French boy names have a smooth, confident sound that feels stylish without being fussy. Some are instantly familiar across the world (Louis, Gabriel, Lucas), while others keep a distinctly French flair (Baptiste, Étienne, Gaspard). If you want something that works for a baby, a book character, or even a username that looks good on the screen, you have a lot of strong options here.
Popular French Boy Names
- Louis: famous warrior
- Gabriel: God is my strength
- Lucas: from Lucania
- Léo: lion
- Arthur: bear
- Hugo: mind, intellect
- Jules: youthful
- Adam: man
- Noah (Noé): rest, comfort
- Nathan: he gave
- Mathis: gift of God
- Tom: twin
- Paul: small, humble
- Éthan: strong, firm
- Enzo: ruler of the home
- Maxime: greatest
- Raphaël: God has healed
- Liam: resolute protection
- Sacha: defender of mankind
- Théo: gift of God
Classic French Boy Names
- Alexandre: defender of mankind
- Antoine: priceless one
- Charles: free man
- François: Frenchman, free man
- Henri: home ruler
- Jean: God is gracious
- Nicolas: victory of the people
- Pierre: rock
- Philippe: lover of horses
- Sébastien: from Sebaste
- Simon: he has heard
- Vincent: conquering
- Victor: victor, winner
- André: manly
- David: beloved
- Daniel: God is my judge
- Emmanuel: God is with us
- Joseph: he will add
- Michel: who is like God
- Thomas: twin
French Boy Names With a Strong, Bold Feel
- Adrien: from Adria
- Armand: army man
- Auguste: venerable, majestic
- Axel: father of peace
- Baptiste: baptizer
- Bernard: brave as a bear
- César: head of hair
- Damien: to tame, subdue
- Dominique: belonging to the Lord
- Édouard: wealthy guardian
- Frédéric: peaceful ruler
- Gautier: ruler of the army
- Gérard: brave spearman
- Grégoire: watchful
- Guillaume: resolute protection
- Gustave: staff of the Goths
- Hugues: mind, spirit
- Jérôme: sacred name
- Laurent: crowned with laurel
- Léon: lion
Vintage French Boy Names That Are Coming Back
- Albert: noble, bright
- Alphonse: noble, ready
- Anatole: sunrise, east
- Arsène: virile, strong
- Aurélien: golden
- Basile: kingly
- Benoît: blessed
- Blaise: lisping, stammering
- Célestin: heavenly
- Claude: lame
- Clément: gentle, merciful
- Denis: follower of Dionysus
- Eugène: well-born
- Félix: happy, fortunate
- Fernand: bold voyager
- Florent: flowering, prosperous
- Gaston: from Gascony
- Marcel: little warrior
- René: reborn
- Sylvain: of the forest
Stylish, Modern French Boy Names
- Bastien: from Sebaste
- Élias: the Lord is my God
- Émile: rival
- Émilien: rival
- Étienne: crown, garland
- Gaspard: treasurer
- Ismaël: God will hear
- Marius: of Mars
- Mathéo: gift of God
- Maxence: greatest
- Milo: merciful, gracious
- Nino: God is gracious
- Noam: pleasantness
- Oscar: deer lover
- Quentin: fifth
- Rémi: oarsman, rower
- Romain: Roman
- Timothée: honoring God
- Ulysse: wrathful, hate (traditional meaning)
- Valentin: strong, healthy
French Boy Names That Feel Soft and Charming
- Amaury: work ruler
- Aurèle: golden
- Camille: attendant at a religious ceremony
- Cédric: kindly, loved
- Christophe: bearer of Christ
- Cyrille: lordly
- Émeric: industrious leader
- Florentin: flowering, prosperous
- Gilles: young goat
- Lucien: light
- Ludovic: famous warrior
- Maurice: dark-skinned, Moorish
- Matthieu: gift of God
- Olivier: olive tree
- Pascal: of Passover
- Patrice: nobleman
- Raymond: wise protector
- Roland: famous land
- Serge: servant, protector
- Virgile: flourishing
Rare but Real French Boy Names
- Aubin: white, bright
- Bérenger: bear spear
- Célian: heavenly
- Clovis: famous in battle
- Désiré: desired
- Évariste: pleasing
- Firmin: strong
- Géraud: spear ruler
- Gervais: spear servant
- Honoré: honored
- Isidore: gift of Isis
- Jocelyn: member of the Gauts
- Léandre: lion man
- Léopold: brave people
- Lionel: young lion
- Norbert: bright north
- Octave: eighth
- Prosper: fortunate
- Stanislas: standing in glory
- Théodore: gift of God
If you want a French boy name that feels effortless, start by saying your top ten out loud. The right ones usually have a nice rhythm, and they still sound good when you imagine calling them across a playground or signing them at the bottom of an email years from now.
If you are torn between a classic and something rarer, a simple trick is to pick the name you would be happiest to explain when someone asks, “How did you choose that?” That is usually the one that sticks for the long run.