111 French Boy Names and Their Meanings
Dreaming of a beautiful name for the little boy you’re expecting? This list of French boy names and their meanings can help you find the perfect one!
Choosing the perfect name for your little guy is no small feat. A name carries with it identity, heritage, and in some cases, a glimpse into personality.
If you are in search of French first names that are rich in history, and culture, and have special meaning, you might want to consider these unique French boy names. They are often elegant, and carry a certain charm that’s hard to resist.
This guest article is written by Patrick Cloutier of the dad blog, Daddy Simply. Patrick is a French-Canadian father, author, and dad blogger who has thrived as an entrepreneur in South Korea and Canada since 2000.
Note: Some links may be affiliate links. That means I may make a commission if you use my links to purchase, at no extra added cost to you! I only recommend products that I personally love and believe in. Full disclaimer here.
Choosing a French Name for your Baby Boy
I’m a French-Canadian living here in South Korea. The concept I’ve come up with here in this article is to give you an awesome mix of popular French baby boy names mixed with some more classic French names like mine, Patrick.
Being a multilingual family, my wife and I chose to go with a compound name: Jamil-Clément… Beautiful isn’t it? This unique French name goes along well with my traditional French family name.
But, again, being in Korea with its rich history, we had to follow my wife’s family name. Not only for convenience but for his future here. Koreans have 3 names. For example: Son Heung Min or Jang Jee Hee. So, having an extended name makes it difficult here.
Many of these popular male French names could also be used as English names: Abel, Brice, and Denis just to name a few. Many are pronounced differently and with different spellings at times.
Before choosing unique names like the ones below, make sure of a few things: difficulty of spelling, pronunciation for English speakers, possible nicknames that will be given by his peers, and more.
111 Popular French Boys’ Names and Their Meanings.
French Boy Names That Start With A
Abel
A short yet profound name, Abel, has Biblical roots and carries the meaning ‘breath.’ It is a popular choice among parents who are looking for a traditional name with a gentle feel. Abel has stood the test of time, making it a unique French boy’s name in recent years.
Abelard
It is derived from the Germanic elements adel, meaning “noble”, and hard, meaning “brave, hardy”. This name has been popular in France since the Middle Ages and is still in use today.
Aimé
This name means “beloved” in French. It is a popular name and a classic choice for a boy.
Alain
It is the French equivalent of Alan and means “little rock”. This name signifies strength and stability.
Alexandre
An obvious pick…The French form of Alexander means “defender of man” in comes from Greek origins. This name has been popular in France for centuries.
Ambroise
Borrowed from the Latin name Ambrosius, meaning “immortal”. It has a unique pronunciation and a timeless charm.
Aurélien
Derived from Latin, meaning ‘golden,’ Aurélien is both traditional and luminous, representing strength and sparkle while retaining French roots.
French Boy Names That Start With B
Baptiste
A popular name derived from the Greek baptistes, meaning “baptist”. It has religious connotations and is commonly used in France. My old friend was names Baptiste and we always called him “Bap”.
Barbeau
This unique name is of French origin and means “fisherman”. It’s a wonderful choice for families with a strong connection to the sea.
Benoît
The French form of Benedict, it means “blessed”. This name has a classic feel to it and has been popular in France for many years.
Brice
Of Celtic origin, this name means “speckled” or “speck”. It’s a unique name that’s sure to make your little boy stand out.
Claude
Taken from the Latin name Claudius, it means “lame” or “limping”. Despite its meaning, this name has been popular in France for centuries.
French Boy Names That Start With C
Chamonix
Named after a renowned resort in the French Alps, this name reflects love for nature and adventure. This is a unique choice for boys or girls.
Charles
The French equivalent of Charles, this name means “free man”. It’s a traditional French name that has stood the test of time.
Clément
Meaning ‘mild, gentle,’ Clément radiates kindness and softness, representing French origins’ richness and empathy. My son has ‘Clement’ as his middle name, and it suits him perfectly.
Corentin
Of Celtic origin, Corentin means ‘hurricane,’ symbolizing natural power and energy, adding a spirited touch to French boy names.
Constantine
It is the French form of Constantine, meaning “constant, steadfast”. This name has a noble and strong feel to it.
Cyrille
Orgininating from the Greek name Kyrillos, meaning “lord”. This name is popular in France and has a unique pronunciation.
French Boy Names That Start With D
D’Artagnan
My mom would not agree with this one, but I do. This unique name comes from the surname of a famous swordsman and adventurer from a novel by Alexandre Dumas. It’s a bold and adventurous name for a boy.
Dax
The 2nd coolest name on the list…Check ‘J’ for my favorite. A contemporary choice rooted in French geography, Dax symbolizes modernity and cultural richness, making it an attractive option.
Denis
I have countless friends with this name. The French form of Dennis, it means “follower of Dionysus”, the Greek god of wine. This name has a classic feel to it and is still popular in France.
Didier
This one comes from the Latin name Desiderius, meaning “desired”. This name has a beautiful sound and a strong meaning.
Duvall
This name is of French origin and means “from the valley”. It’s a unique name that’s sure to make your little boy stand out.
Dior
This gender-neutral name is derived from the French word d’or, meaning “golden”. It’s a beautiful name associated with luxury and elegance, thanks to the famous fashion house.
French Boy Names That Start With E
Edouard
I love this one. The French form of Edward, this name means “wealthy guardian”. It has a classic feel to it and is still popular in France.
Elouan
This unique name is of Breton origin and means “light”. It’s a beautiful name that signifies brightness and positivity.
Emile
Latin in origin, Aemilius, it means “rival”. Despite its meaning, this name has a friendly and approachable feel to it.
Eugène
A cool take on the Greek name Eugenios, it means “well-born”. This name has a classic feel to it and has been popular in France for many years.
French Boy Names That Start With F
Fabien
This name is of Latin origin and means “bean grower”. It’s a unique name that’s sure to make your little boy stand out.
Félix
Another Latin one it comes from the word meaning “lucky” or “successful”. This name has a positive feel to it and is still popular in France.
Florent
This name is of Latin origin and means “flowering”. It’s a beautiful name that signifies growth and blossoming.
François
The French form of Francis, this name means “Frenchman”. It’s a traditional French name that has stood the test of time. My oldest brother’s name and everyone calls him…Frank.
Frédéric
The French form of Frederick, it means “peaceful ruler”. This name has a noble and strong feel to it.
French Boy Names That Start With G
Gabriel
Derived from the Hebrew name Gavriel, meaning “God is my strength”. This name is popular in many cultures, including France. “Hey Gab!”
Gaspard
The French form of Jasper, it means “treasurer”. This name has a classic feel to it and is still popular in France.
Gérald
From Germanic elements ger, meaning “spear”, and wald, meaning “rule”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
Gilles
The French form of Giles, it means “young goat”. Despite its unusual meaning, this name has a friendly and approachable feel to it.
Gustave
Derived from the Old Norse elements gautr, meaning “Goth”, and stafr, meaning “staff”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
French Boy Names That Start With H
Henri
The French form of Henry, this name means “home ruler”. It’s a classic name that has stood the test of time.
Hugo
Derived from the Germanic name Hugh, it means “heart, mind, spirit”. This name is popular in many cultures, including France.
Hervé
This unique name is of Breton origin and means “battle worthy”. It’s a strong name that’s sure to make your little boy stand out.
French Boy Names That Start With I
Igor
This name is of Russian origin and means “warrior”. It’s a unique name that’s sure to make your little boy stand out.
Isaac
The Hebrew name Yitzhak, it means “he will laugh”. This name has a friendly and approachable feel to it.
Isidore
The French form of Isidoros, it means “gift of Isis”. This name has a beautiful sound and a strong meaning.
French Boy Names That Start With J
Jamil
My favorite one on the list. I named my son Jamil-Clément and it fits him to perfection. It means ‘Handsome’ and ‘Beautiful’ in Arabic.
Jacques
The French form of James, it means “supplanter”. This name has a classic feel to it and is still popular in France.
Jules
Derived from the Roman name Julius, it means “youthful”. This name has a fresh and lively feel to it.
Julien
The French form of Julian, it means “youthful”. This name has a fresh and lively feel to it.
Justin
Comes from the Latin name Justinus, it means “just”. This name has a noble and strong feel to it.
Jérôme
The French form of Jerome, it means “sacred name”. This name has a spiritual feel to it and is still popular in France.
French Boy Names That Start With K
Kévin
The French form of Kevin, it means “kind, gentle, and handsome”. This name has a friendly and approachable feel to it.
Kylan
This unique name is of Celtic origin and means “narrow”. It’s a unique name that’s sure to make your little boy stand out.
Kylian
It actually comes from the Irish name Cillian, it means “church”. This name has a spiritual feel to it and is gaining popularity in France.
French Boy Names That Start With L
Laurent
The French form of Lawrence, it means “from Laurentum”. This name has a classic feel to it and is still popular in France.
Léo
Derived from the Latin name Leo, it means “lion”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
Luc
The French form of Luke, it means “light”. This name has a positive feel to it and is still popular in France.
Ludovic
Derived from the Germanic name Ludwig, it means “famous battle”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
Léon
The French form of Leon, it means “lion”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
French Boy Names That Start With M
Marcel
Roman name Marcellus, it means “young warrior”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
Mathis
The French form of Matthias, it means “gift of God”. This name has a beautiful sound and a strong meaning.
Maxime
It’s Latin. The name is Maximus, which means “greatest”. This name has a noble and strong feel to it.
Michel
The French form of Michael, it means “who is like God?”. This name has a spiritual feel to it and is still popular in France.
Maurice
Based on the Roman name Maurus, it means “dark-skinned”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
More Baby Name Collections:
200 One Syllable Baby Boy Names
Unique Baby Boy Names that Aren’t Overused
French Boy Names That Start With N
Nathan
Taken from the Hebrew name Natan, it means “he gave”. This name has a friendly and approachable feel to it.
Nicolas
The French form of Nicholas, it means “victory of the people”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
Noël
Love this one…It comes from the French word noël, it means “Christmas”. This name has a festive feel to it and is still popular in France.
French Boy Names That Start With O
Olivier
The French form of Oliver, it means “olive tree”. This name has a beautiful sound and a peaceful meaning.
Odilon
This unique name is of French origin and means “wealthy”. It’s a unique name that’s sure to make your little boy stand out.
Octave
Derived from the Latin name Octavius, it means “eighth”. This name has a unique sound and a strong meaning.
French Boy Names That Start With P
Pascal
Paschalis means “relating to Easter”. This name has a festive feel to it and is still popular in France.
Philippe
The French form of Philip, it means “friend of horses”. This name has a friendly and approachable feel to it.
Pierre
The French form of Peter, it means “rock”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
Patrice
From the Latin name Patricius, it means “nobleman”. This name has a noble and strong feel to it.
Paul
The French form of Paul, it means “small, humble”. This name has a friendly and approachable feel to it.
French Boy Names That Start With Q
Quentin
Another popular one. For the Latin name Quintinus, it means “fifth”. This name has a unique sound and a strong meaning.
Quincy
The French form of Quincy, it means “estate of the fifth son”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
French Boy Names That Start With R
Raphaël
The Hebrew name for Raphael, means “God heals”. This name has a spiritual feel to it and is still popular in France.
Rémy
The French form of Remus, it means “oarsman”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
René
From Latin origins, it means “rebirth”. This name has a spiritual feel to it and is still popular in France.
Richard
The French form of Richard, it means “brave power”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
Roland
This Germanic name Hrolf, means “famed land”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
French Boy Names That Start With S
Sébastien
The French take of Sebastian, it means “venerable”. This name has a noble and strong feel to it.
Simon
The French form of Simon, it means “he has heard”. This name has a friendly and approachable feel to it.
Serge
Derived from the Latin name Sergius, it means “servant”. This name has a humble and approachable feel to it.
Stéphane
The French form of Stephen, it means “crown”. This name has a royal feel to it and is still popular in France.
Sylvain
A Latin name, Silvanus, means “from the forest”. This name has a peaceful and serene feel to it.
French Boy Names That Start With T
Théo
The French form of Theo, it means “gift of God”. This name has a beautiful sound and a strong meaning.
Tristan
Stems from the Celtic name Drystan, it means “riot, tumult”. Despite its meaning, this name has a friendly and approachable feel to it.
Timothée
The French form of Timothy, it means “honoring God”. This name has a spiritual feel to it and is still popular in France.
Thibault
Based on the Germanic elements theud, meaning “people”, and bald, meaning “bold”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
Thierry
The French form of Theodoric, it means “ruler of the people”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
French Boy Names That Start With U
Ulysse
The French form of Ulysses, it means “wrathful”. Despite its meaning, this name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
Urbain
This Latin name Urbanus, means “city dweller”. This name has a modern and cosmopolitan feel to it.
Ugo
The French form of Hugo, it means “mind, intellect”. This name has a scholarly feel to it and is still popular in France.
French Boy Names That Start With V
Valentin
This name is pronounced very differently from the English version.It comes from the Latin name Valentinus, it means “healthy, strong”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
Victor
The French form of Victor, it means “victor”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
Vincent
Taken from the Latin name Vincentius, it means “conquering”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
Virgile
The French form of Virgil, it means “staff bearer”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
Véron
The French word for Veron, means “alder tree”. This name has a peaceful and serene feel to it.
French Boy Names That Start With W
William
The French form of William, it means “will helmet”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
Walt
A short form of the name Walter, it means “ruler of the army”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
Winston
Based on the Old English elements wynn, meaning “joy”, and stan, meaning “stone”. This name has a happy and strong feel to it.
More Cute French Boy Names
French Boy Names That Start With X
Xavier
Borrowed from the Basque place name Etxeberria, it means “new house”. This name has a modern and fresh feel to it.
Xander
A short form of the name Alexander, it means “defending men”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
French Boy Names That Start With Y
Yves
This name stems from the Germanic name Yvo, it means “yew”. This name has a strong and powerful feel to it.
Yann
The Breton form of John, it means “God is gracious”. This name has a spiritual feel to it and is still popular in France.
Yvan
The French form of Ivan, it means “God is gracious”. This name has a spiritual feel to it and is still popular in France.
French Boy Names That Start With Z
Zacharie
The French form of Zechariah, it means “God has remembered”. This name has a spiritual feel to it and is still popular in France. All his friends will call him Zack anyways, so remember that…
Zephyrin
Originated from the Greek name Zephyros, it means “west wind”. This name has a peaceful and serene feel to it. Cool name but keep in mind that he’ll be asked all his life how to spell it.
Zoé
The French form of Zoe, it means “life”. Despite being traditionally used for girls, this unisex name is gaining popularity for boys in France.
French Names In The Modern World
In the rich tapestry of French nomenclature, you will find a harmonious blend of classic names and modern choices, each echoing the beautiful characteristics of the French language. These names, though deeply rooted in history and culture, have crossed borders, finding a place in the hearts of people beyond French-speaking countries, even reaching families in the United States.
From traditional French names that have adorned royals and historical figures to more contemporary options that blend tradition with modern appeal and bilingual parenting, this list provides great options for every preference. I hope you find the baby name inspiration that speaks to your heart, resonating not just heritage and culture, but also embodying the essence you envision in your son’s name.
The list I’ve made up came from a Dad’s point of view… a French Dad. These are pretty much all beautiful French boy names for English speakers. BUT~~~ Keep in mind this, boys will be boys and his friends might play around with his ‘unique’ name, so make sure that the name you choose won’t backfire on him while at school or on the playground. Of course, I don’t want to be a negative nagging Daddy but reality is what it is and kids can be cruel so choose wisely. Enjoy!
About Patrick
Patrick Cloutier is a French-Canadian Father, Author, and Dad Blogger who has thrived as an entrepreneur in South Korea and Canada since 2000. With a diverse background in owning businesses, freelancing as an English teacher, writer, and actor, he now dedicates himself to helping fathers find balance and joy through his popular dad blog, Daddysimply.com.
When he’s not attempting to eat scrambled eggs with chopsticks, he enjoys quality time with his wife and son, engaging in exercise, Korean language studies, and immersing himself in a good book. You can also find him on TikTok here, and Facebook here.
If you enjoyed this article, use the image below to pin it to your Pinterest board to make it easy to find next time!
Great names~! Dax~Clement… sweet stuff…