The top French baby names for 2026

French names have always been popular in English-speaking countries, and there's no sign that this is changing any time soon. From Renée Zellweger to Regé-Jean Page, French names are very much in vogue, and the abundance of French first names among actors has even helped to repopularise certain names (no points for guessing who made Margot and Timothée popular). It's not just first names either: writers David Cornwell and Dan Rhodes chose distinctively French-sounding surnames, John Le Carré and Danuta de Rhodes respectively, as their noms de plumes.

terms of popularity, names of French origin have been popular for centuries, and remain just as popular today. Regnal names (Louis, Charles, Marie) are perennial favourites, while others include Eva and Louise, and some that you might not have even realised were French, such as Emma and Jules. Meanwhile, Charlotte was the second most popular name for girls in 2025 in the US, while names like Josephine, Eloise and Sophie aren't far behind.

They sound elegant - There’s no denying that French names have an air of sophistication, which is one reason why English-speakers have a penchant for using French words. Maybe it’s because so many fashion brands are named after French people, or perhaps it’s just the way French sounds, but there’s a perception that French is classy - and this goes for names as much as for everyday words and expressions.

If you want something distinctive but easy to pronounce, without having to worry about your child sharing a name with half a dozen of their classmates, go for something French.

The information below is from France’s official national statistics agency - the Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (Insee) - which publishes data on the most popular baby names for each year. The most up to date list is for 2024 (2025's data is expected to be released in July 2026), however there is little major variation from year to year.

Each of these names has a unique meaning and in lineage. Many are Biblical, with their origins in the Hebrew language. Others are the names of precious gems or flowers.