150 French baby boy names and their meanings

Need help picking a baby name with quintessential English charm with the help of our list of the top English baby names and searching for a name with a Celtic heritage for your new baby? We've compiled a brilliant list of Celtic baby names for both boys and girls with roots in old Welsh, Irish, Scottish, Breton, Manx and Cornish cultures. For cute, unique, popular and cool baby girl names have a look through our list of the best girl names that sound effortlessly on-trend, quirky and modern.

Here's our list of 150 French baby boy names to inspire you...

Most popular French boy names | Unique French boy names | Beautiful French boy names | Modern French boy names | Rare French boy names | Cute French boy names | Old fashioned French boy names

Popular French boy names

There is only 1 French baby boy name in the most recent lists of the top 100 UK baby names published by the Office for National Statistics (for names registered in England and Wales), by the National Records of Scotland and by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. It won't surprise you to learn that this name is Louis (or Louie), no doubt inspired by Prince William and Princess Catherine who called their third child Louis back in 2018. But there are many other Gallic names hoovering just outside the top 100, and you'll recognise them as popular around the UK today – we've listed them below along with their meanings:

1. Alexander (Alexandre)

• Origin: Greek, French and Portuguese
• Meaning: defender of the people

2. André

• Origin: French
• Meaning: manly

3. Antoine

• Origin: French
• Meaning: praiseworthy

4. Bertrand

• Origin: French
• Meaning: bright raven

5. Etienne

• Origin: French
• Meaning: garland, crown

6. François

• Origin: French
• Meaning: Frenchman; free man

7. Gaston

• Origin: French
• Meaning: from Gascony (a region of France)

8. Guy

• Origin: French
• Meaning: guide, leader

9. Harvey

• Origin: Old Breton
• Meaning: anglicised version of Herve meaning battle warrior

10. Henri

• Origin: French
• Meaning: home ruler

11. Jacques

• Origin: French
• Meaning: one who follows

12. Jean

• Origin: Old French
• Meaning: God is gracious

13. Lancelot

• Origin: French
• Meaning: a servant
• Also: Launcelot

14. Laurent

• Origin: French
• Meaning: bright one

15. Louis/ Louie

• Origin: French
• Meaning: famous warrior

16. Mathéo

• Origin: French from Hebrew
• Meaning: gift of god

17. Matthieu

• Origin: French
• Meaning: gift of the Lord

18. Maxime

• Origin: French
• Meaning: greatest

19. Monty

• Origin: French
• Meaning: man power; shortening of Montgomery or Montague

20. Oliver/ Olivier

• Origin: French
• Meaning: olive tree

21. Pierre

• Origin: French
• Meaning: stone, rock; French version of Peter

22. Remi or Remy

• Origin: French
• Meaning: oarsman

23. René

• Origin: French
• Meaning: re-born

24. Russell

• Origin: French
• Meaning: red coloured
• Also: Russ

25. Sébastien

• Origin: French
• Meaning: from Sebaste (a town in Turkey); after Saint Sebastian

26. Teddy

• Origin: French
• Meaning: wealth, fortune

27. Théodore

• Origin: Greek
• Meaning: god given

28. Vernon

• Origin: French
• Meaning: alder grove

29. Xavier

• Origin: French from Basque region
• Meaning: new house

30. Zacharie

• Origin: French from Hebrew
• Meaning: the Lord recalled

Unique French boy names

If you fancy something a little bit different and original but still want a name that has that unmistakable French flair, then our list of unusual and unique French boy names should do the trick. Many are obviously French due to the use of acute and grave accents while some names derive from French place names or famous French people. Whichever name you choose from this list, it's sure to make your little boy stand out from the crowd.

31. Alderic

• Origin: French
• Meaning: majestic strength

32. Amédée

• Origin: French (variation of Amadeus)
• Meaning: God's beloved

33. Anthelme

• Origin: French from German
• Meaning: zeal, protection

34. Aristide

• Origin: Greek, French
• Meaning: the best

35. Arsène

• Origin: Latin, French
• Meaning: male, virile

36. Baylen

• Origin: French
• Meaning: auburn-haired

37. Borelly

• Origin: French
• Meaning: a comet named after the French astronomer who discovered it

38. Bérenger

• Origin: French from German
• Meaning: bear, spear

39. Ciel

• Origin: French
• Meaning: from heaven, literally "the sky"

40. Croix

• Origin: French
• Meaning: holy cross

41. Cyrille

• Origin: Greek, French
• Meaning: master, lord

42. Dax

• Origin: French
• Meaning: name of a town in South West France

43. Dieudonné

• Origin: French
• Meaning: gift from God

44. Émeric

• Origin: German, French
• Meaning: ruler, power

45. Gervais

• Origin: French
• Meaning: spear

46. Léandre

• Origin: French from Greek
• Meaning: lion man

47. Lowell

• Origin: French
• Meaning: young wolf

48. Malo

• Origin: Breton
• Meaning: shining hostage

49. Seely/ Seeley

• Origin: Old French
• Meaning: blessed
• Also: Sealey

50. Quincy

• Origin: French
• Meaning: estate of the 5th son
• Also: Quincey

Beautiful French boy names

While all French names sound beautiful thanks to their romantic Latin roots, we've chosen some extra alluring French baby boys names for this list based on them having particularly lovely meanings such as golden, handsome or good friend as well as their gorgeous cadence when spoken. Many of these beautiful boy names are short and sweet and are nice and easy to say if you don't have a French accent too.

51. Aimé

• Origin: French
• Meaning: loved

52. Aloïs

• Origin: French from German
• Meaning: famous warrior

53. Arnaud

• Origin: French from German
• Meaning: eagle, power

54. Aubin

• Origin: French
• Meaning: white, bright

55. Augustin

• Origin: French from Latin
• Meaning: great, magnificent

56. Aurélien

• Origin: French from Latin
• Meaning: golden, gilded

57. Baptiste

• Origin: French from Greek
• Meaning: baptist, one who washes

58. Beau

• Origin: French
• Meaning: beautiful or handsome

59. Benoit

• Origin: French
• Meaning: blessed

60. Bonamy

• Origin: French
• Meaning: good friend

61. Chapin

• Origin: French
• Meaning: shoemaker

62. Clement

• Origin: French
• Meaning: merciful, gentle

63. Côme

• Origin: French form of Cosmo
• Meaning: order, decency

64. Corentin

• Origin: French
• Meaning: tempest, hurricane

65. Delano

• Origin: French
• Meaning: nighttime

66. Dumas

• Origin: French
• Meaning: of the farmstead, from French playwright and novelist Alexandre Dumas

67. Fabien

• Origin: French
• Meaning: bean grower

68. Jules

• Origin: French
• Meaning: youthful

69. Gabriel

• Origin: French
• Meaning: god is my strength

70. Marcel

• Origin: French
• Meaning: from the God Mars

71. Sylvain

• Origin: French
• Meaning: wood, forest

72. Sylvestre

• Origin: French
• Meaning: the forest

Modern French boy names

For nearly two centuries a French law was in place that meant newborns had to be given conventional names from the Christian calendar, so with their links to religion and saints days many French names can sound traditional and old-fashioned. However, since 1993 French parents have had free rein to choose any name for their babies, so if you like the idea of a more modern-sounding French name for your baby boy, you'll love some of the options below.

73. Bastien

• Origin: French
• Meaning: revered, shorted form of Sébastien

74. Blaise

• Origin: French
• Meaning: to lisp, stammer

75. Bruno

• Origin: French from German
• Meaning: brown, dark

76. Calvin

• Origin: French and Latin
• Meaning: little bald one

77. Chandler

• Origin: French
• Meaning: maker of candles

78. Chase

• Origin: French
• Meaning: a hunter

79. Chevy

• Origin: French
• Meaning: horseman, knight

80. Clark

• Origin: French
• Meaning: clerk, scribe
• Also: Clarke

81. Curtis

• Origin: French
• Meaning: courteous

82. Damien

• Origin: French from Greek
• Meaning: to tame, subdue

83. Darrel

• Origin: French
• Meaning: from Airelle (a town in France)
• Also: Darrell, Darell, Darryl and Daryl

84. Dion

• Origin: French
• Meaning: God of wine and revelry

85. Eugene

• Origin: French
• Meaning: well-born, noble

86. Gerard

• Origin: French
• Meaning: spear ruler

87. Leroy

• Origin: French
• Meaning: the king

88. Lyle

• Origin: French
• Meaning: from the island

89. Marshall

• Origin: French
• Meaning: caretaker of horses

90. Tyson

• Origin: French
• Meaning: fire bird

91. Thierry

• Origin: French
• Meaning: ruler of the people

Rare French boy names

Like the idea of your child being the only one with a certain name on the school register? Then you'll want to consider these rare French baby boys' names that are unique and unusual and you won't come across very often. Some are inspired by surnames or place names while others are inspired by jobs and nature.

92. Adélard

• Origin: French from Old German
• Meaning: noble strength

93. Carvel

• Origin: French
• Meaning: swampy dwelling

94. Clovis

• Origin: French
• Meaning: renowned fighter

95. Diggory

• Origin: French
• Meaning: strayed or lost

96. Firmin

• Origin: French
• Meaning: steadfast

97. Florent

• Origin: French
• Meaning: blooming, flourishing

98. Frayn

• Origin: French
• Meaning: ash tree

99. Faustin

• Origin: French
• Meaning: fortunate one

100. Granville

• Origin: French
• Meaning: a large town

101. Harvey

• Origin: French
• Meaning: army warrior

102. Jarvis

• Origin: French/Norman
• Meaning: spear man

103. Maxence

• Origin: French
• Meaning: greatest, abundant

104. Sinclair

• Origin: French
• Meaning: clear, bright, famous

105. Taylor

• Origin: French
• Meaning: tailor or to cut
• Also: Tayla, Tailor

106. Venance

• Origin: French
• Meaning: hunter

107. Yves

• Origin: French
• Meaning: yew tree

108. Zéphirin

• Origin: French
• Meaning: the west wind

Cute French boy names

You're spoiled for choice in France when it comes to finding super-sweet names that are as cute as your new baby boy. We've compiled some of our favourites here, which not only sound delightful but have equally cute meanings like elf ruler, desired and prince.

109. Alban

• Origin: French
• Meaning: white, fair; high mountain

110. Aubert

• Origin: French from Old German
• Meaning: noble, bright

111. Aubrey

• Origin: French and German
• Meaning: elf ruler

112. Barnabé

• Origin: French from Greek
• Meaning: son of consolation

113. Darcy

• Origin: French
• Meaning: from Arcy

114. Devereaux

• Origin: French
• Meaning: beside the river

115. Didier

• Origin: French
• Meaning: desired; beloved

116. Edmé

• Origin: French
• Meaning: rich protector; French short form of Edmund

117. Éloi

• Origin: French, Latin
• Meaning: to choose

118. Florian

• Origin: French
• Meaning: blossoming, flourishing

119. Gaël

• Origin: Breton
• Meaning: Gaelic

120. Honoré

• Origin: French
• Meaning: honoured, esteemed

121. Hubert

• Origin: French
• Meaning: bright, shining intellect

122. Mael

• Origin: Breton
• Meaning: chief, prince

123. Noé

• Origin: French from Hebrew
• Meaning: rest, repose, quiet; French form of Noah

124. Quentin

• Origin: French
• Meaning: the fifth

125. Raphaël

• Origin: French
• Meaning: God has healed

126. Sorrel

• Origin: French
• Meaning: reddish-brown; the name of a herb

127. Valentin

• Origin: French
• Meaning: strong, healthy

Old fashioned French boy names

When it comes to choosing your baby boys' name you might want to go for something with a bit of history and tradition attached. These old fashioned French boy names certainly have heritage attached to them and many go back many generations. You'll find names that are favoured by both the French and British royal families in this list as well as classic names that have been tried and tested over many centuries.

128. Alphonse

• Origin: French
• Meaning: noble, ready

129. Alain

• Origin: French
• Meaning: little rock

130. Algernon

• Origin: French
• Meaning: whiskered; having a moustache

131. Bernard

• Origin: French
• Meaning: bear, brave

132. Charles

• Origin: French
• Meaning: free man

133. Claude

• Origin: French
• Meaning: strong-willed

134. Denis

• Origin: French
• Meaning: follower of Dionysus

135. Edouard

• Origin: French from Old English
• Meaning: wealthy guard; French form of Edward

136. Emile

• Origin: French
• Meaning: rival

137. Guillaume

• Origin: French
• Meaning: resolute protector; French form of William

138. Hervé

• Origin: French
• Meaning: warrior

139. Jacques

• Origin: French
• Meaning: supplanter

140. Jérôme

• Origin: French
• Meaning: sacred name

141. Laurence

• Origin: French
• Meaning: bright one

142. Lionel

• Origin: French
• Meaning: young lion

143. Maurice

• Origin: French
• Meaning: a moor
• Also: Morrie, Maurie and Mo

144. Montague

• Origin: French
• Meaning: pointed hill

145. Mortimer

• Origin: French
• Meaning: dead sea
• Also: Mort

146. Noel

• Origin: French
• Meaning: Christmas

147. Pascal

• Origin: French
• Meaning: Easter

148. Percy

• Origin: French
• Meaning: one who pierces the valley

149. Raoul

• Origin: French
• Meaning: wolf-counsel

150. Régis

• Origin: French
• Meaning: kingly

Pics: Getty

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