400 Bilingual French girl & French boy names that sound great in English too

What is a bilingual name?

A bilingual name is a name that is easily recognized and pronounced in two or more languages. Bilingual names can be spelled the same in both languages but are pronounced differently, such as the boy’s name “Denis,” which in French is pronounced /Duh-knee/, or the girl’s name, “Maria,” pronounced /maw-ree-yaw/ in French. 

A bilingual name can also have different forms and/or spellings in each language (e.g., Jacques in French and Jack, Jake, Jacob, or James in English).

Challenges and things to consider when choosing bilingual French boy and girl names.

Choosing a bilingual English and French name adds another layer of difficulty.

 I gave all three of my children bilingual names that are easy to read and pronounce in English and French (Catherine, André, and Kieran), but it wasn’t easy. 

Here are some of the main issues you may encounter.

1) Bilingual French names may sound unrecognizable in other languages. 

Because French boy and girl names are pronounced differently in each language, they will sound different in other languages, sometimes in a good way, and other times not so much.  You have to decide whether those differences are something that is pleasing to you are not. While other names may be difficult to pronounce and vice versa. 

Here are a few examples:

Heather and Colin:

I would not consider the names Heather and Colin bilingual French-English names but it’s not because they are pronounced differently in French. Heather is pronounced  /Ey-Zher/ and Colin /Koe-lawhn/ with a barely audible “n” sound). 

For a name to be bilingual, it needs to be recognized or used in different cultures. Heather and Colin don’t quite fit that bill. 

Click the play button to hear the French pronunciation of these two names.

Irène and Anaïs:

I would consider these two girls’ names bilingual names. 

Irène, with a  French accent mark over the letter “è” is the French version of the Greek goddess of peace, “Eirene,” that was popular in France from the 20s to the 70s.

Irène pronounced in French /Ee-Ren/, sounds very different than the English pronunciation, but it’s still considered a bilingual name in both languages because speakers of both languages generally understand and use the name. Whereas the name Heather is relatively unknown in France. 

Then there is the girl’s name Anaïs, which has Hebrew, Latin and Persian origins and has been relatively well-known in France since the mid-80s. This name is pronounced  /Ah-Nha-eese/) in both languages. Is it a bilingual name? Well, it depends on whether you like the way it sounds or not. 

2) The way you spell bilingual names matters

A name can sound great in two languages, but sometimes, names have different spellings that don’t work in other languages. 

For example, I named my eldest son “Kieran,” /Keer-an/, which is an Irish or Celtic name and can also be considered a bilingual name because it’s pronounced relatively the same in French, English and Celtic. 

The alternate spelling for his name is “Ciaran,” but I was worried that people might mispronounce his name in its written form as /see-AIR-an/ or /see-uh-RAN/.

3 Feminine-sounding bilingual French names that are actually masculine and vice versa

Some French bilingual names may not be good candidates because they have different gender associations in different languages due to cultural and linguistic differences.

For example, the French girl’s name, Raphaëlle /raw-Fa-ELL/and Sébastienne /sey-bas-tee-EN/, which sound perfectly feminine to French speakers, may sound masculine to English speakers. 

Then there’s the French boy names, Paris /Paw-Ree/ and Michel /Mee-Shell/, which may sound feminine to English speakers, but to French speakers, these are just regular French boy’s names.

Michelle is the female version of Michel which fell out of Fashion in France since in the 70’s. 

You might be interested in these other French article about French names. 

• (A-Z) Feminine French boy names that make powerful statements
• 130 Cute masculine girl names: Female versions of French male names

The list of bilingual French names starts here.

If you’re ready, let’s dig into this massive list of bilingual French and English names for boys and girls. 

How this list is organized

To help you find the perfect bilingual French name, I’ve grouped them into the following four categories. 

1. Bilingual French names with masculine and feminine forms: Antoin (m) and Antoinette (f).
2. Epicene Bilingual names, which are unisex or gender-neutral names spelled the same, whether for a boy: Noa or Robin.
3. Bilingual French boy names, strictly for boys: Luca or Hugo.
4. Bilingual French girl names: Strictly for girls: Brigitte or Margot.

As you go through the list of bilingual names, consider how certain names are spelled, whether you like the way it sounds, etc. 

1) Bilingual French names with masculine and feminine forms.

Many French female names, such as Jacqueline and Géraldine, are feminine forms of traditional male French names, which in this case would be Jacques and Gérard.

Here are nearly 100 masculine French boy names and the feminine version of the French boy’s name, along with their closest English counterparts.

Some of the French names don’t translate well to English, but these might interest you if you’re looking for matching names for your kids or the feminine form of a masculine name. 

2) Epicene French Names: Gender-neutral French names that have the exact same spelling  

Almost all traditional French given names are gender-specific, but a few French names are gender-neutral.

Here are nearly 20 gender-neutral French names suitable for both males and females (in France) that are spelled exactly the same. I’ve also included their closest English name equivalent.

Bilingual boy names: Strictly for boys.

Here are some bilingual French boy names that have timeless appeal and are popular in both French and English-speaking cultures.

Most are easy to pronounce and spell, making them a practical choice for parents looking for a name that works well in both languages. 

4) Bilingual Girl names: Strictly for girls

There are many beautiful traditional French girl names that work well in both English and French. Here are some examples:

Wrapping French boy names and girl names 

Having a bilingual French boy name or bilingual French girl name is a great way to honour your French heritage and a unique option for your child.

It can set them apart from their peers and give them a sense of individuality and pride.