This list covers 38 French boy names, running alphabetically from “Achille” to “Aymeric.” Most carry roots in Latin, Greek, or Germanic languages, and many honor saints, medieval nobles, or figures from French literature and history. Parents use them for newborns, but they also show up in genealogy research, character naming, and studies of French naming traditions.
French boy names are given names traditionally used for males in France, often shaped by centuries of religious, royal, and literary influence. Many trace back to Catholic saints or medieval aristocracy, like “Amaury,” a name once carried by crusader-era nobles. Others, such as “Anatole,” became popular through famous writers, showing how literature can shape a country’s naming habits.
Below you’ll find the table with the name, pronunciation, meaning, and description for each entry.
Name: the French boy’s name itself, spelled exactly as it appears in official records and everyday use.
Pronunciation: a simple phonetic guide showing you how to say each name correctly, even without French language experience.
Meaning: the name’s original sense or linguistic root, so you understand what it literally stood for.
Description: background on the name’s history, cultural ties, and any notable people who made it recognizable in France.
French boy names
| Name | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Achille | ah-SHEEL | Uncertain origin, tied to the Greek hero Achilles |
| Adam | ah-DAHM | “Man” or “earth” (Hebrew) |
| Adrien | ah-dree-EN | “From Hadria” (Latin) |
| Aimé | eh-MAY | “Beloved” (French) |
| Alain | ah-LAN | Breton form of Alan, possibly “harmony” or “rock” |
| Alban | ahl-BAHN | “White” or “from Alba” (Latin) |
| Albert | ahl-BEHR | “Noble and bright” (Germanic) |
| Alexandre | ah-lex-AHN-druh | “Defender of men” (Greek) |
| Alexis | ah-lex-EESS | “Helper, defender” (Greek) |
| Alix | ah-LEEKS | Medieval French variant of Alexis |
| Aloïs | ah-loh-EES | French-Germanic form of Louis, “famous warrior” |
| Alphonse | al-FOHNSS | “Noble and ready” (Germanic) |
| Amand | ah-MAHN | “Lovable” (Latin) |
| Amaury | ah-moh-REE | “Work-power” (Germanic) |
| Ambroise | ahn-BRWAHZ | “Immortal” (Greek) |
| Amédée | ah-may-DAY | “Love of God” (Latin) |
| Anatole | ah-nah-TOHL | “From the East, sunrise” (Greek) |
| André | ahn-DRAY | “Manly, brave” (Greek) |
| Ange | AHNZH | “Angel, messenger” (Greek) |
| Anselme | ahn-SELM | “Divine protection” (Germanic) |
| Antoine | ahn-TWAHN | Possibly “priceless” (Latin/Etruscan) |
| Antonin | ahn-toh-NAN | Diminutive of Antoine |
| Apollinaire | ah-poh-lee-NEHR | “Belonging to Apollo” (Greek) |
| Aristide | ah-ree-STEED | “Best kind” (Greek) |
| Armand | ahr-MAHN | “Army man, soldier” (Germanic) |
| Armel | ahr-MEL | “Bear prince” (Breton) |
| Arnaud | ahr-NOH | “Eagle power” (Germanic) |
| Arsène | ahr-SENN | “Virile, manly” (Greek) |
| Arthur | ahr-TUUR | Disputed, possibly “bear” (Celtic) |
| Ary | ah-REE | Short form, possibly linked to Adrien or Henri |
| Aubin | oh-BAN | “White, fair” (Latin, from Albinus) |
| Auguste | oh-GUUST | “Majestic, venerable” (Latin) |
| Augustin | oh-guu-STAN | Diminutive of Auguste |
| Aurèle | oh-REL | “Golden” (Latin) |
| Aurélien | oh-ray-LYEN | “Golden” (Latin) |
| Axel | ax-EL | “Father of peace” (Scandinavian, via Absalom) |
| Aymar | eh-MAHR | “Home-famous” (Germanic) |
| Aymeric | eh-meh-REEK | “Work-power” (Germanic) |
Descriptions
Achille
A dashing name straight from Greek mythology, borne by the legendary warrior Achilles. It carries a heroic, slightly old-fashioned charm and has surged back into fashion in France in recent years.
Adam
The Biblical first man’s name, used across many cultures. In France it’s a timeless, simple choice that has stayed steadily popular for decades.
Adrien
The French form of Adrian, tied to the Adriatic region of Italy. It became a modern classic in France, especially popular since the 1980s.
Aimé
A tender name meaning “loved,” historically given as a term of endearment. It has poetic warmth and was famously borne by writer Aimé Césaire.
Alain
A quintessentially French name that peaked in the mid-20th century, closely associated with actors like Alain Delon.
Alban
Rooted in the Latin word for white, this name honors an early Christian martyr, Saint Alban, and has a refined, understated feel in France.
Albert
A sturdy Germanic name meaning “noble, bright,” once hugely popular and now enjoying a vintage revival among French parents.
Alexandre
The French form of Alexander, evoking Alexander the Great. It has remained one of France’s most enduring classic names for generations.
Alexis
A softer relative of Alexandre, used for boys in France, and especially popular through the 1980s and 1990s.
Alix
A rare, elegant medieval name once used for both boys and girls, giving it a distinctive, literary flavor today.
Aloïs
A gentle variant related to Louis, occasionally used in eastern France and among French-speaking Catholic families.
Alphonse
A grand old-fashioned name with Germanic-Spanish roots, once very common and now cherished as a quirky heritage choice.
Amand
Derived from the Latin “amandus,” meaning worthy of love, this name honors Saint Amand, a 7th-century missionary bishop in France.
Amaury
A distinguished medieval French noble name, still used today, evoking crusader-era aristocracy.
Ambroise
The French form of Ambrose, meaning immortal, tied to the eminent Church Father Saint Ambrose of Milan.
Amédée
A stately name meaning “one who loves God,” historically borne by rulers of the House of Savoy.
Anatole
A literary name popularized by author Anatole France, evoking the dawn and the East through its Greek roots.
André
The classic French form of Andrew, a staple name throughout much of the 20th century.
Ange
Short and striking, this name means “angel,” carrying a spiritual, protective symbolism.
Anselme
An elegant medieval name meaning “protected by God,” linked to the theologian Saint Anselm of Canterbury.
Antoine
The French form of Anthony, a longtime favorite tied to Saint Anthony and to writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
Antonin
A softer, literary variant of Antoine, associated with Roman emperor Antoninus and modern figures like Antonin Artaud.
Apollinaire
A striking name tied to the sun god Apollo, made famous by the poet Guillaume Apollinaire.
Aristide
A dignified Greek name meaning roughly “the best,” carried by ancient statesmen and later by French politicians.
Armand
A robust French form of Herman, meaning soldier, historically borne by Cardinal Richelieu, born Armand Jean du Plessis.
Armel
A Breton saint’s name meaning “bear prince,” still popular today in Brittany.
Arnaud
The French form of Arnold, meaning “eagle rule,” a solid medieval name still in everyday use.
Arsène
Best known from Maurice Leblanc’s gentleman thief Arsène Lupin, this name carries a dashing literary flair.
Arthur
Made legendary by King Arthur, this Celtic-rooted name has become one of France’s most popular boys’ names in recent decades.
Ary
A short, punchy name that gained recognition through the 19th-century painter Ary Scheffer.
Aubin
A soft-sounding name meaning white, linked to Saint Aubin, a beloved 6th-century bishop in western France.
Auguste
A grand Latin name meaning revered, historically tied to Roman emperors and to sculptor Auguste Rodin.
Augustin
The French form of Augustine, honoring the towering theologian Saint Augustine of Hippo.
Aurèle
A rare, poetic name meaning golden, tied to the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius.
Aurélien
A fuller form of Aurèle, fashionable in France since the 1970s and still popular today.
Axel
Originally Scandinavian, Axel became widely popular in France from the 1980s onward for its short, modern sound.
Aymar
An old aristocratic French name meaning roughly “renowned at home,” rare but distinguished.
Aymeric
A noble medieval name related to Amaury and Emeric, evoking chivalric romance.