This list brings together 19 French girl names, running alphabetically from “Gabrielle” to “Gwladys.” Most carry deep roots in French, Breton, or Germanic history, and many still appear on birth certificates across France today. Parents turn to names like these when they want something that sounds elegant and unmistakably French, whether for a newborn daughter or a character in a story.

French girl names are first names traditionally given to women in France, often carrying centuries of history, regional identity, or religious meaning. Many, like Geneviève, honor saints who shaped French culture, while others, like Guylaine, were invented in the 20th century by blending popular sounds. This mix of old and new gives French names their distinctive charm.

Below you’ll find the table with Name, Pronunciation, Meaning, and Description.

Name: the French given name itself, shown exactly as it’s written and used, accents included, so you can see its proper spelling at a glance.

Pronunciation: a simple phonetic guide showing how to say each name out loud, helping you sound confident even if you don’t speak French.

Meaning: the literal or historical meaning behind the name, drawn from its Germanic, Latin, or Breton origins, so you understand what it symbolizes.

Description: background on where the name comes from and how it’s been used, including notable namesakes, cultural ties, or shifts in popularity over time.

French girl names

NamePronunciationMeaning
Gabriellegah-bree-ELL“God is my strength”
Gaëllegah-ELL“generous” or related to the Gauls/Gaels
Gaëtanegah-eh-TAHN“from Gaeta” (an Italian coastal town)
Garancegah-RAHNSS“madder” (a red-dyeing plant)
Genevièvezhuhn-VYEV“tribe woman” or “white wave”
Georgettezhor-ZHETT“farmer” or “earth-worker”
Germainezher-MEN“sibling” or “from Germany”
Gervaisezher-VEZpossibly “spear servant”
Ghislainegee-LEN“pledge” or “hostage”
Gilbertezheel-BAIRT“bright pledge”
Ginettezhee-NETTdiminutive meaning “pure” or “noble”
Gisèlezhee-ZEL“pledge” or “hostage”
Guilhemettegee-yuh-METT“resolute protector”
Guillemettegee-yuh-METT“resolute protector”
Guylaineghee-LENinvented modern blend, evokes “elf” and “flax/serene”
Gwenaëllegweh-nah-ELL“blessed and generous”
Gwendolinegwahn-doh-LEEN“white ring” or “blessed”
Gwenolagweh-NOH-lah“white/blessed”
Gwladysglah-DEESSWelsh form related to “Claudia”

Descriptions

Gabrielle
A timeless French classic and the feminine form of Gabriel, Gabrielle has been popular in France for generations and is often shortened to Gaby.
Gaëlle
A modern Breton-French name that became widely popular in France starting in the late 20th century, valued for its short, crisp sound.
Gaëtane
A distinctly French-Italian name derived from Saint Cajetan (Gaétan), more common in France and Quebec than elsewhere.
Garance
A botanical French name referring to the madder plant used historically to make red dye; it gained popularity partly through French cinema.
Geneviève
The name of the patron saint of Paris, Geneviève is a deeply rooted French classic associated with protection and resilience.
Georgette
A feminine diminutive of Georges, Georgette was especially popular in France during the early 20th century and evokes vintage elegance.
Germaine
An old French name linked to Saint Germaine of Pibrac, once very common and still cherished as a heritage or grandmother’s name.
Gervaise
A rare, old-fashioned French name notably used for the tragic heroine of Émile Zola’s novel L’Assommoir.
Ghislaine
A refined French name popular in the mid-20th century, formed from the Germanic elements meaning pledge or oath.
Gilberte
The feminine form of Gilbert, Gilberte was a common name in early 1900s France and appears as a character in Proust’s In Search of Lost Time.
Ginette
A cheerful French name that began as a nickname for Geneviève or Régine before becoming a standalone first name in the 20th century.
Gisèle
An elegant French name with Germanic roots, historically tied to Gisela, the legendary sister of Charlemagne.
Guilhemette
A rare southern-French feminine form of Guillaume (William), most often found in older regional records.
Guillemette
The classic feminine form of Guillaume, Guillemette was widely used in medieval and Renaissance France.
Guylaine
A 20th-century French invented name combining sounds from “Guy” and “Laine,” popular from the 1950s to 1970s.
Gwenaëlle
A Breton name combining “gwenn” (white/blessed) and “haël” (generous), common in Brittany and throughout France.
Gwendoline
A French adaptation of the Welsh name Gwendolen, used in France since the medieval Arthurian legends spread across Europe.
Gwenola
A Breton name honoring Saint Gwenole, used mainly in western France as a regional variant of Gwenaëlle.
Gwladys
A French spelling variant of the Welsh name Gwladys, gently popular in France as an alternative to Gladys.
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