Are you ready to start considering baby names for your little boy? Picking a name is one of the most exciting milestones for expectant moms and dads, and so many are finding inspiration in French boy names!
French boy names are beautiful, elegant, sophisticated, and yet unique enough to stand out from the crowd.
And who wouldn’t want their baby’s name to be associated with one of the most beautiful countries in the world?
France is not only a country with a rich history that spans hundreds of years but is also known the world over for its mesmerizing capital, Paris, and its fashion, culture, and cuisine.
Not to mention that French is one of the most romantic languages in the world, so there’s absolutely no reason not to consider a few French names for your little one!
1. Jules
Are you a history buff in love with ancient Rome? Then the name Jules will be right up your alley.
This name comes from the Latin word Julius, which means “devoted to Jove”, that’s most commonly associated with the famous Roman general, Julius Caesar. Incidentally, Julius also makes for a wonderful baby name.
If you’re also interested in French baby girl names, you will be happy to know that Jules can also work as a unique 5-letter female name.
While it is true that it’s more popular as a boy’s name, there’s been a rising trend of parents giving traditionally masculine names to their daughters – perhaps you’d like to follow in their footsteps?
2. André
André is one of the most popular French baby boy names but it has different versions in many other countries, too.
In English, for example, this name would be Andrew, and in Russian, it is Andrei.
Originally, it comes from the Greek name Andreas, which means a person who is manly, strong, and a warrior.
3. Antoine
This beautiful French name for a boy is shared by the famous French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, who wrote one of my favorite books, The Little Prince.
The name itself means being highly worthy of praise and has its origins in the Latin name Antonius.
4. Beau
The name Beau is one of the most common French names for boys – and when you hear its meaning, you’ll understand why!
This name comes from the adjective “beau”, meaning handsome and attractive.
Some parents also choose to spell it as Bo and as such, it’s also one of the more popular names for boys in the Scandinavian region.
5. Blaise
Even though the original meaning of this 5-letter name for boys is to stammer or to lisp, it’s a lovely name that simply rolls off the tongue.
One of the most famous people to carry it was Blaise Pascal, a genius mathematician from the 17th century.
Who knows, maybe your little boy will grow up to be a math wiz, too!
6. Pascal
Even though the above-mentioned mathematician had Pascal as his last name, it’s not uncommon to see it being used as a first name, as well.
This is a Latin word with the meaning “being related to Easter”, so it’s a good choice if you are devout and would like your baby to have a more spiritual name.
7. Henri
Henri is the French version of Henry, pronounced like “on-ree”. It means “the one who rules the home”, and has been the name of many kings throughout history, making it a very traditional and sophisticated choice.
Plus, it’s quite a unique name these days, so your boy won’t share his name with many other kids at school.
8. Leo
Short and simple, yet regal and traditional, the name Leo means lion and has its origins in Latin and Greek. This can also be a nickname for your little boy if you decide to name him Leonardo, or Leonard, which has its origins in Old French.
Another beautiful variation of this popular name is Leon for boys and Leona for girls.
9. Luc
Luc, a name often combined with Jean to form Jean-Luc in France, is a variation of the English names Luke or Lucas. It originated from the Latin name Lucianus, which means light.
The longer version of this French name is Lucien, so you might want to consider this as the first name for your baby if Luc sounds too short or too simple.
10. Olivier
If you love the name Oliver but think it’s not original enough, then Olivier could strike the perfect balance between being a unique and traditional baby name.
The name Olivier means “olive tree”, which is associated with friendship and peace. It played an important role in the mythology of ancient Greece, so it’s a name with plenty of history attached!
11. Yves
As far as French boy names go, Yves is definitely one of the more unique ones.
The first person that comes to mind when this name is mentioned is usually the legendary fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent but it’s a name shared by many other painters, designers, and artists.
Yves means yew, which is a type of tree. As it’s quite unusual outside of France, many parents opt to use this as a middle, as opposed to as a first name.
12. Xavier
While the name Xavier is Basque in origin, it’s very popular among the French, who pronounce it as “za-vee-er” (with the emphasis on the first syllable).
It means “castle” and “new house”, and also appears as Javier and Xavi (for short) in Spanish cultures, so it’s a very international name.
13. Alexandre
Alexandre, the French version of the name Alexander, is another classic choice that you simply can’t go wrong with.
Greek in origin, it means someone who protects and defends.
Although the French version has a slightly different pronunciation, you can always go with Alex for short.
Arguably the most famous man to carry this name was Alexander the Great, a king who lived during the times of ancient Greece and was celebrated for his military conquests.
Other prominent men named Alexandre include Alexandre Vauthier, who is a famous French designer specialized in high fashion.
14. Christophe
A French variation of the very traditional name Christopher, the slightly different pronunciation of Christophe will add an interesting twist to your boy’s name.
Besides, you can always use Chris as a nickname.
This name also originates from Greek and consists of two parts which, when joined together, mean “the one who bears Christ”.
While this name was one of the most popular boys’ names in the second half of the 20th century, it has since dropped off the map.
This means it’s a unique choice for your little boy but is also classic enough to fit in anywhere else in the world.
15. Didier
When we talk about French baby names, Didier belongs to a category of names that couldn’t be mistaken for belonging to any other language other than French.
It comes from the Latin Desiderius, which means beloved or desired. Didier is sometimes found as a family name, too.
And if you’re looking for famous men with this name, you will find plenty of soccer players. Who knows, maybe your little Didier will be a soccer superstar, too!
16. Denis
While English speakers usually pronounce this name so that it rhymes with “tennis”, the French Denis sounds like “de-ni”, similarly to Denny.
The name means a devotee or follower of Dionysus, who was a Greek god of wine, theatre, and fertility, among other things.
Famous men with this name include Denis Villeneuve, who is a French Canadian movie director, and French philosopher Denis Diderot.
17. Sébastien
A French version of Sebastian, Sébastien is a name that can have a variety of cool nicknames, such as Seb or Bastian.
The name comes from the Latin Sebastianus, meaning “venerable”, and has its own version in many countries across the world.
You can also find it combined with Jean to make Jean-Sébastien.
18. Gaspard
A name similar to the more popular Jasper, Gaspard means “the one who brings treasure”, which is a wonderful meaning for your baby’s name to have.
Even though this name is very rare in the non-French-speaking world, it’s super common in France and you will find many prominent men with this name.
One of them is Gaspard Ulliel, a famous actor and model.
19. Adrien
While Adrien (also spelled Adrian) is one of the most beautiful French boy names, in my opinion, it might not be everyone’s cup of tea.
The reason lies in its pronunciation, which is quite similar to its female version, Adrianne, and some parents would like a stronger-sounding name for their boy.
The name originally described a person who comes from Adria, a town in the north of Italy.
20. Julien
Also spelled as Julian, Julien is another very popular name for boys in France.
It means youthful or young at heart and has its origins in Julianus, a name that belongs to a period of ancient Rome.
As opposed to French boy names such as Gaspard, Julien is quite common in the US (although spelled with an “a” instead of “e”) and even has a feminine version, Julianne.
21. Gaston
You probably already know of the name Gaston from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, where Gaston is portrayed as a good-looking hunter with a mean streak.
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Appearing both as a first and last name in France, it likely comes from the German word “Gast” which means “guest”.
While Gaston is a very popular name among the French, it’s definitely a unique pick for babies in the English-speaking world!
22. Alain
Do you like the name Alan (or Allen) but find it a little too beige for your tastes?
The French name Alain (pronounced like “al-layn”) comes with a little twist that makes it special enough to stand out from the rest, while still staying in the realm of more traditional names.
It means rock and likely originated in the United Kingdom. Today, though, it’s a boy’s name that’s popular all over the world!
23. Maurice
The name Maurice has a long history! It comes from the Latin word Mauritius, a word used to describe the people from Mauritania (parts of present-day Algeria, Morocco, and Spain).
It also has it’s own version in different languages – in English, it’s Morris, Mauricio in Spanish, and Moritz in German, and appears as a family name, too.
24. Noel
The word Noel means Christmas in French but it’s also a very popular name that is given to both boys and girls, with the feminine form having a slightly different spelling, such as Noelle.
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It used to be given to babies who were born during the Christmas period but this is not as common as it was in the past.
One of the most famous men with this name is the British musician Noel Gallagher, who was part of the band Oasis (90s kids will know what I’m talking about!)
25. Dax
If you ask me, Dax is one of the coolest boy names ever.
It means “water” and is special enough of a name to have your baby boy stand out without being too over the top. Plus, it’s easy to spell, too!
Some parents also go with variations such as Daxton but I personally prefer the three-letter version!
Besides, your little man will share his name with comedian Dax Shepard, which is also neat.
26. René
René carries one of the more beautiful name meanings on this list as it means to be born again, and it traces its origins back to the Latin name Renatus.
Remember that this version, with only one “e”, is considered the masculine name, while Renée is the feminine version of the name given to girls (think Renée Zellweger).
27. Victor
Victor is a traditional name that has been given to boys all over the world for many years now, including France! It means “conqueror” in Latin and there’s no shortage of famous men who carried this name.
One of the most prominent Victors is French writer Victor Hugo, who wrote the novel Les Misérables that was later given several movie adaptations.
28. Jacques
Considered to be the French version of the names Jacob and James, Jacques is a quintessential “nom français”.
It has the meaning of “supplanter” and “one who follows”.
Throughout history, Jacques was the family name of many noble and aristocratic families, which is really cool especially if you’re a history buff!
29. Hugo
The name Hugo also appears as Hugh in English-speaking countries and has several meanings such as “intelligence”, “mind”, and “spirit”.
It appears both as a first and last name, and one of the more famous men with this name is Hugo Weaving – you probably remember him from The Matrix movies where he played Agent Smith.
30. Maxime
Maxime, or Max for short, is a popular French name for boys that is also very international and isn’t difficult to pronounce.
The name comes from the Latin word “Maximus” which means “the greatest”, so it’s a very powerful name for your little boy!
31. Baptiste
The name Baptiste comes from Saint John the Baptist who baptized Jesus Christ and as such means “to baptize”.
Different languages also have a variation of this name – in Portuguese and Spanish, for example, it is known as Batista.
Common as a first and last name, you can combine it with the name Jean to form Jean-Baptiste.
32. Pierre
Pierre is another name with Biblical connections as it is the French version of Peter, who was one of Jesus Christ’s apostles. It comes from the Greek “petra” which means “rock”.
In languages such as Spanish and Portuguese, Pierre is known as Pedro, while the Arabic version is Boutros.
33. Nicolas
Nicolas is the French variation of the name Nicholas, which is often shortened to Nick. It comes from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning “victory of the people”.
Some of the famous men with this name include actor Nicolas Cage, as well as former French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
34. Rafael
A truly classic name that never goes out of style, Rafael traces its origins to Hebrew and means “God heals”. Spelling varies across countries and it is sometimes shortened to Raf or Rafa.
Apart from being very popular in France, Rafael is a common name in Spain as well – Rafael Nadal, anyone?
35. Timothée
The name Timothée, also spelled as Timothy in English, has been rediscovered by many parents with the rise of young American actor Timothée Chalamet.
It originated in Greek where it is spelled as Timόtheos and means “to honor God”.
36. Philippe
Philippe is another name that originated in the Greek language and means to be “fond of horses”.
It has many variations across different languages and even has a feminine version, Philippa.
Throughout history, many kings and noblemen carried this name, so your baby boy will share his name with a pretty impressive group of men!
37. Marc
Derived from the Roman name Marcus, Marc is a very simple and elegant name for your little one.
And while no one is 100 percent sure as to what its meaning is, the name is likely connected to the Roman god of war, Mars.
One of the most famous Marcs is the fashion designer Marc Jacobs but I shouldn’t forget singer Marc Anthony either.
38. Bernard
This centuries-old name means “strong as a bear” and can be traced back to West Germanic languages, where it was spelled as Bernhard.
Common as a last name, Bernard also has a female form in Bernadette.
39. Thierry
One of the most popular French boy names, Thierry is pronounced like “tea-air-ee” (and not “theory”) and means “ruler”.
While it is very common as a first name in France, some families also have it as a last name.
This name is shared by the famous fashion designer Thierry Mugler and former soccer player Thierry Henry.
40. Guy
Whether this name reminds you of Guy Fieri or Guy Ritchie, it’s a great option if you’re a fan of simple and short names for boys.
It’s the French variation of the name Guido which means “guide”, so it has a lovely meaning as well.
41. Marin
The name Marin means “sailor” or “seafarer” in French. It traces its origins back to the Latin Marinus, which has the same meaning as its French counterpart.
Apart from France, many parents from other European countries such as Croatia also opt for this baby boy name.
42. Claude
The name Claude can be traced back to the Latin name Claudius (shared by a Roman emperor) which means “to stutter”.
It has a female form in Claudia or Claudette, and many famous artists and musicians such as Claude Monet and Claude Debussy had this name, as well.
43. Frederic
Although Frederic is considered by some parents to be too traditional for their baby boy, it’s a name with a very special meaning – “peaceful ruler”.
While it is spelled as Frédéric in France, it also has many forms across different languages, including English where it is more commonly spelled as Frederick.
44. Sacha
Sacha is a name with complex origins, as it is very popular as a nickname for girls and boys (spelled as Sasha) in Eastern Europe for those named Alexander or Alexandra.
In France, Sacha is a name usually given to boys but it is common as a girls’ name internationally, as well. It has the same meaning as Alexander – “defender” or “protector”.
45. Félix
Common as a first and last name, Félix is a name that means “lucky” or “happy” in Latin, so it’s a perfect name for your baby boy, especially if you hope that your baby will smile more than cry!
It also has a female variation in Felicity, from the French word “félicité”.
46. Remy
Meaning “oarsman” or “rower”, Remy can be traced back to the Latin name Remigius.
Also spelled as Rémi, this traditionally male name is also sometimes given to girls by parents who prefer more unisex names.
47. Émilien
The meaning of Émilien is uncertain, although it is likely connected to the Roman family Aemilia.
As a name, it is a male version of the female names Emma and Emily.
It is also sometimes spelled as Émile or Emil, depending on the country.
48. Simon
Simon appears both as a first and last name in France, and it has Hebrew origins with the meaning of “to listen”.
For a female version, simply add an “e” to the original to get Simone.
49. Vincent
Vincent is a baby boy name that leaves plenty of room for nicknames such as Vin, Vince, or Vinny.
It comes from the Latin word “vincere” which means “to win” or “to conquer”.
50. Célestin
With the meaning of “heavenly” or “divine”, Célestin is certainly one of the more beautiful French boy names.
Not to mention that it’s quite unique, so it’s a perfect choice if you are looking for a name that will stand out from the rest but is still traditional.
51. Armand
Armand is a proper French name, one that refers to a “soldier” or an “army man”.
It’s one of those boys names that’s been quite common among the French people, averaging a spot in the top 200s for a good while now while it has fallen off US baby name lists in the new millennium despite making it to #625 at one point.
Consider it if you’re expecting a child who’s going to do things by the book.
52. Arnaud
With a name that translates to “Eagle power”, you would think it was built for a future American patriot. Consider this name, or the more commonly used variant of Arnold if you’re looking for a name with a meaning that has a patriotic meaning.
53. Charlot
Also known as Charles in the English language, this French name describes someone “strong”, “manly” and “free”, traits almost any man would likely want to have.
You too can put your wishes toward that goal as well and help facilitate it. You can also choose whether you’re going to use the French version of the name or the, more common, English one.
The feminine version of this name is Charlotte.
54. François
This evidently French name can describe either a “French man” or a “free man”. The people of France consider both to be one and the same!
It’s very similar to what the people in the US strive for as well (and many other countries, I’m sure).
Regardless, the name is rather beautiful and fancy, albeit typing the accented ‘c’ might be difficult on a keyboard, so turning it into a regular one will be doing everyone a huge favor if you opt to give your boy a similar name.
55. Richard
This is a name that’s French and half German in origin.
The name translates to a “powerful” or “strong ruler”, someone people can get behind as a role model or a source of inspiration. No wonder it’s consistently one of the top names on US charts after all this time.
Consider it if you’re not looking for a truly unique and underused name, but something that has seemingly worked for almost a century now.
56. Roy
A name, that, as some of you may have guessed it, refers to someone “of royal blood”, a “king” or even just the color “red”.
It’s a very fitting name to give to a child who has red hair, though you don’t have to limit yourself to physical traits.
While a bit rarer nowadays, it used to be one of the most popular names in the 20th century, topping out at an astonishing #21 in the early 1900s. Maybe you end up making it more popular, who knows.
57. Russell
Another name that refers to the color red, though this time mostly in terms of hair color, is Russell.
A rather charming name of French origin, it serves as both a first and last name. It’s another one of those that you’d swear was originally an American name given how popular it used to be back in the 20th century, though still firmly holding a top 400 spot.
One of the more famous bearers of the name is the actor Russell Crowe, which could be an even bigger reason to consider this one as a potential name for your baby boy.
58. Quentin
A popular French baby name, one you’re more than likely very familiar with if you know Quentin Tarantino.
It translates to ‘the fifth one’ which isn’t as strong a meaning as you might want, but it’s definitely carried by star power as well as how easily it rolls off the tongue.
If you can see your kiddo becoming the next big movie director, vote Quentin as your child’s name.
59. Percival
A striking name that translates to ‘piercing’ or the act of ‘piercing the veil’.
Despite being quite an old name, it still retains that grandiose feeling of describing nobility. It’s quite rare these days, so if you’re on the lookout for a truly unique name for your little guy, my vote goes toward this one.
60. Orville
A really rare, yet still iconic name, it refers to someone who’s ‘from the gold town’.
It used to be really big way back in the early 1900s, especially around the time when one of the famous Wright brothers, Orville Wright, alongside his brother Wilbur, gave birth to the idea of the airplane.
With a name tied to such a revolutionary inventor, you’d think the name would remain popular nowadays, but sadly it has fallen out of flavor. It doesn’t mean that it should be forgotten though as it’s still perfectly usable by today’s standards.
To Wrap Up
Deciding on a name can be really stressful – some parents don’t even make a decision until they’re holding their new baby in the delivery room!
Since this is one of your first responsibilities as a father or mother. choosing a name is a big deal.
French boy names are beautiful and melodic, which is why so many expectant moms and dads gravitate towards them.
It doesn’t hurt that they’re classic and practically never go out of style.
I hope you were able to find a few potential names for your precious baby boy – I’m 100 percent sure that no matter which name you pick, it will fit him to a T!
READ NEXT:
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