Looking for a magnifique moniker for your little prince that sparkles with a dash of joie de vivre and an unforgettable panache? We’ve created a list of the top 262 French boy names worth writing home - just for you!
Oozing out inexhaustible elegance in their bounteous appeal, French boy names bloom with emotion and depth.
Brimming with an allure that is impossible to resist, French names for boys radiate an ineffably adorable aura that’s hard to overlook and even harder to forget!
Drenched in inexpressible beauty they are nothing short of formidable and when it comes to cuteness? They're the epitome of brilliance!
In this article:
So, let's delve into our list of the top 262 French baby boy names and their meanings to find the perfect French name for your little monsieur!
Top French boy names with their meanings
Abel – Breath
Adam - "Man" or "Red Earth"
Adolphe - "noble wolf"
Adrien - "from Hadria" or “dark one”
Aimé - "loved"
Alain - "handsome" or “rock”
Alban - "from Alba"
Albert - "noble, bright"
Alexandre - "defender of men"
Alfred - "elf counsel"
Alfred- Wise Counselor
Alphonse - "noble and ready"
Ambroise - "immortal"
Anatole - "east, sunrise"
André - "manly, masculine"
Anselme - "divine protection"
Antoine - "Priceless" or "Inestimable, beyond praise"
Anton - "priceless one"
Antonin - "priceless"
Archibald - "genuine and bold"
Armand - "army man, soldier"
Arnaud - "eagle power"
Arsène - "male, virile"
Arthur - "Bear" or "Noble"
Aubin - "white, bright"
Audric - "old ruler"
Auguste - "great, venerable"
Augustin - "Great" or "Magnificent"
Aurèle or Aurélien - "Golden"
Axel - "Father of peace"
Aymé - "loved"
Baptiste - "Baptizer" or "Dipper"
Barnabé - "son of encouragement"
Barthélemy - "son of the furrow"
Bartholomew - "son of Talmai"
Basile - "royal, kingly"
Bastien - "venerable"
Baudouin - "brave friend"
Benjamin – Son of The Right Hand
Benoit - "blessed"
Bérenger - "bear spear"
Bernard - "bear + hardy"
Bernard - "brave bear"
Bertrand - "bright raven"
Blaise - "lisping"
Bruno – Brown Hair or Skin
Calixte - "most beautiful"
Camille - "attendant at a religious ceremony"
Cédric - "kind and loved" or “bounty”
Célestin - "heavenly"
César - "head of hair" or “long haired”
Charles - Strong Man
Charles-Henri - "free man + home ruler"
Christian - "follower of Christ"
Christophe - "Christ-bearer"
Claude - "lame"
Clément - "merciful, gentle"
Constantin - "constant, steadfast"
Corentin - Stormy Weather or "hurricane"
Cyprien - "from Cyprus"
Cyrille - "lordly"
Damien - "to tame"
Daniel - "God is my judge"
Darius – “Possesses A Lot”
David - "beloved"
Denis - "follower of Dionysus"
Désiré - "desired"
Didier - "desired"
Diego – “Supplanter”
Dimitri - "follower of Demeter"
Dominique – “Belonging to The Lord”
Dorian - "child of the sea" or “gift”
Edgar - "fortunate and powerful"
Edmond - "wealthy protector"
Édouard – “Guardian of Prosperity”
Élias - "Yahweh is God"
Elie – “My God Is Yahweh”
Elliot - "God on high" or "Jehovah is God"
Éloi – “Chosen One”
Emeric - "work-power"
Émile - "Eager" or "Industrious" or “rival”
Emmanuel – “God Is with Us”
Enzo – “Rules His Household”
Éric - "eternal ruler"
Ernest - Seriousness and Determination
Éthan - "Firm" or "Strong"
Étienne - "garland, crown"
Eustache - "fruitful"
Fabien - "bean grower"
Fabrice - "craftsman"
Félicien - "happy, lucky"
Félix - "Happy" or "Fortunate" or ''Prosperous''
Felton– From The Field Town
Fernand- Adventurer
Fiacre - "raven"
Firmin - "firm, steadfast"
Flavien - Blond Hair
Florent - "blooming, flourishing"
Florian - "Flower" or "Blooming"
Francis - "free man"
Franck – Free Man
François - "free"
Frédéric - "peaceful ruler"
Gabin - "God is my strength"
Gabriel - "God is my strength"
Gaël - "generous"
Gaétan - "from Gaeta"
Gaspard - "Treasurer" or "Keeper of the treasure"
Gaston - "guest"
Gauthier – Ruler Of The Army
Geoffroy - "peaceful territory"
Georges- Farmer
Gérald - "rule of the spear"
Gérard - "spear strength"
Gilbert - "bright pledge"
Gilles - "shield of goatskin"
Gregoire - "watchful, alert"
Guillaume - "resolute protector"
Gustave - "staff of the Gods, staff of the Goths"
Guy - "guide"
Gwenaël - "blessed and generous"
Hector- “Holder of The Spear”
Henri - "home ruler"
Hermann - "army man"
Hervé - "battle worthy"
Hilaire - "happy, merry"
Hippolyte - "freed horse"
Honoré – Honored One
Hubert - "bright heart"
Hugo - "mind, intellect"
Hugues - "mind, intellect"
Ignace - "unknowing"
Irénée - "peace"
Isaac - "One who laughs "
Isidore - "gift of Isis"
Ismaël - "God will hear"
Ivan - "God is gracious"
Jacques - "supplanter"
Jean - "God is gracious"
Jean-Claude - "God is gracious + lame"
Jean-Luc - "God is gracious + light"
Jean-Paul - "God is gracious + small"
Jean-Pierre - "God is gracious + stone"
Jérémie - "God will uplift" or "Exalted by God"
Jérôme – “Sacred Name”
Joachim- “God Will Establish”
Jocelyn - "Gaut's tribe"
Joël - "Yahweh is God"
Joseph - He Adds
Josse - "just"
Josué - "God is salvation"
Jules - "downy"
Julien - "youthful, downy"
Justin - "Just" or "Fair"
Lambert - "land bright"
Laurent - "from Laurentum"
Léandre - "lion of a man"
Léo - "lion"
Léon - "lion"
Léonard - "lion strength"
Léonce - "lion-like"
Léopold - "bold people"
Liam - "Desire" or "Protector"
Lothaire - "famous army"
Louis - "famous warrior"
Louis-Philippe - "famous warrior + lover of horses"
Luc – “Light or Illumination”
Lucas -"Bringer of light"
Lucien - "Light" or "Bringer of light"
Ludovic - "famous warrior"
Manfred - "strength, peace"
Marc - "warlike"
Marcel - "little warrior"
Marius - "male"
Martin - "Warlike" or "Of Mars"
Mathéo or Mathias or Mathis or Mathys - "Gift of God"
Mathieu - "gift of God"
Matthieu - "gift of God"
Maurice - "dark-skinned, Moorish"
Maxime or Maxence - "Greatest"
Maximilien - "greatest"
Michel - "who is like God?"
Narcisse - "sleep, numbness"
Nathan - "Gift from God"
Nicolas - "victory of the people"
Noah or Noé - "Rest" or "Peace"
Noël - "born at Christmas"
Norbert- Brilliant Hero
Numa - "law, usage"
Octave - "eighth"
Odon - "wealth"
Olivier - "olive tree"
Omer - "bundle of grain"
Oscar - "Spear of the gods" or "God's spear"
Pascal - "Easter-related"
Patrice - "nobleman"
Patrick - "nobleman"
Paul - "Small" or "Humble"
Paul-Emile - "small + rival"
Paulin - "small"
Pépin - "determined, peppy"
Philibert - "very bright"
Philippe - "friend of horses"
Pierre - "Rock" or "Stone"
Pierre-Louis - "stone + famous warrior"
Pons - "bridge"
Prosper - "fortunate"
Quentin - "Fifth" or "Born in the fifth month"
Rainier - "deciding warrior"
Raoul - "wolf counsel"
Raphaël – God Has Healed
Raymond - "wise protector"
Régis - "ruler"
Rémi - "Oarsman" or "Remedy"
Rémy - "oarsman"
Renard - "fox"
René - "reborn"
Reynaud - "ruler's advisor"
Richard - "powerful leader"
Robert - "bright fame"
Robin - "bright fame"
Roderick - "famous power"
Rodolphe - "famous wolf"
Roger - "famous spear"
Roland - "famous land"
Romain - "from Rome"
Roméo - "pilgrim to Rome"
Sacha - "defender of mankind"
Samuel - "heard by God"
Sébastien - "from Sebastia" or “venerable”
Séraphin - "burning ones"
Serge - "servant"
Sévérin - "stern"
Simon - "he has heard"
Stéphane - "crown"
Sylvain - "from the forest"
Théo - "God's gift"
Théodore - "gift of God"
Théophile - "friend of God"
Thibault - "brave people"
Thierry - "ruler of the people"
Thomas - "twin"
Timothée - "honoring God"
Tom - "Twin"
Tristan - "Tumult" or "Outcry"
Ulysse - "wrathful"
Urbain - "city dweller"
Valentin - "strength, health"
Valère - "to be strong"
Véran - "springlike"
Victor - "conqueror"
Vincent - "conquering"
Xavier - "new house" or “bright”
Yann - "God is gracious"
Yannick - "God is gracious"
Yoann - "God is gracious"
Yvan - "God is gracious"
Yves - "yew tree"
Yvon - "yew wood"
Zacharie - "God has remembered"
Zéphirin - "west wind"
Zéphyr - "west wind"
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cute French name for a boy?
Some French boy names are every bit as emotionally impactful as they are ripe with an endearing flair and a plethora of charm.
Here are a few popular French boy names worth writing home:
Louis: Originating from the Germanic name "Ludwig," Louis is interpreted as "famous warrior" or "renowned fighter."
Adrien: With Latin origins, Adrien is a variant of the name "Hadrianus," meaning "from Hadria" or potentially referring to someone who is dark or dark-haired.
Étienne: Étienne is of Greek origin, derived from the name "Stephanos," and it signifies "crown" or "crowned one."
Mathis: Mathis, a variant of "Matthias," originates from the Hebrew name "Mattityahu." It is interpreted as "gift of Yahweh" or "gift of God."
Jules: Jules is rooted in the Roman family name "Julius," associated with Julius Caesar. It's related to the Latin word "iulus," implying "downy-bearded" or "youthful."
Antoine: Antoine is of Latin origin, derived from the name "Antonius," and it signifies "priceless" or "invaluable."
Théo: Théo is a diminutive of the Greek name "Theodore," and it means "gift of God."
Hugo: Originating from the Germanic name "Huguo," Hugo is interpreted as "mind" or "spirit."
Léo: Léo, a diminutive of the Latin name "Leon," signifies "lion."
Baptiste: Baptiste originates from the French term for "baptized," and it is often associated with one who baptizes.
Gabriel: Gabriel is derived from the Hebrew name "Gavri'el," composed of "gavri," meaning "strong" or "mighty," and "el," denoting God. Thus, Gabriel can be interpreted as "God is my strength" or "God is mighty."
What is a unique name for a boy in France?
Uncommon French names for boys should definitely be on your radar if you’re looking for a French name endowed with stylish appeal and topped with that je ne sais quoi, making it a unique choice for your baby boy.
All that said, here are some less common male French names that still resonate deeply:
Thibault: Derived from the Germanic name "Theobald," Thibault means "brave people" or "courageous leader."
Célestin: Célestin has Latin origins and is derived from the Latin word "caelestis," meaning "heavenly" or "celestial."
Gaspard: Gaspard is a French variant of the name "Jasper," which is associated with a gemstone.
Anatole: With Greek origins, Anatole is derived from the Greek name "Anatolius," Anatole means "sunrise" or "east."
Léandre: Léandre is derived from the Greek name "Leander," meaning "lion of a man" or "lion-man."
Maël: Maël is a Breton name with Celtic origins. It's derived from the word "mael," which means "chief" or "prince."
Eloi: Eloi is derived from the Latin name "Eligius," which means "chosen" or "elected."
Cyprien: Cyprien is derived from the Latin name "Cyprianus," associated with the island of Cyprus.
Florentin: Florentin is derived from the Latin name "Florentinus," meaning "flourishing" or "blooming."
Octave: Octave is derived from the Latin word "octavus," meaning "eighth."
What are some French guys' names?
Here are some French male names that, with their elegant flavor, enhance their pervasive and tranquil beauty magically:
Pierre: Pierre is a French version of the name Peter, which means "rock" or "stone."
Paul: Paul derives from the Latin name "Paulus," meaning "small" or "humble."
Jean: Jean is the French version of the name John, which originates from the Hebrew name "Yochanan" meaning "God is gracious."
Jacques: Jacques is the French form of the name Jacob, which means "supplanter" or "heel grabber."
Philippe: Philippe is the French form of the name Philip, derived from the Greek name "Philippos," meaning "lover of horses."
François: François is the French version of the name Francis, derived from the Latin name "Franciscus," which means "Frenchman" or "free man."
Michel: Michel is the French version of the name Michael, originating from the Hebrew name "Mikha'el," meaning "Who is like God?"
André: André is the French form of the name Andrew, which means "man" or "masculine."
Vincent: Vincent comes from the Latin name "Vincentius," meaning "conquering" or "prevailing."
Alexandre: Alexandre is the French form of the name Alexander, which means "defender of men" or "protector."
Nicolas: Nicolas is the French form of the name Nicholas, derived from the Greek name "Nikolaos," meaning "victory of the people."
Mathieu: Mathieu is the French form of the name Matthew, originating from the Hebrew name "Mattityahu," which means "gift of Yahweh" or "gift of God."
Maxime: Maxime is derived from the Latin word "maximus," meaning "greatest" or "most excellent."
Julien: Julien is the French form of the name Julian, which comes from the Roman family name "Julius."
Olivier: Olivier is the French form of the name Oliver, derived from the Latin word "oliva," meaning "olive tree."
Thomas: Thomas originates from the Aramaic name "Toma," meaning "twin."
David: David comes from the Hebrew name "Dawid," meaning "beloved" or "friend."
Guillaume: Guillaume is the French form of the name William, which means "resolute protector" or "willful helmet."
Antoine: Antoine is the French form of the name Anthony, derived from the Roman family name "Antonius."
Benoît: Benoît is derived from the Latin word "benedictus," meaning "blessed" or "good."
What French male name means handsome?
In French, there is no given name that means "handsome." However, the name "Adonis" is sometimes used in French and boasts a distinct brand of masculine attractiveness in every sense of the term.
Adonis is derived from Greek mythology and refers to a figure known for his exceptional handsomeness.
While not traditionally French, it has been adopted and is used as a male given name in French-speaking regions.
Final thoughts
Here’s the thing: Whether they are popular French names or unique, lesser-known ones, French baby boy names are, for all intents and purposes, lavish of singular charm and sophistication!
And that rings truer when you plunge into our list of the best French baby names and their meanings, as well as the top French baby girl names and their meanings!
