French boy names have that clean, confident sound that works in real life and on paper. Some feel timeless (think saints and kings), others feel sleek and modern, and a few are quietly rare.
Below are 120 French male names, each with a simple meaning you can actually use while narrowing your shortlist.
Classic French Boy Names
- Alexandre: defender of mankind
- Antoine: priceless, praiseworthy
- Baptiste: baptizer
- Benoit: blessed
- Charles: free man
- Christophe: bearer of Christ
- Claude: lame (ancient Roman family name)
- Daniel: God is my judge
- David: beloved
- Denis: follower of Dionysus
- Dominique: belonging to the Lord
- Etienne: crown, garland
- Felix: happy, fortunate
- Francois: Frenchman, free one
- Gabriel: God is my strength
- Georges: farmer, earthworker
- Gerard: brave spear
- Henri: home ruler
- Hugo: mind, spirit
- Jacques: supplanter
- Jean: God is gracious
- Joseph: God will add
- Jules: youthful
- Laurent: from Laurentum (also linked to laurel)
- Louis: famous warrior
- Luc: light
- Marc: of Mars
- Martin: of Mars
- Matthieu: gift of Yahweh
- Michel: who is like God?
- Nicolas: victory of the people
- Olivier: olive tree
- Pascal: of Easter
- Paul: small, humble
- Philippe: lover of horses
- Pierre: rock, stone
- Raphael: God has healed
- Rene: reborn
- Robert: bright fame
- Samuel: God has heard
- Sebastien: from Sebaste
- Simon: he has heard
- Thomas: twin
- Victor: conqueror
- Vincent: conquering
- Xavier: new house
Popular Modern French Boy Names
- Adrien: from Hadria, “of the Adriatic”
- Alban: white, bright
- Amaury: work ruler
- Arthur: bear (traditional meaning)
- Axel: father of peace
- Aymeric: ruler, power
- Camille: young ceremonial attendant
- Clement: merciful, gentle
- Damien: to tame, subdue
- Eloi: chosen one
- Enzo: ruler of the household (traditional use)
- Gael: Gaelic
- Gaspard: treasure bearer
- Gregory: watchful, vigilant
- Hugo: mind, spirit
- Ilyes: the Lord is my God (form of Elias)
- Ismael: God will hear
- Jules: youthful
- Leo: lion
- Liam: resolute protector
- Loic: famous warrior
- Malone: disciple of Saint John (traditional)
- Marin: of the sea
- Mathis: gift of Yahweh (form of Matthias)
- Maxence: greatest (from Maxentius)
- Maxime: greatest
- Mehdi: rightly guided
- Noe: rest, comfort
- Rayan: watered, lush (also “gates of heaven” in some traditions)
- Sacha: defender of mankind (diminutive of Alexander)
- Theo: gift of God
- Timeo: to honor (linked to Timothy)
Short and Stylish French Boy Names
- Alain: rock (traditional meaning)
- Amael: prince (Breton and French use)
- Axel: father of peace
- Basile: kingly, royal
- Ciel: sky
- Elie: the Lord is my God
- Enzo: ruler of the household (traditional use)
- Gael: Gaelic
- Jean: God is gracious
- Jo: God will add (short form of Joseph)
- Lou: famous warrior (short form of Louis)
- Luc: light
- Malo: disciple of Saint Malo (traditional)
- Noel: Christmas
- Remi: oarsman, rower (traditional)
- Theo: gift of God
- Yann: God is gracious
- Yves: yew tree
Vintage and Old-School French Boy Names
- Anatole: sunrise
- Armand: soldier
- Aurelien: golden
- Cedric: kindly, loved (traditional use)
- Cyprien: from Cyprus
- Edmond: rich protection
- Emile: rival, eager
- Eugène: well-born, noble
- Fernand: bold voyager
- Firmin: strong, steadfast
- Florent: flourishing
- Gaston: from Gascony
- Gilbert: bright pledge
- Gustave: staff of the Goths (traditional)
- Hector: steadfast
- Isidore: gift of Isis
- Leon: lion
- Léonard: brave lion
- Marcel: little warrior
- Maurice: dark-skinned, Moorish (Latin root)
- Norbert: bright north
- Octave: eighth
- Prosper: fortunate, successful
- Sylvain: of the forest
- Théodore: gift of God
- Ulysse: wrathful (traditional meaning tied to Odysseus)
- Valentin: strong, healthy
- Wallace: Welshman (used in French history as well)
French Names With Strong Religious Roots
- Ange: angel
- Baptiste: baptizer
- Benoit: blessed
- Christophe: bearer of Christ
- Damien: to tame, subdue (saint name)
- Dominique: belonging to the Lord
- Elie: the Lord is my God
- Emmanuel: God is with us
- Gabriel: God is my strength
- Jean: God is gracious
- Luc: light (also Saint Luke)
- Matthieu: gift of Yahweh
- Michel: who is like God?
- Noël: Christmas
- Raphael: God has healed
- Samuel: God has heard
- Théodore: gift of God
- Timothée: honoring God
- Vincent: conquering (saint name)
If you want a name that feels unmistakably French, try saying your top picks out loud with your last name and a middle name. The best ones tend to have an easy rhythm and a clean finish. When a name keeps coming back to you after a day or two, that is usually your answer.