400+ Bilingual French Boy names & girl names that sound good in English & French

If you’re searching for a French name that sounds good in French and English,you’ve come to the right place. I’ve curated a list of over 400 of the best bilingual French boy names and girl names that sound good in both English and French. 

Things to consider when choosing bilingual French boy names and girl names

Choosing a child’s name is never easy, but choosing a bilingual baby name adds another layer of difficulty.

You not only have the pressure of finding a name that suits you, your family and your baby, but you also have to consider how a name might be butchered in English or French because some names don’t translate well to both languages.

I feel your pain. 

To honour my French Canadian father and my French-speaking Quebecois side of the family, I gave two of my three children bilingual French names that are easy to read and pronounce in English and French; Catherine and André.

I gave my eldest child an Irish name “Kieran.” Although this Irish boy’s name is not a French boy’s name, it’s easy to pronounce and read in English, French and Celtic. I also chose the spelling “Kieran” over  “Ciaran” because I thought “Ciaran” would get mispronounced in French and English. 

Not all French names sound good in different languages.

French boy names and girl names are pronounced differently in French and English.

Due to different pronunciations, some names won’t sound as good in English as they do in French and vice versa, while others are difficult to pronounce.

For instance, the girl’s name Heather and the boy’s name Colin.

When pronounced in French, Heather sounds like /I-Zher/ and Colin sounds like /Ko-lawhn/ with the “n” barely pronounced.

The French girls’ names, Irène and Anaïs, also sound completely different in French than they do in English.;

My son’s French boy name “André” and my daughter’s name “Catherine” also sound quite different in French and English because the “R” sound in their names doesn’t exist in English. But they still sound nice in both languages, at least. 

Feminine or masculine-sounding names

Another issue with bilingual French boy names and girl names is that some gender-specific names sound feminine in one language but masculine in another language and vice versa.

For example, the French boy’s name Michel, pronounced /Mee-Shell/, may sound feminine to English speakers but not to French speakers.

And the French girl’s names, Raphaëlle and Sébastienne, sound perfectly feminine to French speakers but may sound masculine to English speakers. 

You might be interested in these other French boy names and girl names. 

(A-Z) Feminine French boy names that make powerful statements

130 Cute masculine girl names: Female versions of French male names

Types of bilingual names on this list.

French boy names and French girl names have a long and fascinating history, dating back to the Roman Empire and the time of the Gauls. Throughout the centuries, French names have been influenced by a variety of cultures and languages, including Latin, Germanic, and Celtic. 

According to a 2018 French census, there are over 33,000 different first names used in France. 

Part of the reason for so many different names in France is due to the immigration of people from other countries but also due to less restrictive baby-naming laws. 

Since 1993, parents in France have had the right to give their children almost any name they want, including creative modern names and foreign names, not just classical Christian names. Something that hasn’t always been possible in France. 

I’ve chosen to only include bilingual names in the French language with their French spelling and their closest English counterparts with English spelling. I’ve excluded certain foreign names, such as Muhammad and Kevin, which are also popular names in France. 

I’ve also excluded Celtic names, which are popular in the north of France, especially in the Normandy and Brittany areas, where the regional Celtic language is still spoken by some of the population. Most native speakers of Breton are above 60 years old. 

This list of bilingual French boy names and girl names is organized into 4 groups.

To help you find the perfect bilingual French name, I’ve grouped the French boy names and girl names into the following four categories. 

1. Bilingual French names with masculine and feminine forms: such as Antoin (m) and Antoinette (f).
2. Epicene Bilingual unisex/gender-neutral French names that are spelled the same whether for a boy or girl: such as Noa or Robin.
3. Bilingual French female names: Strictly for girls
4. Bilingual French male names: Strictly for boys

As you go through the list of bilingual Frech boy names and girl names, consider how certain names are spelled.

• Sometimes bilingual names are identical in French and English, such as Diane.
• Sometimes names are spelled differently but are still easily understood in both languages, such as Dominique in French and Dominic in English or Catherine and Katherine.
• Sometimes names that are spelled differently in English and French don’t translate well from one language to another, such as Arnaud in French, which is spelled Arnold in English. 

French and English bilingual names

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

Masculine and Feminine Versions of bilingual French Baby Names

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 boys’ 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. 

Epicene French Names: Gender-neutral French names for both boys and girls 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 Girl names that work in English and French

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

Bilingual French boy names that work in English and French

Here are some bilingual French boy names that have a 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. 

Wrapping up bilingual French boy names and girl names

Overall, having a bilingual French boy name or bilingual French girl name is not only a great way to honour your French heritage, but it’s also a unique option for your child. It can set them apart from their peers and give them a sense of individuality and pride.