We are expecting our first baby girl in [name]June[/name] this year. We would love to pick a french name because we were in [name]Paris[/name] when we found out of her existence! I feel like I have exhausted the internet on French girl names and nothing is just feeling “right.” There has to be SOMETHING out there that is just perfect! Any suggestions, especially anyone from [name]France[/name]?! HELP!!!
I’m not from [name]France[/name], personally, but my best friend was before she passed away last [name]December[/name], and I still talk to her little sister, who is in [name]Paris[/name] right now… so hopefully I can help a little. 
My friend’s name was [name]Amelie[/name], which is quite in-style here right now–I don’t know how unique you want to go. As far as a unique French name, I don’t think it’s that unique, but as far as a unique name for an American child, I think [name]Amelie[/name] does fit the bill. Her little sister’s middle name is [name]Odette[/name], which I think is a great French name, as well! Very underused in the US (pretty much everywhere, I think! As far as I know, it was a fairly popular family name in [name]Millie[/name]'s family, but I haven’t heard that it was super common in [name]France[/name], even…). [name]Millie[/name] had triplets [name]August[/name] 2010, and two of them were girls–Ysaline and Avelaine. It took me a while to warm up to them (especially Avelaine) but I absolutely love both of those now!
Are you trying to steer clear of dated names in [name]France[/name]? I think names like [name]Isabelle[/name], [name]Caroline[/name], [name]Nathalie[/name], [name]Sylvie[/name], [name]Sophie[/name], [name]Genevieve[/name], etc., are gorgeous names, but they’re all pretty dated in [name]France[/name]. If you don’t mind, I think some options like those would be lovely!
A few ideas:
[name]Juliette[/name]
[name]Mathilde[/name]/[name]Matilde[/name]
[name]Anais[/name] (ah-nah-EES) (Sorry, I can’t do all the lovely French accents on my laptop! If accents are important to you, though, it would be really easy to look them up)
[name]Clemence[/name]
[name]Noemie[/name]
[name]Aurelie[/name] (absolutely love this! Completely underused in the US, and the meaning, “golden”, is wonderful. It has lovely nns, too, like [name]Ari[/name], [name]Rae[/name], [name]Lea[/name], etc… It is actually the name of my friend’s cousin, who has three daughters whose names are equally lovely, imo–[name]Agnes[/name] (in [name]France[/name], said like ahn-YESS, from what I hear), [name]Daphne[/name], and [name]Violette[/name])
[name]Emilie[/name]
[name]Margaux[/name]
[name]Leonie[/name]
[name]Adele[/name]
[name]Zoe[/name]
[name]Oceane[/name]
[name]Camille[/name]
Felicite ([name]Felicity[/name] variant… said like feh-lee-see-tay, ish. I think. haha.)
[name]Giselle[/name]
[name]Arielle[/name]
[name]Aurore[/name] (absolutely love this, too! I think [name]Ari[/name] and [name]Rory[/name] would be easy-to-translate American nns for an [name]Aurore[/name])
[name]Capucine[/name] (I think this is so cute! A nature name in [name]France[/name]. My friend babysat the most adorable [name]Capucine[/name] ever–she went by Capu. I think it’s adorable, haha.)
[name]Prune[/name] (quite common in [name]France[/name] but not too translate-able to English. Still, how cute is the nn [name]Pru[/name]?)
[name]Anabelle[/name]/[name]Annabel[/name]
[name]Anaelle[/name]
Avaelle
[name]Maelys[/name]
[name]Cosette[/name] (doesn’t have great connotations in [name]France[/name], but I think it’s great for here, and Cozy, [name]Sosie[/name], and [name]Etta[/name] could all be cute nns. I’m not crazy about Cozy, but I know others are. I would like the association to [name]Les[/name] Miserables, but that’s what turns most French off of it, from what I hear.)
[name]Elisabeth[/name]
[name]Elodie[/name]
[name]Josephine[/name]
[name]Lydie[/name] (the French form of [name]Lydia[/name]–I think it’s just adorable!)
Olivie
[name]Sophie[/name]
[name]Morgane[/name] (I’m guessing this is the French form of [name]Morgana[/name]–mor-GAHN?)
[name]Amandine[/name]
[name]Solene[/name] (so-[name]LEN[/name])
[name]Heloise[/name] (the French form of [name]Eloise[/name], I believe–said the same way, as far as I can remember)
[name]Ophelie[/name] (oh-[name]FAY[/name]-lee)
[name]Rosemarie[/name]
[name]Aveline[/name]
[name]Eulalie[/name]
I remember my friend had considered [name]Althea[/name], [name]Serena[/name], and [name]Valeria[/name], too, even though they weren’t French, per se… I think they still would have worked there.
She very well might have already responded by the time I finish this monster of a message, haha, but if she hasn’t, you should probably message @thetxbelle–her husband is French, from what I understand, and she has lived in [name]France[/name], too. She has a fairly extensive understanding of French names and what’s in-style right now, so I think she’d be a lot of help to you.
I absolutely love [name]Aurelie[/name] and [name]Odette[/name] if you’re looking for something a bit off the beaten path… charming, stylish, French, and so cute when she’s little.
I hope some of this was of some help to you, and good luck!
I like -ette names, but I’m pretty sure I’m the only one…considering how unpopular they are in [name]France[/name] nowadays…but I still love [name]Suzette[/name], [name]Bernadette[/name], [name]Colette[/name], [name]Annette[/name]. I also think just [name]Frances[/name] would be a cute nod towards [name]France[/name].
[name]Rosalie[/name]
[name]Leonie[/name]
[name]Victoire[/name]
[name]Do[/name] any of those appeal to you? bte, I think the [name]Paris[/name]-french name is connection is very sweet
[name]Colette[/name]
[name]Antoinette[/name]
[name]Marie[/name]-BLANK example: [name]Marie[/name]-[name]Elena[/name]
[name]Adrienne[/name]
[name]Celeste[/name]
[name]Brigitte[/name]
[name]Corrine[/name]
[name]How[/name] about the name [name]Paris[/name]?
[name]Margaux[/name]
[name]Nathalie[/name] - pronounced [name]Natalie[/name]…I used to work with a French girl who spelled her name this way. I always thought it was so pretty!
[name]Bijou[/name] - love [name]LOVE[/name] this name. It’s gutsy!
[name]Jolie[/name]
[name]Camille[/name]
I definitely second the suggestions of [name]Victoire[/name], [name]Aurore[/name], and [name]Odette[/name].
Other ideas:
[name]Josette[/name]
[name]Nicolette[/name]
[name]Lizette[/name]
[name]Jeanette[/name]
[name]Jolene[/name]
[name]Francine[/name] is a pretty name.
[name]Love[/name] [name]Francine[/name] (nn [name]Francie[/name]), also [name]Rosalie[/name] and [name]Leonie[/name]. A name that’s popular in [name]France[/name] right now is [name]Lilou[/name], which is just ridiculously cute. But my vote would be for [name]Sylvie[/name]–we had a baby girl four months ago and named her [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Nanette[/name]. Most people have said they love it (at least to my face!)…both names are derived from family names ([name]Sylvia[/name], [name]Nancy[/name] and [name]Nettie[/name]), and we also have a French last name, so it’s a pretty French name, even though we don’t live in [name]France[/name]! We were on the fence about [name]Nanette[/name], thinking that maybe it was too outdated or even cartoonish, but I have to tell you that once it becomes your baby’s name and you live with it for a while, what might have sounded outdated or odd starts to take on a fresh, beautiful sound, and now I would never change it. Congratulations and good luck!
[name]Juliette[/name] is my favorite french girl name!
I used to work with a gorgeous french girl named [name]Elodie[/name] and i thought her name was just so beautiful and unique
Congrats! There are a lot of good names floating around this post, I can probably help you too since I am in the situation of needing a name that works in [name]France[/name] and the States.
Are you looking for a French name that people here can easily pronounce, is meaning important, should it be fashionable in [name]France[/name]? I have discovered through nameberry that there is a big difference when it comes to French names english speakers like VS French names French people like. Personally I go for whats more chic there but wont be mangled here.
Right now old names like Béatrice are back in both countries so I think its a great choice, ette names are not stylish in [name]France[/name] but Americans seem to love them.
Some good choices that are stylish there or respected there and work in the states
[name]Camille[/name]
[name]Eleanor[/name]/[name]El[/name]éonore/[name]Ali[/name]énor (probably wouldnt work here)
Béatrice
[name]Anne[/name]-lise ([name]Anne[/name] names arent on a popularity kick there but theyre still classic and stylish)
[name]Anne[/name]-[name]Sophie[/name]
Clémence
marguerite
[name]Mathilde[/name]
Eugénie
Eloïse
[name]Appoline[/name]
[name]Josephine[/name]
[name]Ad[/name]èle
[name]Albane[/name]
[name]Agathe[/name]
[name]Victoire[/name]
[name]Isaure[/name] (weird here?)
Garance (might be too hard to prn here)
[name]Louise[/name]
[name]Colombe[/name]
[name]Philippine[/name]
[name]Ad[/name]élaïde
[name]Olympe[/name]
Bérénice
[name]Victorine[/name]
Ombeline
[name]Marielle[/name]
A name I would personally suggest because I think it would be neat is Célestine, there is a great French children’s book series about a mouse and bear that is hugely popular called “[name]Ernest[/name] and Célestine” it would be really cool to use the name, its very classic/chic and to read the books to your daughter!
Names I would avoid at all costs: [name]Minette[/name], Cyprine (I have seen these two on old boards here and they are both very sexual). Personally I dont care for [name]Delphine[/name], [name]Cosette[/name], [name]Lilou[/name] or [name]Eulalie[/name] but thats just personal choice, you might want to check out the names in my sig. Sorry for the long post! There are some other posters that have french/american families as well and maybe they will chime in!
I was just talking to my friend’s little sister last night, again, and I asked if there were some great names to pass on to you… she came up with this list. There are a few repeats from my suggestions earlier, but hopefully it’ll be a little more help! (I’m guessing you’re having a girl, haha, but she added boys’ names, too. Maybe you’d like them just for reference/for the future?)
Girl:
Noëline
Maëva
[name]Isis[/name] (quite trendy in [name]France[/name] now I believe)
Jasmée
Nève
Salomé
Inès
[name]Maude[/name]
[name]Odile[/name]
[name]Ana[/name]ëlle
Boy:
Sélim
[name]Caspian[/name]
[name]Altair[/name]
[name]Cyrus[/name]
Léandre
Lysandre
Maxance
[name]Yvan[/name]
[name]Mathis[/name]
Albian
[name]Yannis[/name]
Good luck!
Thank you SO much! Meaning isn’t SUPER important, although I guess I don’t want it to mean something bad or unpleasant! I did like a lot of your names, but not sure if they are “the one!” I agree about the pronunciation thing. For instance, I’m really liking [name]Leonie[/name], which I read is pronounced Ley-oh-nee. Not [name]LEE[/name]-oh-ni… That made me like it more, but not sure if she would hate the most people here will first call her [name]Lee[/name]-oh-nie. If I put the little accent thing over the “e” would people more likely pronounce it correct? Such decisions! Thanks for your imput, if you come up with any more especially that are not popular I would love to hear them!
Like amimi I was going to suggest Francine not because she is French but because of the Franc in her name.
PS Have you thought of Jacqueline and I like the combo of Jacqueline Yvette.
Thank you so much! I appreciate you asking her! I’m liking [name]Leonie[/name] and [name]Maeve[/name]. Does [name]Leonie[/name] have an accent thingy over the “e” so people pronounce it LEY not [name]Lee[/name]? If she has ANY other suggestions, PLEASE pass them on! I was so hoping to get someone in [name]Frances[/name] opinion! So thank you! Really appreciate it!
Here is one that you wouldn’t have thought of and it is the name of an enchanting town in [name]Burgundy[/name] and it is the town of Vezelay. It has the acute over the first e so that it has a pronunciation of Vaze ah lay. The church that dominates is named [name]Madeleine[/name], combo of Vezelay [name]Madeleine[/name].
I love [name]Mignonette[/name] (If I recall this one means small and dainty) and [name]Soleil[/name] (meaning [name]Sun[/name]). I was going to use both as middle names but didn’t go with the first names I had them paired with.
My absolute favorite French name is [name]Fleur[/name]. Although it may not be unique, it’s also not popular in the U.S. [name]Even[/name] with the minor character in [name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name]. I don’t think it even made the top 1000 in 2010 on the Social Security name charts. It’s definitely under the radar. I am using [name]Fleur[/name] in my next girls name, although I would gladly use it as a first name too!!
Congratulations on your daughter to be!!! <3
My top suggestion are [name]Aurelie[/name] [name]Margaux[/name] and [name]Fleur[/name] [name]Elise[/name].
I know a few people from [name]France[/name], but they’re from all over the place and vary in age. The ones my age (mid-20s) are [name]Carole[/name] (from the alps), [name]Marjolaine[/name] (from somewhere around [name]Paris[/name]; I [name]LOVE[/name] her name), [name]Sophie[/name] & [name]Ainhoa[/name] (both from the French side of the Basque Country)
These are names on the rise in [name]France[/name] (as per the registry), and considered “[name]Les[/name] stars de demain”: [name]Ana[/name]é, [name]Eden[/name], Gaétane, [name]Hana[/name]é, [name]Inaya[/name], Laly, Léona, [name]Lili[/name], [name]Lily[/name]-[name]Rose[/name], [name]Louisa[/name], Lya, Lylou, Maëlie, Maëline, Maïa, Noélie, Nour, [name]Romy[/name], [name]Sasha[/name], [name]Violette[/name], Yaëlle.
And some of my personal favourites are: Éloïse, [name]El[/name]éonore, [name]Iris[/name], Ismène, [name]Magali[/name], [name]Rosemonde[/name].
[name]Even[/name] though I work within throwing distance of [name]France[/name], the regions I’ve been to are limited to the Basque and Catalan parts and I still know far more people from Québec (I’m originally from eastern [name]Ontario[/name]). If you get stuck and can’t find anything French that you love, an option could be to look in to Basque, Catalan, Occitan, [name]Breton[/name] names, which are used within French borders but not French. Basque names are pretty unique outside of the Basque Country.
And yes, Léonie does have an accent on it
Good luck!