Looking for a unique name for your new puppy?
Why not give them a French dog name.
After all many of today’s popular breeds got their start in France.
Even if you don’t have a breed or mix breed from France, French dog names add a sense of sophistication to any breed.
Did you know that in France dog names are based on the year?
That’s right. For almost a century, the French registry for dogs has followed a naming system that makes it easy to determine the age of a dog by its registered name. Starting back in 1926, the organization decided that all dogs born the same year would have a name starting with the same letter. The letter Z was originally skipped because it was too hard to find names. Then over the years, the letters K, Q, W, X, and Y were also eliminated for the same reason. The alphabet starts over every 20 years.
It’s important to note that this naming convention is only required if you want to register your puppy with the Central Canine Society in France.
How to chose a French Dog Name
When choosing one of the many French dog names for your pup, make sure the name is clear and easy to say. It is best to keep the name to no more that two syllables. Practice saying the name to make sure you are comfortable with it.
It’s important to ensure that the name does not resemble another command you will use with your dog.
Also remember that you will be saying this name over and over again when they are young so make sure you really like it.
French Dog Names
French Dog Names for Girls
| Name | Meaning |
| Aceline | Noble woman |
| Adalene | Nobility |
| Adaline | Nobility |
| Adelaide | Noble Person |
| Adele | Noble |
| Adrienne | |
| Agathe | |
| Agnès | |
| Aimée | Friend, beloved |
| Alizée | Intertropical trade wind |
| Allette | Winged |
| Alodie | Wealthy |
| Amé | Beloved |
| Amélie | |
| Amie | Friend |
| Anaïs | |
| Anastasie | |
| Andrée | Andrew (f) brave |
| Angeline | |
| Annette | |
| Antoinette | Marie Antoinette |
| Ariane | |
| Audette | Bird |
| Audrey | |
| Auger | Noble Spear |
| Aurélie | Golden |
| Aurorette | French for Aurora |
| Aveline | French – Ava |
| Avril | Month of April |
| Babette | |
| Babou | |
| Bearnaise | Egg and butter sauce |
| Bebe | Baby |
| Belle | Beautiful |
| Belot | Good water |
| Berdine | Feminie of Bernard |
| Bernadette | |
| Bibi | Lady of the house |
| Bijou | Jewel |
| Blanche | White |
| Bonbon | Chocolate candy |
| Brie | Cheese |
| Brigitte | Strong |
| Camille | Perfect |
| Cannelle | Cinnamon |
| Capucine | |
| Carole | Strong |
| Caroline | |
| Carvel | Swamp dweller |
| Catherine | Pure, Clear |
| Cécile | |
| Celeste | |
| Céline | Moon |
| Cerise | Cherry |
| Champagne | Drink |
| Chanel | High Fashion |
| Chantae | A sweet song |
| Chantal | Song |
| Charline | |
| Charlotte | Petitie |
| Chauncey | Fortune |
| Chérie | Dear beloved |
| Chloe | |
| Cholet | |
| Claire | Clear and Bright |
| Clara | |
| Clarette | |
| Clarisse | |
| Coco | |
| Colette | One who is victorious |
| Constance | |
| Coquelicot | Poppy |
| Coquette | Flirt |
| Coraline | |
| Corinne | |
| Cornett | |
| Cosette | |
| Cristal | Type of Champagne |
| Danette | |
| Delphine | Dolphin |
| Denise | God of wine |
| Desireé | Desired |
| Dominique | Belonging to the lord |
| Duveteuse | Fluffy (f) |
| Édith | blessed with riches |
| Elayne | A ray of light |
| Élise | |
| Elle | She |
| Élodie | |
| Elois | Healthy |
| Éloise | Famous in war |
| Elsa | |
| Esmé | Esteemed, loved |
| Esmée | Beloved one |
| Estelle | |
| Everard | |
| Fabienne | Bean grower |
| Fantine | Childlike |
| Fayette | Little fairy |
| Félicité | Happy, Lucky |
| Fifi | |
| Fille | Girl |
| Fleur | Fower |
| Fleurine | Old French meaning flower |
| Fosette | |
| Franc | |
| Frisée | Curly |
| Frizette | |
| Gabrielle | |
| Gamine | Playful, Naughty Child |
| Garcelle | Little spear |
| Geneviève | |
| Genny | |
| Georgette | |
| Gigi | |
| Ginette | White shadow |
| Giselle | Bright pledge |
| Giverny | A French town |
| Gosse | Good |
| Gribouille | Singer |
| Guinevere | Fair |
| Hélène | |
| Heloise | |
| Hennie | Keeper of the hearth |
| Henriette | Ruler of the home |
| Hilaire | Cheerful |
| Honoré | |
| Hortense | Gardner |
| Hughette | Bright In Mind And Spirit |
| Ignace | Fiery |
| Ivon | Short for Yvonne |
| Jacqueline | |
| Jeanette | |
| Jeanne | God is gracious |
| Jenava | Juniper Berry |
| Joelle | |
| Joi | Joy |
| Jolie | Beautiful |
| Joséphine | Femine form of Joseph |
| Josette | |
| Juliette | |
| Lacey | |
| Lassie | |
| Laudine | A widow |
| Leron | The circle |
| Liane | Bond |
| Libellule | Dragofly |
| Lili | |
| Lille | City in France |
| Lilou | Lily flower |
| Lina | |
| Lisette/Lizette | God is my oath |
| Lison | God is my vow |
| Lottie | Little and womanly |
| Louise | |
| Lucille | Light |
| Lunete | Little moon |
| Lydie | |
| Lyonette | Little lion |
| Madeleine | |
| Maëlys | |
| Maeva | Welcome |
| Manon | Beautiful queen |
| Marcelle | Hammer |
| Margaux | |
| Margeaux | |
| Margot | French derivative of Margaret |
| Marguerite | |
| Marie | |
| Marine | From the sea |
| Marion | Marie |
| Maxime | Greatest |
| Mélanie | Blackness |
| Michele | |
| Michelle | |
| Miette | Small |
| Mignon | Cute |
| Milka | Queenie |
| Milou | |
| Mimi | |
| Mirabelle | Wondrous |
| Mirza | |
| Monique | Alone |
| Mousette | Little mouse |
| Mylène | Merciful |
| Nacré | Butterfly |
| Nadia | |
| Nanon | Grace |
| Nice | Simple |
| Nicolette | Victory of the people |
| Ninon | Grace |
| Noël | Christmas |
| Noela | |
| Noelle | |
| Noémie | Good |
| Noisette | Chocolate made with hazelnuts |
| Noleen | |
| Océane | Ocean |
| Odette | Melodic |
| Odila | Wealthy |
| Paget | Attendant |
| Papillon | Butterfly |
| Parfait | Perfect |
| Paris | City in France |
| Paulette | Small |
| Pauline | |
| Pénélope | |
| Philippine | |
| Princesse | Princess |
| Raina | Queen |
| Renée | |
| Riviera | |
| Rochelle | Little rock |
| Romane | |
| Rosalee | Beautiful Rose |
| Rosella | Rose |
| Sabine | |
| Sable | Sand |
| Satine | Smooth , shiny |
| Shantal | Stone |
| Sheril | Darling |
| Sidonie | From the city of Sidon |
| Simone | |
| Soleil | Sun |
| Sophie | Sun |
| Souris | |
| Stephane | |
| Suzette | |
| Thérèse | |
| Tigre | Tiger |
| Valérie | |
| Versailles | |
| Violette | Purple |
| Vivien | Alive |
| Vivienne | Lively |
| Yasmina | |
| Yvette | Yew (f) |
| Yvonne | |
| Zélie | Solemn |
French Dog Names for Boys
| Name | Meaning |
| Adrien | Dark |
| Alexandre | |
| Alfred | |
| Alphonse | |
| Amaury | |
| Amoureux | Lover |
| André | Manly |
| Antoine | Priceless |
| Armand | Soldier |
| Arnaud | Powerful eagle |
| Arsene | Male |
| Aubin | White, fair |
| Avery | |
| Baldoin | Brave friend |
| Bastien | Venerable, Revered |
| Beau | Handsome |
| Beaufort | Cheese |
| Beaumont | Fair |
| Beauregard | |
| Bernard | Brave, hardy |
| Bonaparte | |
| Bonhomme | It means ‘good man’ |
| Boulette | Meatball |
| Café | Coffee |
| Casanova | |
| Cezanne | |
| Chanceux | Lucky |
| Charles | |
| Charlys | Old french for Charles |
| Chevalier | |
| Christophe | |
| Claude | |
| Clémence | |
| Clement | Merciful |
| Clementine | |
| Clovis | Famous French Battle |
| Cognac | Drink |
| Corrine | |
| Damien | |
| Danton | Praiseworthy |
| Darcel | |
| Daryl | |
| Davignon | |
| De Gaulle | |
| Demont | |
| Denis | God of wine |
| Descartes | |
| Devereaux | Riverbank |
| Dominos | |
| Duveteux | Fluffy (M) |
| Édelie | Having high principles |
| Édouard | Edward |
| Émile | Industrious |
| Enzo | Conquering |
| Étienne | |
| Eudes | |
| Eulalie | Well – spoken |
| Fabien | |
| Fabrice | Smith |
| Felix | Lucky |
| Fido | |
| Flâneur | Aimless, Loafer |
| Florent | |
| Francine | |
| Franck | |
| Franco | Relating to french |
| François | |
| Françoise | |
| Frédéric | |
| Frédérique | |
| Frisé | Curly |
| Garçon | Boy |
| Garland | Land of the spear |
| Gaspard | Treasurer |
| Gaston | |
| Gérard | Brave, Strong |
| Germain | Cousin |
| Germaine | Brother |
| Gilles | |
| Grégoire | French form of Gregory |
| Guillaume | |
| Guismo | |
| Gustave | |
| Guy | |
| Hamblin | |
| Hamlin | |
| Henri | |
| Herve | |
| Heureux | Happy |
| Hugo | |
| Jacques | |
| Jean | |
| Jean Luc | |
| Josse | Experienced in battle |
| Jules | Youthful |
| Julien | Youth |
| Karlis | Strong and masculine |
| Lafayette | French named city in Louisiana. |
| Lamar | The water |
| Laurent | |
| Lazare | God is my helper |
| LeFou | The fool – Beauty and the Beast |
| Léon | Brave as a lion |
| Leonard | Brave lion |
| Leroux | Red head |
| Lonell | Young lion |
| Louie | |
| Louis | King |
| Loup | Wolf |
| Luc | Light |
| Lucas | Light |
| Lumière | Ligth – Beauty and the Beast |
| Lyon | City in France |
| Maëlle | Prince |
| Manet | |
| Manette | Fierce man |
| Marc | |
| Marceau | Warlike |
| Marcel | |
| Marius | |
| Marquis | Nobleman |
| Marseille | City in France |
| Martine | Servant of Mars |
| Marvel | To wonder |
| Mathis | Gift of God |
| Matisse | |
| Matthieu | Gift of the Lord |
| Maurice | |
| Maurin | |
| Médor | Watch |
| Merle | |
| Michel | |
| Monet | Famous Painter |
| Monsieur | Mr. |
| Montel | My ruler |
| Montpellier | City in France |
| Mory | |
| Napoleon | Ruler of France |
| Noir | Black |
| Normandy | Region of France |
| Oates | Riches |
| Odie | |
| Oliver | |
| Olivier | |
| Pascal | French mathematician |
| Pascale | Easter Child |
| Pepin | Determined |
| Perceval | Valley |
| Percy | |
| Philippe | Horse loverq |
| Pierre | |
| Pom | Apple |
| Portier | Gatekeeper |
| Quennel | Dweller at the little oak tree |
| Quentin | |
| Raimond | Guards,wisely |
| Raoul | Wolf counsel |
| Rémy | Oarsman |
| Renard | Fox |
| René | Reborn |
| Rex | |
| Reynard | Strong counselor |
| Riche | Rich man |
| Rififi | Trouble |
| Rintintin | Famous dog in movies |
| Rodel | Ruler |
| Rodin | The famous French artist |
| Roquefort | Cheese |
| Roul | Famous wolf |
| Royale | Regal |
| Saville | Willow man |
| Saville | |
| Savon | Soap maker |
| Sebastian | |
| Severin | Severe |
| Sylvie | Spirt of the wood |
| Thoreau | |
| Timeo | |
| Tintin | |
| Titu | Difficult |
| Toulouse | |
| Travis | To Cross |
| Ulysse | |
| Voltaire | |
| Yves | Yew |
Unisex French Dog Names
| Name | Meaning |
| Adieu | Bye-bye |
| Alair | Cheerful |
| Alsace | Region of France |
| Ambre | Amber |
| Amour | Love, or Sweetie |
| Astin | Starlike |
| Aubree | Elf ruler |
| Avignon | City in France |
| Baguette | |
| Balon | Balloon |
| Balzac | |
| Bardot | |
| Bisou | |
| Bleu | Cheese |
| Blisse | Cheerful |
| Bonheur | Good time |
| Bordeaux | Regoin of France |
| Brulee | Cooking term |
| Cadeau | Gift |
| Cannes | City in France |
| Chablis | Wine |
| Citron | Citrus |
| Corbin | Raven |
| Croissant | French pastry |
| Éclair | Pastry |
| Flocon | Snowflake |
| Galant | To enjoy onself |
| Garen | To guard |
| Louvre | Museum in France |
| Malbec | Wine |
| Merlot | Wine |
| Michon | Who is like God? |
| Mousse | Food |
| Orleans | Golden |
| Orval | Golen town |
| Patrice | |
| Remie | |
| Rennes | To rise again |
| Seine | River in France |
| Truffle | Food |
For more dog name ideas check out these posts:
- Black Dog Names: 450+ Names for Black Dogs
- Unique Dog Names: Plus Tips on How to Pick One
- Scottish Dog Names: 500 Names to Choose From
- Norse Dog Names: Viking Names for Your Dog
- Flower Names For Dogs: Plus Nature Inspired Dog Names
- Australian Dog Names: 200 Dog Names to Choose From
- 550 British Dog Names: You Will Want to Use
- Big Dog Names: 300+ From the Classic to the Unique
- White Dog Names: 375+ Names for White Dogs
Bringing home a puppy for the first time?
Let us help you. Check out these posts on what you need to know before you bring home your puppy.