French Baby Girl Names and Meanings That are Cute, Cool & Unique

Aug 30, 2010
Christina Gregoire

Cute French Baby - photo martinispygirl

If you are looking for a baby name, consider these unique, unusual, fab French-girl baby names. They are different but not kooky weird or difficult to say.

Here are some French names that won’t sound weird or strange in most English-speaking countries and these are fairly easy words to pronounce. This list includes some of the coolest French baby names. Well, it's impossible to get all of the cute monikers on one page, so common French names like Amelie, Celine, Jacqueline and Danielle will just have to wait for another day, another list, and another baby girl.

French Names That Start With "A"

Adelie (ah-deh-LEE or like Natalie without the “N”) Meaning: Royal. Variants: Adele (popular in late 1800s,) Adeline (ah-deh-LEEN, sometimes the English pronunciation ad-del-LINE like the song Sweet Adeline).
Alexiane (ah-LEX-ee-ann) Defender. Nicknames: Alex, Lexi, Anne, Alette.
Ariane, Arianne. Meaning: Very holy one. Ariane is used in French, German, and English speaking countries. Nickname: Annie.
Aveline (ah-veh-LEEN, sometimes ah-veh-LINE) Meaning: Possibly, little bird. This was a medieval (English) form of Evelyn. Nicknames: Ava, Avie, Lina.

Avoid These "A" Names

No French names are terrible, but some female names don’t weather the translation as well as others. Afrodile sounds like the Afro hairstyle. Aurorette is unpronounceable for English speakers. French “R” sounds are nigh impossible for Americans to reproduce.

"B" Names for Baby Girls

Brigitte (bree-ZHEET) Meaning: Exalted, Lofty and may be related to the pre-Christian Irish goddess of poetry and wisdom. This name should be reserved for girls who look like they will be beautiful. Any woman in America with this name will spend her life being compared favorably or unfavorably to Brigitte Bardot.
Blaise. Name of famous stripper. Avoid this name.

Girls Names That Start With "C"

Cecile (seh-SEEL). Popular in Victorian times.
Celeste and Celestine were both popular in the 19th century. Meaning: Heaven, celestial.
Charline. Free man/person. Nickname: Charlie.
Christiane. Follower of Christ.
Collette. Victory of the people. Nickname: CoCo, Cosette.
Avoid Capucine (too much like Capuchin monkey).

Names That Start With "D"

Dominique. Of God. Feminine of Domenic. She has her own Dominique song, though it is about a priest. Nicknames: Nikki, Neekie, Nika, Minnie.
Doriane, Dorianne are also cute.

"E" Names for Girls

Elianne. Meaning: God has answered. Nickname: Ellie, Annie. (Eliane may be confused with Elaine.)
Elise. Beautiful diminutive of Elizabeth. Beethoven’s song Fur Elise.
Emeline, Emmeline (em-uh-LEEN)

Baby Girl Names Starting With "F"

Francoise (frahn-SWAHZ). From France. The “s” is not silent. Nickname Frankie not Fanny.
Fifi is a synonym for poodle, so only use it as a nickname for something like Josephine.

Girl Names Starting With "G"

Genevieve (JAHN-vee-ev). Nicknames: Genie, Vivie, Gennie/Jenny. Be prepared to battle English pronunciations and American .
Gisele (pronounced zhee-ZELL). Germans say GEE-sella – like geese. Gisele is probably best when the baby is born into an artsy family because this sweetie has her own ballet.

"J" Names

Jeannette (zhah-NET ) or Jeannine. Diminutive of Jeanne (zhahn).
Josette, pet name of Josephine, Juliette form of Julie (popular in Quebec,) Justine means just or righteous.

Girls Names Beginning With "L"

Laurette (law-RET). Meaning: Laurel.
Lisette, Lizette. Variant of Elizabeth.
Lucette, Lucinde (LOO-sind,) Lucie. Light.

"M" Girl Names

Marcelline (mar-seh-LEEN), Marcheline. Warlike.
Marguerite, Margaux (say Mar-go). French versions of Margaret. Meaning: Pearl or daisy.
Marie, Marie-Louise, Marie-Soleil (muh-REE-so-LAY,) Marielle, Mariette All forms of Mary.
Melisande (MEL-e-zahnd). Strength. Old French medieval form of Millicent. Nicknames: Liz, Andie, Sandy, Zandy.
Mirabelle (me-rah-BELL). Name from the Middle Ages meaning wondrous. Makes people think of Mirabelle plum in France. Hey, plum is as good as apple.

Baby "N" Names

Noelie, Noelle. Day of birth or Christmas.
Noriane (Modern French Name). Meaning: Pity.

Names Starting With "R"

Renee (reh-NAY). Reborn. That little heartbreaker has her own cool song.
Rosemonde (ROZ-mond or Roz-eh-mond). German name for “horse protection” during Middle Ages and Renaissance. Nicknames: Rosie, Rosette.

Girl Names That Start With "S"

Solange (so LAHNZH,) Soline. Solemn.
Sorel (sor-ELL). Brown, chestnut.

French Names for Babies That Start With "T"

Thalie (TAH-lee). Meaning: Flourish, bloom.
Theophanie (tay-oh-fuh-NEE). Rare, mostly used in 19th century. Means epiphany. Nicknames: Teddie, Teddy
Therese (tay-REHZ). Meaning: Harvester. Nicknames: Terri, Rese.

"V" Baby Names

Veronique (vehr-oh-NEEK). Bringing victory. Nicknames: Vera, Ronnie.
Vivie, Vivien, Vivienne. Meaning: Alive.

Almost all French first names are beautiful for girls but they can be hard for non-French speakers to pronounce. The "R" sound is especially difficult to enunciate. So, run these and other French names past a couple of people to see if they mangle the word or if they come fairly close.