French Name Generator

French names: History, structure, and meaning

Since Charlemagne, the history of the French people has been intertwined with the destiny of Western Europe, from cuisine to the events that have shaped history. But don’t get caught up in stereotypes like wine, cheese, and berets: French culture dates back to Celtic influences beyond the influence of ancient Rome.

Legendary figures from Charlemagne to St. Joan of Arc have made French history. But French influence extends to modern times, with concepts like film noir (French for “black”) changing our perceptions of what’s possible in art.

French naming conventions

As is common across the continent, French naming conventions typically dictate a first name and a surname, though multiple given names are common—as is a middle name that follows the rules of the first name. Though surnames are traditionally patrilineal, that’s not necessarily a convention today’s French people have to follow.

French name inspiration

French first names typically have simple symbols that either relate to Catholic saints or express some of the language’s other sources, such as German, English, or Latin roots. Concepts related to nature are prevalent—such as names meaning “star” or related to the sea.

Sprinkle a little of la magie on your next character’s name! Use our French name generator to find new names that dance off the tongue like a lively cabaret in the heart of Montmartre.

List of French names

French names can range from the familiar—Henry, for instance, was originally a French name—to the obscure. But if you want your characters’ names to reflect a Frankish or French influence, you can always use a list of French names to serve as your inspiration.