovely message of togetherness.

2. Raphaela. Another angel-inspired choice, Raphaela is the feminine form of Raphael. Meaning "God heals" in Hebrew, it’s strong and serene all at once.

3. Meri. With its playful sound and "sea" meaning, it’s a Finnish gem for water-loving families.

4. Ruth. The loyal friend from the Old Testament—Ruth means "compassionate friend". Well-known all over Europe, with the bonus of the sweet nickname Ruthie.

5. Vaihere. A beautiful Tahitian name meaning "water" and "loved"—perfect for your little water sign or ocean baby.

The Bottom Line

Hopefully you’ve found that perfect French name for your little girl. Still not quite there? Check out our lists of international baby names and the top baby girl names.

If you’re still searching, why not give our Baby Name Generator a whirl? It’s an easy way to scroll through thousands of names—you can filter by first letter, theme and more until you find the name that just feels right for your little one.

Choosing your baby’s name is just the beginning of your journey together. And for all the moments that follow, the Pampers Club app helps you earn rewards every time you buy nappies.