French female names: list, origin, meaning

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:53

French culture, traditions and language have long been popular in many countries around the world. This is not surprising, because the French know how to enjoy the beautiful: cuisine and unique wines, exquisite etiquette and new fashion trends.

This language, melodious and melodic, has always attracted with its exoticism and romance. Therefore, it is not surprising that beautiful French female names are in demand all over the world. However, the French have traditions associated with this choice, which they have followed for many centuries.

Protection of several saints

Most French people are zealous Catholics who sincerely believe in the intercession of patron saints. That is why double or even triple female names in French are so popular. For example Anna Maria or Bridget Sophie Christine. Moreover, in France, such combinations are officially consideredone name.

Names are chosen for a reason, there is an old tradition that reflects the continuity of generations and respect for elders:

1. The name of the first son in the family will consist of the name of the paternal grandfather, then the name of the maternal grandfather, and then the name of the saint on whose day the child was born.
2. The name of the first daughter will be made up of the name of her mother's grandmother, then her father's grandmother, and then the saint who will patronize the baby.
3. The second son should be named, even more delving into the history of the family: at the beginning - in honor of the great-grandfather in the male line, then - the name of the great-grandfather in the mother's line, and then - the name of the patron saint.
4. The second daughter, respectively, will be named after her maternal great-grandmother, then her paternal great-grandmother, and the third name will become the name of the patron saint.

This custom allows older children to choose a name they like better, rather than inventing a nickname for themselves.

Origin

Most male and female French names and surnames appeared long before our era. The sound of some has changed a little since the time of the Celts, and the inhabitants of ancient Gaul liked to borrow Greek variants. After the conquest of Gaul by the Roman Empire, a lot of Latin names appeared, which are still in use today.

In the Middle Ages, with the advent of the German conquerors, in France, children began to be called German names. The invaders are long gone, but many of the names already adapted to the language remain.

Towards the end of the 18th century, a law was passed obliging the French to name their children after Catholic saints. In many ways, this tradition has survived to this day.

Abbreviated forms

In recent decades in France, as in many other countries, there has been a tendency to give children diminutive forms. For example, in the list of French female names you can find Margot, Manon instead of Marguerite or Marion instead of the traditional Marie.

Historically, most options for beautiful ladies in France end in -e (eg Angelique or Pauline). However, now you can give girls names with the ending -a (Eva instead of Eve or Celia instead of Celie). This trend is more evident in large cities, while residents of the provinces still prefer to give babies traditional options.

Fashion foreign

If earlier the list of French female names has hardly changed for many decades, now the situation is completely different. Whether it is due to a wave of emigrants from other countries or to the blurring of boundaries in our dynamic world, but more and more often the French call children unusual foreign options. Since 2013, Oceane, Ines, Maeva and Jade, common in Latin American countries, have been leading in the lists of the most popular names for girls.

Also, the French willingly borrow Russian names, changing them a little in their own way and often using diminutive forms. For example, in France you can easily meet a baby named Nadia, Sonia, Natacha or Sacha.

Most popular

Every year a French website publishes a list of the most popular male and female names among French parents. This information comes from the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Research of France (l'INSEE). That is why it is quite trustworthy. Derivatives and diminutives are not taken into account among popular French female names.

These statistics have been kept since 1900. In total, the list mentions 259 female and 646 male names. Here are ten of the most popular options for girls:

1. Louise. Derived from the male Louis, a true French name meaning "light, shining".
2. Alice. Initially, the name was entered by the Normans and quickly became popular because of the sonority. There is also a version that this name is an abbreviation for Adelais, which in the ancient Germanic dialect meant "noble".
3. Chloe. One of the names of French origin. However, some philologists attribute it to the epithet of the goddess of agriculture and fertility, Dimeter. Also in Greek mythology, there was Chloris, whose name translates as "the color of foliage." And the generally accepted interpretation is "blooming" or "green".
4. Emma. This name has Latin roots and is translated as "precious", "spiritual". However, some experts attribute this name to Arabic culture and translate it as "faithful, reliable." There is also a version about a shortened version of the male name Emmanuel, meaning "God is with us".
5. Inez. This name is from the Greekepic and means "pure, undefiled".
6. Sarah. A female name that is common not only among Christians, but also among Muslims. Its history begins with the writing of the Old Testament. The name has many meanings, one of the popular ones means "noble woman", "lady".
7. Anne. A name that has Jewish roots and is very common in countries where Christianity is practiced. The ancient meaning of the name is "mercy, joy, grace", but in recent times it has been commonly interpreted as "God's mercy".
8. Adele. Original French female name derived from the male Adele. It means "noble, unflappable, honest" and is well suited to both men and ladies.
9. Juliette. This name goes back to the Roman noble family name Julia. They are also considering an adaptation of the Italian name Giulietta, which became very popular after the tragedy by William Shakespeare.
10. Camille. A name also derived from the name of a Roman noble family. In ancient times, the name meant "a woman of impeccable lineage" or "a servant of the temple".
11. Sofia. This name is of Greek origin, meaning "wisdom, intelligence".

Meaning of names

When deciding to name a baby a sonorous option, you should carefully study its history and meaning. Let's try to figure out which French female names and their meanings modern parents might like. To do this, examine the list:

• Anastasia means restorative;
• Beatrice is an active traveler;
• Vivienne - lively, mobile;
• Josephine - exaggerating;
• Irene, Ireni - peaceful;
• Claire is bright;
• Marian - favorite;
• Orianna - golden;
• Celesta, Celestine is heavenly;
• Florence - blooming;
• Charlotte is human.

Of course, this is not a complete list of French female names in Russian that will suit a newborn girl. Some sonorous options go out of fashion and are gradually forgotten. Although there is always hope that they will become popular again.

Variants popular in the last century

The French are a rather conservative people, so for a long time the fashion for female names remained unchanged. According to tradition, the names of the girls were given in honor of grandmothers and Catholic saints, there was simply nowhere to change.

Everything changed at the end of the 20th century, when the French began to call newborns those options that they liked more, and were not tied to Christmas time. And gradually, Isabelle, Christine, Sylvie, Martine and Catherine began to disappear from the list of French female names. Back in 2006, Marie and Anne led the list of popular options, and already in 2015, Lea, Oceane and Lilou became much more popular.

Double names

Few people know that in addition to the tradition of giving your child two or three names, in France there are legalized double names,considered to be one piece. If the child receives such an option, then it will no longer be possible to divide it: Natalie-Isabelle will not be able to call herself only Natalie or Isabelle. Surprisingly, the French themselves somehow distinguish between these designs.

Here is a short list of the most popular double female names:

• Madeleine-Angelique;
• Juliette-Simon;
• Francoise-Ariane;
• Marie-Amelie;
• Linda-Georgette.

How to choose a name

Since the 18th century, our compatriots have liked melodic French names. But before you call the baby with a sonorous name, you need to get acquainted with all its aspects: the meaning, structure and energy that the name carries.

Our ancestors believed that the future fate of the child depends on the choice of a name: one can help realize talents and abilities, and the other will become an unbearable anchor.

Even when choosing an option, it is worth checking how it will be combined with the baby's surname and patronymic. Experts in diagnostics and selection believe that only a harmonious combination of first and last name will help the baby achieve happiness. Career and development of creative abilities also directly depend on this.

By the way, the French are very attentive to the choice of options for newborns. Not surprisingly, the list of French female names is very long, and each has its own history, often spanning several centuries.