Medieval French names. French male names and their meaning

Beautiful French names are original and have an interesting origin story. The first names and surnames in France appeared dozens of centuries ago. Since then, they have often changed both under the influence of historical events and due to the trend of new fashion trends. Women's names are endowed with a special charm and charm, which is why they are common not only in France, but also in other countries.

French traditions

Unlike Russian people, the French often have not one, but two or three names and only one surname. This custom appeared through the influence of the Roman Catholic Church. It is believed that if you name a child with two names, then throughout the life of a person not one, but two saints will protect.

If parents called their child a triple name, this does not mean that the people around them will pronounce it in full in order to address the person. Among the three names, the child has one official, which is used as the main one. When the baby grows up, he leaves himself only one name that he likes the most. In this case, he will not need to re-register documents.

The French names currently in use first appeared several hundred years ago BC. In Gaul often borrowed Greek and Celtic names, during the time of the invasion of the ancient Romans - Roman, in the Middle Ages - German. At the end of the 18th century, under a new law, the French named their children after Catholic saints.

French female names of the ancient Gallic era:

In ancient times, Greek names were common:

• Anne (Anne) - graceful, God's grace
• Eve (Ev) - full of life

Male names of Greek origin:

The most popular French female names of the late 20th century:

Frankish variants

Most Frankish names have 2 roots in their composition: the first root is named after the father, and the second is named after the mother.

Rare male names of Frankish origin:

Female names of Frankish origin:

• Arogasta - mistress of eagles
• Gibetruda - a friend of the gift
• Albofleda - having the beauty of fairies
• Chrodechild - a glorious warrior
• Avdovera is a happy warrior
• Avrovetha - arrow woman, swift
• Bertheflaed - shining with beauty

What are women and men called now

Below is a list of the most used and beautiful French female names in this century:

French names are beautiful and original, they have their own complex but interesting history. Among them are especially popular, containing fashionable options today, as well as the names of saints. The latter are not only attractive, but are also talismans that protect their owner throughout life.

4.09.2016 / 09:18 | Varvara Pokrovskaya

French names for girls and men are especially popular in many countries of the world. Therefore, you can often meet people with beautiful names originally from France, no matter what country or city you are in. These names sound harmonious and melodious, give their owner a touch of exoticism, romance and elegance.

Features of French names

Names in France appeared a very long time ago - the period is calculated in tens of centuries. Over time, the names have changed, which was influenced by both historical events and fashion trends. In France, during the time of Gaul, among the nicknames there were a large number of Greek and Celtic ones, later Jewish names also appeared on the territory of the state.

In the Middle Ages, when the German conquerors came to the country, Germanic nicknames appeared, and already in the 18th century a law was created requiring parents to call babies the names of people who somehow belonged to the church. Soon, foreign nicknames lost their relevance, as citizens preferred to give Catholic or truly French ones. Today, such laws have lost their force, and the French give their babies any names.

Choosing a name today, parents adhere to European rules: a person can have one or two names and a single surname. Many citizens continue to observe traditions and prefer the nicknames of saints. Often a child receives two personal names. This is done in order to give the baby the patronage of two saints at once. However, in life, a person uses only one name that he likes the most. This approach is considered practical - that's what the French say. If a citizen after the age of majority decides to change a commonly used nickname, he can use any of his names. Thus, he can avoid paperwork and a long process of replacing documents.

Another interesting feature of French names is polite treatment. A title is often used for this. If your interlocutor is a man, you should say “Monsignor”, ​​but if the appeal is directed to an unmarried lady, you can tactfully say “Mademoiselle”, if we are talking about a divorced or married woman - “Madame”. However, today everything is much simpler, and the young girl is always addressed as “Mademoiselle”, and to the older ladies “Madame”. By the way, addressing a person only by name in France is a sign of ignorance and illiteracy. This is only allowed in the circle of family or friends.

State law also states that every citizen can have two names. The first is used as a personal, for use at school, work and in other areas of life. The second fits into the documents.

But according to the traditions of the country, children are given three names:

1. The first-born male will be named after the grandfather by the father's family, then the second name is given, in honor of the grandfather by the mother's family, then the name of the saint is used (chosen and given on the day of baptism).
2. The first-born females are called by the name belonging to the grandmother in the female line, then - the second grandmother in the male gender, the third nickname is chosen from the names of the saints.
3. The second boy in the family is named in honor of the great-grandfather by the father's family, then the maternal great-grandfather, the third invariably - in honor of the saint.
4. The youngest girl is given the name of her great-grandmother by mother, the second - by her great-grandmother by father, the third - by the name of a saint.

French female names

The names of French women are distinguished by their beauty and melody. In Catholic families, a woman necessarily has three names, the last of which refers to the saint commemorated on the day of baptism. Parents believe that the third nickname gives the daughter a protector who will accompany her throughout her life and help her avoid difficulties and problems.

If a woman has three names, this does not mean that she will be called differently. It will be called the main one, recorded in the identity document. When a girl becomes an adult, she can change her primary name to whatever her parents gave her.

In modern France, Russian names are again in fashion. The most popular include: Adele, Elvira, Camilla, Violeta. In turn, the French offer everyone their beautiful names, which are called babies all over the world:

• Amelie;
• Veronica;
• Irene;
• Carolina;
• Claire;
• Katherine;
• Monica;
• Morion;
• Celine;
• Sylvia;
• Jeannette;
• Emma.

The above list contains not only French names. So, the name Jeannette has Jewish roots, Veronica - Greek. There are a lot of borrowed names, all of them are used by many modern parents.

French names for men

Men, just like women, receive three names at birth: the main, the second and the nickname of the saint. Boys are called by the names of their fathers and grandfathers - traditions are rarely observed, and not all parents want to give European, American and other names to their sons.

The most popular names for the representatives of the strong half include:

• Gin;
• Michelle;
• Philip;
• Alain;
• Patrick;
• Pierre;
• Nicolas;
• Christoph;
• Christian;
• Daniel.

Also popular are Bernard, Eric, Frederic Laurent, Stefan, Pascal, David, Gerard, Julien, Olivier, Jacques.

In the country, many people use double names, for example, Jean-Pierre, Paul-Henry, Anna-Laura, Marie-Louise. Both words are written with a hyphen and belong to the same gender. But there are times when two words are used, masculine and feminine. For a man, the first name is masculine, for example, Jean-Marie, for a girl - feminine - Anna-Vincent. It is worth knowing that if the name of your interlocutor consists of two parts, this is how you should address him: Jean-Pierre, Anna-Laura, etc.

Many names for the weaker sex are formed from male ones, to which the suffixes "ette", "ine" and others are added. Often such additions affect the pronunciation: Armand - Armand, Daniel - Danielle.

A little about surnames. They first appeared in the 16th century. Then the king ordered all citizens to choose their own surnames. She could be the name of the father of the family (Bernard, Robert, Henry and others). A second word was added to the name, denoting a character trait, features of appearance, a settlement (large, low, dark, swarthy).

french boy names

The French language is considered one of the most melodic and beautiful among all existing ones. The names for young male citizens are also distinguished by euphony. This is due, first of all, to the origin of the names, which was influenced by historical events, the Catholic faith and other factors.

Some of the most popular boy names today are:

french girl names

The French are believing Catholics, giving children several names, one of which has a church connotation. This applies to both boys and girls. The chosen patron is especially important for the latter, because women are considered weak and tender, so more men need the strength of a protector.

Traditionally, girls are called a way: the first name is from grandmothers in both the female and male lines. The second is dictated by the day when the baby was baptized.

The second girl in the family receives the names of great-grandmothers plus the name of the saint. Despite the fact that this tradition is many years old, today's youth adheres to it with pleasure. However, among the parents there are also fashion lovers who are ready to reward their daughter with any name they like. Both Russian and European unusual names are popular, for example, Dylan, Kilian, Ocean, Ains.

Beautiful French names and their meaning

France is the owner of hundreds of beautiful, euphonious names. Every year the list is updated with new options.

Beautiful female names:

• Emma is one of the top names that has not left the first place for ten years. In France, every 7th newborn girl is called this way.
• Lolita or Lola - formed from Luisa. A beautiful, playful name, not suitable for little girls, but most welcome - for adults, business women.
• Chloe - came into fashion during the popularization of Negro culture.
• Lea - at first glance, an inexpressive name, but despite this, it is in demand among the French.
• Mano - derived from Mari. A noble name by French standards.
• Louise is a "retro" name that sends us back half a century.
• Zoya - used not only in Russia, but also in France. It translates as "life".
• Lilu or Lilia is an interesting name that evokes associations with a fairy-tale country.
• Lena is a familiar name that the French call their babies today.
• Sarah is a Jewish name that has been in vogue for decades.
• Kamiy is a name for all times, winning in all situations.
• Lina - formed from Angelina.
• Eve is the name of Adam's girlfriend, and therefore always remains in demand.
• Alice - has a number of options: Alicia, Alice, etc.
• Rima is the ruler of Rome.

Beautiful male names:

• Nathan - a leading place in the hit parade of male names. More than ten children are in the first places. If your name is Artem and you are going to France, know that they will call you Nathan there!
• Enzo is a nickname that owes its popularity to the famous film masterpiece from Luc Besson - the film "The Blue Abyss".
• Louis - brevity and royal charm in one nickname.
• Gabrielle is a new fashion trend that many couples who have become parents use today.
• Jules is a proper name that belonged to Julius Caesar. But today this nickname is associated with France.
• Arthur is the name of a great king and is now popular among boys.
• Timeo - names ending in "o" - the squeak of fashion.
• Rafael is a beautiful name for a little boy, adult men with this name are called Rafas.
• Mael - the nickname means something like "boss", "royal person".
• Adam - especially for Eve.

Popular French names

In recent years, Russians do not choose native Russian names, but prefer foreign ones, including French ones. They can be heard more and more often in educational institutions, kindergartens, and medical institutions. Among the popular ones are Daniel, Adele, Anabel, Anais, Ismina, Marcel, Margot, Marietta, Mathieu, Thomas, Emile.

When choosing a name for a baby, do not be too lazy to get acquainted with its meaning, because both the French and we believe that a popular name will bring good luck to the baby, and a nickname denoting a bright character trait, a magical symbol, natural forces, will give happiness, health and well-being!

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select a country and click on it - a page with lists of popular names will open

France, 2014-2015

SELECT YEAR 2014–2015 2009–2011

State in Western Europe. The capital is Paris. It borders with Spain, Andorra, Monaco, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium. Population (at the end of 2014) - about 66 million people (all of France) / 64.2 million people (European France). At the beginning of 2011, there were 5.5 million immigrants in France. France also includes four overseas regions (Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Reunion). Religious composition (2004 survey): Catholics - 64.3%, Protestants - 1.9%, Jews - 0.6%, Muslims - 4.3%, professing no religion - 27%. However, these data are approximate. According to other surveys, the distribution by confession is different.

The best-known data site for name statistics in France is MeilleursPrenoms.com, billing itself as the very first French name site. Indeed, it has existed since 2000. In addition to data on the origin of names, there are lists of popular names for newborns by year, starting from 1900. For 2014, the twenty most common names. Data for 2013 are not provided. For the rest of the years - the 200 most popular names.

The creator of this website is Stephanie Rapoport. She is the author of books on names that are published regularly based on data from the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Research of France (l "INSEE). Therefore, this site can be completely trusted. I will give the twenty most frequent names of 2014. Probably the names on this site are in descending order frequencies.

Top 20 names. France, 2014

Position number	Male names	Women's names
1	Nathan	Emma
2	Lucas	Lola
3	Leo	Chloe
4	Gabriel	Ines
5	Timeo	Lea
6	enzo	Manon
7	Louis	Jade
8	Raphael	Louise
9	Arthur	Lena
10	Hugo	Lina
11	Jules	Zoe
12	Ethan	Lilou
13	Adam	Camille
14	Nolan	Sarah
15	Tom	Eva
16	noah	Alice
17	Theo	Malys
18	Sacha	Louna
19	Mael	Romane
20	mathis	Juliette

Another interesting name data resource is opendata.paris.fr, maintained by the Paris City Hall. This site has official data on personal names given to newborns in the French capital. They are grouped by year, starting in 2004. The most current data is now for 2015. Names are given, the frequency of which is higher than 4. In 2015, there were 646 such names for men and 659 for women. For each name, the frequency is given in absolute numbers. These materials, although limited to one city, are of undoubted interest to researchers of names.

Top 20 male names. Paris, 2015

Position number	Name	Frequency
1	Adam Gabriel	355 355
2	Raphael	320
3	Paul	260
4	Louis	256
5	Arthur	245
6	Alexandre	226
7	Victor	208
8	Jules	205
9	Mohammed	185
10	Lucas	177
11	Joseph	170
12	Antoine	167
13	Gaspard	165
14	Maxime	152
15	Augustine	146
16	Oscar	133
17	Ethan	131
18	Leo	127
19	Leon	123
20	Martin	122

Top 20 female names. Paris, 2015

Position number	Name	Frequency
1	Louise	293
2	Alice	244
3	Chloe	206
4	Emma	178
5	Ines	175
6	Sarah	174
7	Jeanne	173
8	Anna	160
9	Adele	155
10	Juliette Camille	149 149
11	Lea	143
12	Lina	142
13	Eva	140
14	Sofia	137
15	Charlotte Victoria Rose	134 134 134
16	Mila	132
17	Josephine	127
18	Manon	126
19	Zoe	118
20	Nina	115

French is deservedly considered the most sensual language in the world - in its everyday life there are several hundred verbs denoting emotions and feelings of various kinds. The lyrical melody of the throat sound “r” and the exquisite precision of “le” give a special charm to the language.

Gallicisms

The French words used in Russian are called gallicisms, they have firmly entered the Russian-speaking conversation with a large number of words and derivatives from them, similar in meaning or, conversely, only in sound.

The pronunciation of French words differs from Slavic ones in the presence of throat and nasal sounds, for example, “an” and “on” are pronounced by passing the sound through the nasal cavity, and the sound “en” through the lower part of the front wall of the throat. Also, this language is characterized by an accent on the last syllable of the word and soft hissing sounds, as in the word "brochure" and "jelly". Another indicator of gallicism is the presence in the word of suffixes -azj, -ar, -izm (plume, massage, boudoir, monarchism). Already these subtleties make it clear how unique and diverse the state language of France is.

Abundance of French words in Slavic languages

Few people realize that "metro", "baggage", "balance" and "politics" are primordially French words borrowed by other languages, beautiful "veil" and "nuance" too. According to some data, about two thousand gallicisms are used every day in the territory of the post-Soviet space. Clothing items (knickers, cuffs, vest, pleated, overalls), military themes (dugout, patrol, trench), trading (advance payment, credit, kiosk and mode) and, of course. the words accompanying beauty (manicure, cologne, boa, pince-nez) are all gallicisms.

Moreover, some words are consonant by ear, but have a distant or different meaning. For example:

• A frock coat is an item of men's wardrobe, and literally means "on top of everything."
• Buffet - for us it is a festive table, for the French it is just a fork.
• A dude is a dapper young man, and a dude in France is a dove.
• Solitaire - from the French "patience", in our country it is a card game.
• Meringue (a kind of fluffy cake) is a beautiful French word for a kiss.
• Vinaigrette (vegetable salad), vinaigrette is just French vinegar.
• Dessert - originally this word in France meant clearing the table, and much later - the last dish, after which they clean up.

Language of love

Tete-a-tete (one-on-one meeting), rendezvous (date), vis-a-vis (opposite) - these are also words from France. Amor (love) is a beautiful French word that has stirred the minds of lovers so many times. A stunning language of romance, tenderness and adoration, the melodic murmur of which will not leave any woman indifferent.

The classic “je tem” is used to denote strong, all-consuming love, and if “byan” is added to these words, then the meaning will already change: it will mean “I like you.”

Peak of popularity

French words in Russian first began to appear during the time of Peter the Great, and from the end of the eighteenth century they significantly moved native speech aside. French became the leading language of high society. All correspondence (especially love) was conducted exclusively in French, beautiful long tirades filled the banquet halls and negotiation rooms. At the court of Emperor Alexander III, it was considered shameful (bauvais ton - bad manners) not to know the language of the Franks, a person was immediately branded ignorant, so French teachers were in great demand.

The situation changed thanks to the novel in verse "Eugene Onegin", in which the author Alexander Sergeevich acted very subtly by writing a monologue letter from Tatyana to Onegin in Russian (although he thought in French, being Russian, as historians say.) By this he returned former glory of the native language.

Popular phrases in French now

Comme il faut in French means "as it should", that is, something made comme il faut - made according to all the rules and wishes.

• Se la vie! - a very famous phrase meaning "such is life."
• Je tem - singer Lara Fabian brought worldwide fame to these words in the song of the same name "Je t'aime!" - I love you.
• Cherchet la femme - also known to everyone as "look for a woman"
• ger, com a la ger - "in war, as in war." Words from the song that Boyarsky sang in the popular film of all time "The Three Musketeers".
• Bon mo is a sharp word.
• Fézon de parle - manner of speaking.
• Ki famm ve - que le ve - "what a woman wants, God wants it."
• Antre well sau di - it is said between us.

History of several words

The well-known word "marmalade" is a distorted "Marie est malade" - Marie is sick.

In the Middle Ages, Stuart suffered from seasickness during her trips and refused food. Her personal doctor prescribed slices of oranges with peel, thickly sprinkled with sugar, and the French chef prepared decoctions of quince to stimulate her appetite. If these two dishes were ordered in the kitchen, they immediately whispered between the courtiers: "Marie is sick!" (mari e malad).

Chantrap - the word for idlers, homeless children, also came from France. Children who did not have an ear for music and good vocal abilities were not taken to the church choir as singers (“chantra pas” - does not sing), so they wandered around the streets, smoking and having fun. They were asked: "Why are you idle?" Answer: "Shantrapa".

Podshofe - (chauffe - heating, heater) with the prefix under-, that is, heated, under the influence of heat, adopted for "warming". A beautiful French word, but the meaning is just the opposite.

By the way, everyone knows why it was called that? But this is a French name, and she also has a handbag from there - a reticule. Chapeau - translates as "hat", and "gag" is akin to a slap. The slap-folded hat is a folding top hat, which was worn by the mischievous old woman.

Silhouette is the surname of the controller of finance at the court of Louis XV, who was famous for his craving for luxury and various expenses. The treasury was empty too quickly and, in order to remedy the situation, the king appointed the young incorruptible Etienne Silhouette, who immediately banned all festivities, balls and feasts. Everything became gray and dull, and the fashion that arose at the same time for depicting the outline of a dark-colored object on a white background was in honor of the miserly minister.

Beautiful French words will diversify your speech

Recently, word tattoos have ceased to be only English and Japanese (as fashion dictated), they have increasingly begun to come across in French, and some of them have an interesting meaning.

The French language is considered quite complex, with many nuances and details. To know it well, you need to study painstakingly for more than one year, but this is not necessary to use several catchy and beautiful phrases. Two or three words, inserted at the right time into a conversation, diversify your vocabulary and make your speech in French emotional and lively.

By naming a boy with a name of French origin, you take on a great responsibility. The name for a person is the most important word in life, it forms a personality, can influence contacts with peers. We offer to find out which French names for men are considered the most popular.

The history of the origin of French names

French names in particular are double (triple) hard to pronounce or remember. Sometimes it is impossible to understand who it belongs to - a woman or a man. This discrepancy occurs because in France, names are given in the same form for both girls and boys. To understand their meaning, you need to know their origin and look into history. French names for boys attract with grace of pronunciation and special charm. They differ from traditional names in an unusual sound.

In ancient times, representatives of the Russian nobility called their heirs with a "French accent". Thus, they tried to ennoble the name. A striking proof of this phenomenon, the hero of the book by Leo Tolstoy is Peter (Pierre) Kirillovich Bezukhov. The Orthodox name George took on a French meaning, like Georges. The same thing seems to be happening today, which is why parents don't want to give their sons traditional names. They are attracted to something especially original.

As for the origin of purely French names, they were formed under the influence of significant events that left their mark on history. For example, the male name Alan means beautiful, and Dayon, Isaac - dedicated to holy deities. The names Mark, Alphonse and Gilbert appeared during the German invasion of French lands. After the adoption of the law, according to which all newborns, without exception, had to be called names from the church (Catholic) calendar.

It was then that they began to give predominantly modern Catholic names for those times. It was believed that in this way newborns "acquired" the protection of patron saints. Over time, borrowing stopped. Children began to be called double and triple names in honor of their ancestors. Today, the French are free to give the baby any name. Only some Catholic families still adhere to these traditions.

List of beautiful french boy names

Among immigrants from France there are many creative people, famous poets, actors and artists. Apparently this fact left an imprint on their names, they came up with many beautiful-sounding with a refined accent, options.

The proposed list of the most beautiful names for boys will make it easy to verify this:

• Adrian
• Bastian
• Valerie
• Gilbert
• Didier
• Jerome
• Camille
• Modest
• Noel
• Pascal
• Silestin
• Stephen
• Theodore
• forest
• Florentine
• Emil

Being in search of a beautiful name for the baby, parents begin to study their origin. It is difficult to choose a consonant name with a fateful meaning. However, in the case of French names, this problem does not arise, they are all beautiful, and predetermine a happy fate.

Rare male names of French origin

The defining criteria for choosing a male name for boys is consonance with the surname and patronymic. However, in modern society, the demand for rare, unlike ordinary names, variations has grown.

Rare, undeservedly forgotten popular French names:

• Amedi
• Easter
• North
• Perrine
• Ermenegild
• Philibert
• Amadiou
• modger

When choosing rare options for boys, think about the meaning of the name and pay attention to their sound. No matter how rare it is, the child will live with this name all his life.

The most common male names in France and their meaning

Surely, many parents are interested in knowing what male names are popular today, directly in France itself. Judging by modern children, the vast majority of modern parents continue to call boys Daniel. It is still relevant, but not for France, where the fashion for names is completely different.

The most beautiful names for boys today look like this:

• Hugo (Hugo) - fidget
• Alain (Alain) - handsome
• Patrick (Patrick) - noble
• Pierre (Peter) - Chief
• Mathis - God's gift
• Jean (Ivan) - gracious
• Michel (Michael) - looks like a god
• Augustine - Honorable
• Christophe - bearer of Christ
• Christian (Christian) - Christian
• Bernard - strong
• Arthur (Arthur) - bear man
• Eric - leader
• Frederic (Frederic) - defender
• Dionne - dedicated to Zeus
• Laurent (Laurent) - arrived from Lorentum
• Dominic - owned by a lord
• Olivier - olive
• Thierry - King of the Nations
• Francois (Francois) - French

Recently, many people want to call the boy a French name. We, unfortunately, cannot give the newborn two or three names, like the French. However, if the parents have a desire to give the boy a French name, this is not prohibited.

Ancient and forgotten names

Recently, there has been a tendency to call boys in an original way, bringing to light old and forgotten names with French roots.

• Barthelamew - son of the plowed land, son of the fields
• Cola - conqueror of nations
• Pascal - the child of Easter
• Silestin - heavenly
• Eugene - beautiful, noble
• Raul is a wise wolf

The names presented in the lists are not always of purely French origin, but they sound very beautiful.

Male names common in France often have Roman, Latin, Greek and Anglo-Saxon roots.

How to choose a name for a boy depending on the date of birth

The Catholic, as well as the Orthodox tradition, is often based on the names of saints, in calendars by date of birth. It is worth noting that Catholic and Orthodox saints practically do not coincide. This is due to the split of churches that took place in the 11th century. Therefore, French names include those mentioned in the Bible, as well as those of Germanic, Latin and English origin. When choosing a name, you can be content with the Catholic calendar of saints. The date is selected the day of the day or close to the birth of the baby.

True Catholics do not allow distortion or abbreviation of their name. However, depending on the country, for ease of pronunciation of the French name, it may vary. For example, Maximilian, we will often be called Max, and Charlemagne - Charles.