French Submitted Names

French names are used in France and other French-speaking regions. See also about French names.
gender
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Mélinée f French (?)
Probably comes from either Mélanie or Mélaine or from Mélina or Méline. Famous bearer include Mélinée Manouchian (1913-1989), Armenian resistance fighters in France during World War II.
Melise f French (Modern)
Gallicized form of Turkish Melis.
Mélissandre f French (Modern, Rare)
Variant of Mélisande, possibly influenced by Mélissa and Sandra... [more]
Mélitine f French (Rare), French (Swiss, Archaic), French (Quebec, Archaic), History (Ecclesiastical)
French form of Melitini. While the name is archaic in Switzerland and Canada, it was revived in France in the early 1990s.
Mélitta f French (Rare)
French form of Melitta.
Mélodine f French (Rare)
Elaborated form of Mélodie.
Mélonie f Norman
Norman form of Melanie.
Mélusinne f Picard
Picard form of Mélusine.
Ménée m French
French form of Meneos via it's Latinized form Meneus.
Ménehould f French
Probably a French form of Meinhold. Saint Ménehould is a French saint from the 4th century. She gave her name to the small town of Sainte-Ménehould in the Champagne region.
Menerade f French (Archaic)
Local feminine form of Menrade found in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region up until the late 18th century.
Menrade m French (Archaic)
Local French form of Meinrad found in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region up until the 18th century.
Meranthe f French (Acadian)
Truncated form of Emeranthe.
Merceaux m French (Archaic)
Local form of Marceau found in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region up until the 1600s.
Mercédès f French
French form of Mercedes. This name was given to a queen of Spain from the French royal House of Orléans.
Merci f & m French (African, Rare)
Occasionally used in reference to the French word merci "gratitude; thanks", as evidenced by combination names like Dieu-Merci ("Thank you, God").
Mercurial m Spanish, French, Catalan
Spanish, French, and Catalan form of Mercurialis.
Mérianne f Picard
Picard form of Marianne.
Merlusinne f Picard
Picard form of Melusine.
Mesmin m History (Ecclesiastical), French (Rare)
French variant of Maximin. Saint Mesmin (died c. 520 AD) is a French saint associated with the Bishopric of Orléans. He was the second abbot of Micy Abbey, founded by his uncle, Saint Euspicius.
Miane f French (Rare)
French form of Miana 3
Miché m Jèrriais, Guernésiais, Norman
Jèrriais, Guernésiais and Norman form of Michael.
Michée m French
French form of Micah.
Michelette f French (Rare)
Diminutive of Michèle and feminine form of Michelet.
Michette f French (Archaic)
Diminutive of feminine names derived from Michel, such as Michelle and Micheline.
Michi m Norman
Cotentinais Norman variant of Miché.
Michou m & f French, Dutch (Rare), Flemish (Rare)
French diminutive of Michel, as -ou is a French masculine diminutive suffix. This diminutive has been in use since medieval times, as is evidenced by the fact that Michou is also a patronymic surname in France.... [more]
Mickael m Swedish (Modern, Rare), French
Swedish variant of Mikael and French variant of Mickaël.
Mickaëlle f French
Feminine form of Mickaël.
Miette f French (Archaic), French (Belgian, Rare), Flemish (Rare)
Obsolete diminutive of Marguerite. In this day and age the name coincides with the French word miette "crumb" (which is also used as a term of endearment for children).
Mikaël m French
Variant of Michel.
Milane m & f French (Modern, Rare)
French adoption both of Milan and Milana.
Mile m Walloon, Picard, Provençal
Walloon and Picard diminutive of Émile and Provençal short form of Emile.
Miléna f French
Variant of Milène.
Milène f French, Dutch (Rare)
Contraction of Marie-Hélène; it is also occasionally considered a French form of Milena (compare Mylène).
Mimile m Walloon, Picard
Diminutive of Émile.
Mimosa f English, Finnish, French, Spanish, Danish, Filipino, Italian
From Mimosa, a genus of plants that are sensitive to touch. The best known plant from that genus is the Mimosa pudica, better known in English as the touch-me-not. The plant genus derives its name from Spanish mimosa, which is the feminine form of the Spanish adjective mimoso meaning "cuddly".
Minélie f French
A mix of Minelle and Amélie. Meaning not known yet.
Minèvre f French (African, Rare), Dutch (Rare)
Most likely a variant of Minerve, which is the French form of Minerva. Also compare the somewhat similar-looking names Ginevra and Guenièvre.
Minuette f French (Americanized)
Derived from the word "minuet", which is a slow, stately ballroom dance for two in triple time. It was especially popular in the 18th century. A known character to bear this version was a secondary character from the cartoon show "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic".
Miquelon m French
Possibly the French form of Mikelon.
Mirabel f French (African), English (Rare), Dutch (Rare), Medieval Italian, Judeo-Anglo-Norman
Derived from Old French mirable "wonderful; admirable", ultimately from Latin mirabilis "wonderful, marvellous, astonishing, extraordinary, remarkable, amazing" (compare Mirabelle).
Mirande f French (Rare)
French form of Miranda. It is not to be confused with the French surname Mirande, which has a different etymology.
Mirielle f French (Rare)
Possibly a variant of Miriel.
Mitsou f French (Quebec, Modern, Rare)
Apparently this is a Francophone spelling of a Japanese name, Mitsu which means light and/or honey. A famous bearer is French Canadian Pop singer/actress Mitsou Gélinas.
Moïsette f French (Rare)
Feminine form of Moïse.
Mongrain f French (Quebec)
Probably an altered form of French Maugrain, from Old French mau grain ‘bad grain’, used as an (unflattering) nickname for a grower or merchant.
Moni f English (Rare), Croatian, French, German, Spanish
Diminutive of Monika, Mónica, and other related names. It can also be used as a diminutive of Simone 1 or Ramona.
Montaine f French (Rare), History (Ecclesiastical)
French feminine form of Montanus. This is the name of a folk saint venerated in the French village of Sainte-Montaine. It was also the name of an 8th-century abbess of Ferrières in Gâtinais, France... [more]
Morane f French, French (Belgian, Rare)
Gallicized form of Breton Morana.
Morgiane f Literature (Gallicized), Theatre, French (Modern, Rare)
Variant of Morgiana. This name occurs in the French translation of 'Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves' added to 'One Thousand and One Nights' by Antoine Galland... [more]
Mucien m French, History (Ecclesiastical)
French form of Mucianus and variant of Mutien.
Muguet f French (Modern, Rare)
Derived from French muguet "lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis)".
Mutien m French (Belgian, Rare), History (Ecclesiastical)
Mutien-Marie Wiaux was a Belgian member of the Brothers of Christian Schools who spent his life as a teacher and is honored as a saint by the Catholic Church. He took his religious name from the roman martyr Mucianus.
Myléna f French
Variant of Mylène.
Myrtil m French (Rare)
Masculine form of Myrtille. This may also be a French form of Myrtilos (via Latin Myrtilus)... [more]
Myrtille f French, French (Belgian, Rare)
Derived from French myrtille meaning "bilberry", referring to a type of blueberry from the cowberry family. This is taken from the French Republican Calendar (also known as the Revolutionary Calendar).
Nadeige f French (African), French (Rare)
Variant of Nadège predominantly found in French-speaking African countries.
Naïs f Provençal, Occitan, French (Modern), French (Belgian, Modern, Rare), Literature, Popular Culture
Short form of Anaïs. It is also the name of a 1945 Raymond Leboursier film based on Émile Zola's Naïs Micoulin.
Naïse f Norman
Norman short form of Athenais.
Nânette f Norman
Norman form of Nanette.
Nanon f French (Rare), Flemish (Rare), Dutch (Rare), Guernésiais
French and Guernésiais diminutive of Anne 1 (compare Nana).
Nâonoun f Norman
Diminutive of Anne 1.
Napoléioun m Norman
Cotentinais Norman form of Napoleon.
Napoléone f French (Archaic)
French form of Napoleona. A known bearer of this name was Charlotte Bonaparte (1802-1839), a niece of the French emperor Napoléon Bonaparte (1769-1821)... [more]
Napolin m French (Quebec, Archaic)
Diminutive of Napoléon. In other words, you could say that this name is the French cognate of Napolino.
Napoline f French (Quebec, Archaic)
Diminutive of Napoléone. In other words, you could say that this name is the feminine form of Napolin.
Nastasie f French (Archaic), Louisiana Creole (Archaic), Literature
Vernacular truncated form of Anastasie (compare Nastasia) found in the Poitou-Charentes region of France, this name also made its way to Louisiana... [more]
Nathalée f Norman
Norman form of Natalie.
Nativité f French (African, Rare)
Means "nativity" in French. It is mostly used in French-speaking countries in Africa and apparently predominantly so in Cote d'Ivoire.
Natole m Walloon, Picard
Walloon and Picard form of Anatole.
Néandre m French
French form of Neandros via Neander.
Néanne f French (Quebec, Rare)
Transferred use of the surname Néanne.
Néel m Norman, Anglo-Norman
Norman and Anglo-Norman form of Njáll.
Néhémie m & f Biblical French, French (Modern), French (Belgian, Modern, Rare)
French form of Nehemiah. While this is originally a masculine name, it has also been used as a feminine name in recent years.
Neige f French (Rare), French (Belgian, Rare), French (Quebec)
Derived from French neige "snow". The name is ultimately derived from the title of the Virgin Mary Notre-Dame des Neiges "Our Lady of the Snows" (compare Nieves).
Néo m French (Modern)
French form of Neo 2.
Néomaye f French (Rare, Archaic), History (Ecclesiastical)
From Latin Neomadia, the meaning of which is uncertain. This was the name of a French saint who is mainly venerated in the Poitou region. She is the patron saint of shepherds.... [more]
Néphélie f French (Modern, Rare)
French coinage based on Néphélé as well as a Gallicized form of Nefeli.
Nephtalie f French (Modern, Rare), French (Belgian, Modern, Rare)
Modern coinage, intended as a feminine form of Nephtali.
Népomucène m French
French form of Nepomuk via its latinized form Nepomucenus.... [more]
Nicaise m & f French, French (Belgian, Rare), History (Ecclesiastical)
French masculine and feminine form of Nicasius. This name was borne by a 4th century AD saint from Rheims (France).
Nicasie f French (Archaic)
Archaic French form of Nicasia.
Niclos m Picard
Picard form of Nicholas.
Nicolâs m Norman
Cotentinais Norman form of Nicholas.
Nicomède m French (Rare)
French form of Nikomedes via Nicomedes.
Njèr m Picard
Picard form of Léger.
Noéla f French
Variant of Noèle.
Noélia f Hungarian, French
Hungarian and French form of Noelia.
Noëllie f French, French (Belgian, Rare)
Variant of Noélie via the form Noëlie.
Noétte f French (Rare, Archaic)
Feminine diminutive of Noé recorded in the 1600s. In some cases, however, it may also have been a feminine form of Noët.
Nolhan m French (Modern)
French form of Nolan.
Nonce m French (Rare)
French cognate of Nunzio.
Noré m Picard
Diminutive of Honoré.
Norène f Norman
Diminutive of Aliénor.
Obéline f French (Rare), French (Quebec, Rare), English (Canadian, Rare, Archaic)
Means "spit, nail, rod, pointed pillar, horizontal line". From the Greek obelos (ὀβελός) with the French diminutive ending of -ine, -ie, or -ia.
Océan m French (Rare)
French form of Okeanos via its latinized form Oceanus. Also compare the French noun océan meaning "ocean".
Oculi m French (Rare)
Derived from Latin oculi, the plural form of oculus "eye". This name used to be given to children born on Oculi, known in English as Oculi Sunday, the third Sunday in Lent... [more]
Oculie f French (Rare)
Feminine form of Oculi.
Odalie f French (Rare)
French form of Odalia. Also compare Odélie and Odilie.
Ode f French (Rare), French (Belgian, Rare), Flemish (Rare), History (Ecclesiastical)
French form of Oda. This name was borne by several minor French saints.
Odélia f French (Rare), Portuguese (Brazilian)
French variant of Odélie and Portuguese form of Odelia 1. Also compare Odília.
Odélie f French (Quebec, Rare), French (Rare), French (Belgian, Rare)
French form of Odelia 1, which is a variant of Odilia. Also compare Odalie and Odilie.
Odéric m French (Rare)
French form of Auderic via its variant form Odoric.
Odet m French (Archaic)
French diminutive of Odo (see Otto), as -et is a French masculine diminutive suffix. In other words: this name is the masculine equivalent of Odette.... [more]
Odia f American (South), French (Acadian, Archaic), French (Quebec, Archaic), Louisiana Creole
Variant of Odéa and cognate of Odea. This name was borne by singer Odia Coates (1941–1991).
Odilien m French (Rare), French (African, Rare), French (Caribbean, Rare)
Probably a combination of Odile or Odilon with a given name that ends in -ien, such as Lucien and Sébastien.
Odoun m Norman
Norman form of Odon.
Odylon m Polish (Rare), French (Rare), Portuguese (Brazilian, Rare)
Polish form of Odilon as well as a French and Brazilian Portuguese variant spelling of Odilon.
Olivine f English (Rare), French (Rare), Jamaican Patois (Rare)
Diminutive or elaborated form of Olive, or directly from the English and French word olivine that denotes a type of gemstone, whose name ultimately goes back to Latin oliva "olive" (so named in the late 18th century for its olive green color).
Ombline f French (Rare), French Creole
Variant of Ombeline. A notable bearer was Ombline Desbassayns (1755-1846), a Reunionese planter and slave trader, and after her death immortalized as a sinister character in Reunionese folklore.
Omer m French, French (Belgian), Flemish, Walloon, History (Ecclesiastical)
French form of Audamar (see Otmar). In Flanders (Belgium), the name is widely used, despite the existence of the native Flemish forms Omaar and Omeer.
Omère f & m French (Rare), Louisiana Creole
French feminine form and Louisiana Creole masculine variant of Omer.
Onorine f Picard
Picard form of Honorine.
Onuphre m French
French form of Onouphrios via Onuphrius.
Ophélia f French
Variant of Ophélie.
Optat m Bulgarian, Catalan, French, Polish, Russian, German (Bessarabian)
Bulgarian, Catalan, French, Polish and Russian form of Optatus.
Oranne f German (Rare), French (Rare)
Variant form of Oranna, also the standard French form of the same name.... [more]
Orbat m French (Archaic)
Archaic French name found in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté up until the late 1600s.
Orchidée f French (Modern, Rare)
Derived from French orchidée "orchid".
Orens m French (Rare), Gascon
French form of Orientius via its variant form Orentius.
Orlana f French (Modern, Rare), Spanish (Latin American), English
French variant of Orlane and Spanish variant of Orlanda.
Orphée m & f Greek Mythology (Gallicized), French (Rare), French (Belgian, Rare)
French form of Orpheus. Although the mythological character is masculine, this name is now more frequently borne by women than by men.
Orphélie f French (Modern, Rare), French (Belgian, Modern, Rare)
Of debated origin and meaning. Theories include a contraction of Orphée and Ophélie.
Orsine f French (Archaic)
Local form of Ursine found in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region up until the 1600s.
Ortance f Picard
Picard form of Hortense.
Ory m French (Swiss, Archaic)
Of uncertain origin and meaning, although current theories include a derivation from Ulrich via the form Oulry. This name has been found in French-speaking Switzerland up until the late 1600s.
Osilda f French (Quebec, Archaic), English (American, Rare, Archaic)
A dithematic Germanic name formed from the name elments os "god" and hild "battle".
Osmanne f French (Archaic)
French form of Osmanna, common in the area around Féricy in the region of Île-de-France in the 1600s and 1700s thanks to saint Osmanne who is the patron saint of Féricy.
Osval m Picard
Picard form of Oswald.
Oudatte f French (Archaic)
Diminutive of Ode (see also Houdée) found in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region up until the 1600s.
Oulry m French (Swiss, Archaic)
Gallicized form of Ulrich used in the Montreux area of Switzerland up until the late 1600s.
Ours m French (Rare)
French form of Ursus. Also note that ours is an ordinary word in the French language, where it means "bear" (which is ultimately derived from Latin ursus "bear", so the root is either way the same).