Like a fine Bordeaux or a classic Chanel suit, French boy names exude an effortless sophistication that transcends borders. In this guide, we explore the crème de la crème of French male names, from evergreen classics like Louis and Henri to modern favorites like Nolan and Liam. Each name comes with its proper pronunciation, meaning, and cultural context - because there's a world of difference between 'Jean' (classic) and 'Jean-Luc' (intellectual chic). Discover how French names balance Catholic tradition with secular charm, why some names like Gabriel work beautifully worldwide while others like Gaëtan remain distinctly Parisian, and how to choose a name with that certain je ne sais quoi for your little garçon.
🎁 Match Your Baby’s Name with Their Birthstone
Every baby’s name holds a story—and so does their birthstone. Discover the perfect gemstone to match your baby's birth month, energy, and name style:
1. Éloi
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Origin: French, from Latin Eligius
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Meaning: “Chosen” or “elected one”
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Description:
Éloi is soft-spoken strength. The name carries a sense of destiny—of a soul called to something greater. A boy named Éloi may grow up curious, kind, and quietly brave. There’s a light in his eyes, a gentleness in his hands, and a sense that he walks with purpose, even before he knows what that purpose is. His name feels like a whispered prayer, a gentle breeze guiding him forward.
2. Théo
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Origin: Short for Théodore, from Greek roots
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Meaning: “Gift of God”
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Description:
Théo is the boy with stars in his eyes. His name is compact, but it carries galaxies. Whether thoughtful or playful, shy or bold, he tends to bring peace wherever he goes. There’s something divine in his presence—not dramatic, just deeply reassuring. A Théo reminds people of warmth, of hope, of light breaking through clouds.
3. Maxence
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Origin: French, from Latin Maxentius
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Meaning: “The greatest” or “steadfast”
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Description:
Maxence is quiet confidence. There’s elegance in the way this name rolls off the tongue—structured, yet free. A Maxence is grounded, reflective, and carries a regal composure that doesn’t need to prove itself. He may love books, build worlds from ideas, and speak only when his words matter. His strength lies not in noise, but in stillness.
4. Sacha
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Origin: French adaptation of Russian Alexander
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Meaning: “Defender of mankind”
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Description:
Sacha is soft power. A name that bridges gender, cultures, and styles with grace. A boy named Sacha is often expressive, curious, and deeply emotional. He doesn’t rush—he feels. His empathy is his superpower, and his presence brings comfort like soft music in the background of a rainy day. He may love deeply, question boldly, and live tenderly.
5. Jules
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Origin: From Latin Julius
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Meaning: “Youthful” or “downy”
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Description:
Jules is classic, golden, and full of light. It’s a name that fits a dreamer—a boy with stories in his heart and sparkles in his voice. Jules feels timeless, a blend of old books, warm cafés, and early-morning sun. He is graceful without trying, poetic without needing to write, and gentle without being fragile.
6. Baptiste
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Origin: French, from Jean-Baptiste
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Meaning: “To baptize” or “purified”
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Description:
Baptiste is reverent and earthy. This name feels both spiritual and grounded, like the roots of a tree that knows how to pray. A Baptiste might be a deep thinker, an old soul, or someone whose presence always brings calm. His energy is sacred—not religious, but full of meaning. He walks like someone who honors the spaces he enters.
7. Célien
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Origin: Rare French name from Latin Caelus
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Meaning: “Heavenly”
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Description:
Célien is stardust in name form. Rare, luminous, and otherworldly, he often carries an air of quiet magic. A boy named Célien may be introspective, gentle, and beautifully sensitive to the unseen. His imagination is vast, his compassion deep, and his soul—like his name—always reaching toward the sky.
8. Maël
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Origin: Breton (Celtic French)
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Meaning: “Chief” or “prince”
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Description:
Maël is ancient power in a modern shell. Though short and elegant, this name carries the echo of old kings and poetic warriors. A Maël often has a strong moral compass, a protective nature, and a charm that’s both fierce and tender. His name feels like wind over stone—ageless, brave, and beautifully balanced.
9. Camille
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Origin: Latin via French
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Meaning: “Helper at the altar” or “attendant”
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Description:
Camille is graceful duality. Traditionally unisex in France, it carries both softness and structure. A boy named Camille may be artistically inclined, introspective, and emotionally tuned in. He walks through life gently—but firmly. His name feels like a handwritten poem, carefully folded and carried close to the heart.
10. Florent
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Origin: From Latin Florentius
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Meaning: “To blossom” or “to flourish”
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Description:
Florent is growth in name form. Warm, radiant, and full of life, he brings beauty wherever he goes—sometimes with flowers, sometimes just with his smile. A Florent doesn’t try to stand out; he simply grows into his own light. He’s poetic, kind, and emotionally attuned to the rhythm of nature. His soul speaks in color.
Baby Names A–Z
11. Adrien
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Origin: French, from Latin Hadrianus
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Meaning: “Man from the Adriatic Sea”
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Description:
Adrien feels like deep water—calm, mysterious, and full of quiet depth. This name brings to mind a boy who doesn’t speak to fill silence, but when he does, every word lands with meaning. There’s something elegant and contained in an Adrien. He may not seek the spotlight, but he carries presence like the sea—strong, silent, and enduring. His thoughts run deep, and his affections are fiercely loyal. Whether he’s sketching quietly by the window or walking through city streets lost in thought, Adrien is someone you never forget once you’ve truly seen him.
12. Loïc
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Origin: Breton (Celtic French), variant of Louis
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Meaning: “Famed warrior” or “glorious in battle”
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Description:
Loïc is fierce grace. A name with Celtic roots and French refinement, it feels both grounded and romantic. A Loïc may have a spark behind his eyes—sharp, brave, and full of conviction. He stands up for those who can’t, and often leads without even realizing it. He may love nature, old legends, or epic stories, but his real strength is in how deeply he loves. Underneath the wildness is a tender heart that remembers every kindness and every wound. He’s the kind of boy who’d protect a bird with the same intensity he’d protect someone he loves.
13. Rémy
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Origin: Latin Remigius via French
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Meaning: “Oarsman” or “one who rows”
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Description:
Rémy is gentle movement, like a stream flowing between stones. His name is soft, fluid, and naturally graceful. A Rémy may be artistic, observant, and emotionally attuned. He sees the world in layers, in shadows and light. His laughter is rare but real. He may speak in metaphors or fall in love with old books, but he always brings a kind of quiet clarity wherever he goes. A boy named Rémy doesn’t need to shout to be heard—his spirit speaks through the way he makes people feel.
14. Léon
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Origin: From Latin Leo, via French
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Meaning: “Lion”
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Description:
Léon is power without cruelty. The name carries ancient strength, but in a French boy, it transforms into something elegant—like a lion walking slowly through golden fields. A Léon is protective, deeply loving, and steady in his truth. He is rarely impulsive, but always passionate. His anger is rare but righteous, and his loyalty runs so deep that to break it would be like trying to move a mountain. There’s something royal in a boy named Léon—not in title, but in how he carries himself with honor and heart.
15. Gaël
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Origin: Breton / French-Celtic
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Meaning: “Joyful” or “generous spirit”
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Description:
Gaël is sunlight after a storm. The name carries a free-spirited, open-hearted kind of joy—sincere, contagious, and pure. A boy named Gaël often brings light into dark rooms, laughter into tension, and perspective when things feel heavy. He is expressive without being dramatic, and kind without being naive. There’s a spiritual gentleness in him, like someone who walks closely with nature and listens when the wind speaks. His soul dances even when his feet are still. A Gaël doesn’t try to heal others—he simply is the healing.
16. Lucien
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Origin: From Latin Lucianus, meaning light
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Meaning: “Light-bringer”
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Description:
Lucien is soft illumination. A name that belongs to someone who understands the beauty of silence, of dim candlelight, of the first blush of dawn. Lucien is introspective, poetic, and soulful. He may prefer solitude over crowds, depth over small talk, and sincerity over performance. But he is not cold—his warmth is just quiet. He carries light not like the sun, but like a lantern held gently in the dark. A boy named Lucien is the one who reminds you there is still beauty in the world, even when it hurts.
17. Noé
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Origin: French form of Noah
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Meaning: “Rest” or “peace”
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Description:
Noé is peaceful by nature. His name feels like deep breathing, soft music, and watching rain fall from a cozy window seat. A Noé is often emotionally intuitive, kind without expectation, and grounded in his being. He may be quiet, but he’s never absent. He listens with his whole heart and speaks only when his words will help. There is something healing in his presence—like you could exhale fully in front of him and know he’ll still be there. A Noé doesn’t push, doesn’t pull—he simply stays, and in that staying, teaches others how to feel safe.
18. Amaury
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Origin: Old French / Germanic roots
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Meaning: “Brave leader” or “work-power”
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Description:
Amaury is noble strength. A name that feels both ancient and refined, it belongs to a boy who leads not through force, but through dignity and clarity. Amaury may be the quietest one in the room—but everyone watches when he speaks. He feels deeply but carries his emotions with grace. His courage isn’t loud; it’s calm and enduring. A protector, a thinker, a soul with honor built into his bones. He wears responsibility like a tailored coat—never too heavy, always intentional.
19. Valentin
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Origin: From Latin Valentinus
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Meaning: “Strong” or “healthy”
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Description:
Valentin is love with a backbone. His name hums with passion, but not only romantic love—also friendship, justice, creativity, and life itself. A Valentin feels things intensely. He may fall in love with ideas, places, or people with the kind of sincerity that makes the world pause. He’s affectionate, expressive, and emotionally brave. His name smells like red wine and old roses, like letters written with real ink. A Valentin doesn’t just feel—he commits.
20. Marin
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Origin: French/Latin
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Meaning: “Of the sea”
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Description:
Marin is ocean soul. His name rolls like tides—quiet, deep, and full of mystery. A Marin may be introspective and gentle, yet capable of great strength when the moment calls. He carries peace like waves carry light, glimmering and constant. Whether watching stars from a rooftop or listening to seashells like they’re telling him secrets, Marin always feels connected to something greater. He is ebb and flow, calm and wild, always moving but never lost.
21. Armand
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Origin: French, from Germanic roots
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Meaning: “Army man” or “soldier of peace”
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Description:
Armand carries the weight of strength and the grace of restraint. It’s a name that speaks of quiet dignity—of someone who stands not in front to dominate, but beside you to protect. An Armand is not brash. He walks slowly, thinks deeply, and loves without performance. You might find him reading in an old leather armchair or walking silently through forests, gathering wisdom with every step. His loyalty is iron-clad, and his heart? A sanctuary.
22. Pascal
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Origin: Latin Paschalis, French adaptation
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Meaning: “Born at Easter” or “of the Passover”
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Description:
Pascal is soft renewal. The name feels like blooming petals, early spring light, and the fresh warmth of second chances. A boy named Pascal may carry a calm spirituality—not necessarily religious, but deeply connected to rhythm, meaning, and growth. He speaks with intention, loves with quiet sincerity, and often brings peace without trying. He’s the type who reminds you how beautiful it is to begin again.
23. Clément
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Origin: Latin Clemens
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Meaning: “Gentle” or “merciful”
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Description:
Clément is compassion in name form. There’s a softness in how it’s spoken—like velvet, like falling snow. A Clément is almost always kind, but never weak. His empathy is a choice, and his gentleness is deliberate. He feels the world deeply but remains grounded, choosing forgiveness over pride and softness over walls. He’s the one who helps you understand yourself simply by being near. His love feels like home.
24. Thibault
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Origin: French, from Germanic Theobald
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Meaning: “Brave people” or “bold among the people”
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Description:
Thibault is charm layered with courage. A name with a noble air and a poetic heart, it belongs to someone who stands up when it counts and speaks with elegance. A Thibault might be intellectual and refined, but he’s also someone who surprises you with his fire. He defends those he loves fiercely. He creates beauty where others only see practicality. His name feels like a sword wrapped in silk—a balance of edge and grace.
25. Anatole
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Origin: Greek via French
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Meaning: “Rising sun”
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Description:
Anatole is light that awakens. Rare and lyrical, his name feels like a sunrise over a sleeping city—full of quiet wonder, gold-tinged edges, and the beginning of something sacred. An Anatole often lives in his inner world: full of dreams, details, and awe for the ordinary. He notices colors others miss, emotions others brush off, and truths hidden in silence. His name is a sunrise—and so is his soul.
26. Henri
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Origin: French form of Henry
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Meaning: “Ruler of the home”
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Description:
Henri is tradition reimagined. Classic, polished, but never stale. A boy named Henri might be raised on stories and silver spoons, but he’s just as likely to write his own path through imagination and innovation. He’s charming without trying, graceful without posing, and steadfast in his values. He loves deeply, works quietly, and lives with an effortless sense of style. Henri doesn’t follow the world—he walks just beside it, with his own rhythm.
27. Séraphin
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Origin: From Hebrew Seraphim, via French
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Meaning: “Fiery one” or “burning angel”
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Description:
Séraphin is celestial fire. A rare and luminous name, it feels like incense smoke rising in sacred spaces—delicate, powerful, otherworldly. A Séraphin may feel everything deeply, from joy to sorrow, and he channels that intensity into art, love, or purpose. He burns—but with grace. He may speak little, but his presence is felt. He is sacred contradiction: strong but soft, mystical but grounded, present but touched by something divine.
28. Marceau
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Origin: French, from Marcellus
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Meaning: “Little warrior”
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Description:
Marceau is elegance with an edge. Sleek and stylish, the name rolls off the tongue like a whispered secret. A Marceau is often creative—drawn to music, architecture, or movement. He doesn’t shout, but he commands the room. There’s strength in how he carries himself, in how he sees beauty even in broken things. He is poetry with a backbone. To know a Marceau is to be reminded that softness and resilience can co-exist.
29. Elouan
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Origin: Breton origin
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Meaning: “Light”
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Description:
Elouan is purity, wrapped in gentleness. Rare and modern-sounding, his name feels like a whisper of wind through birch trees. An Elouan may be soft-spoken but deeply intuitive. He picks up on emotions before they’re spoken, and offers calm like a river. He may grow up thoughtful, spiritual, and connected to nature—his love expressed not through grand gestures but small, intentional presence. Elouan doesn’t shine loudly—but he glows, constantly.
30. Benoît
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Origin: French form of Benedictus
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Meaning: “Blessed”
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Description:
Benoît is a name that feels like warmth in winter. Steeped in grace and history, it suggests a boy born with a certain peace in his bones. A Benoît may love order, ceremony, or quiet moments of reflection. He’s gentle with his words, reverent in his choices, and deeply connected to meaning. His name is old-world, yes—but his spirit is timeless. The kind of boy who will remember your favorite flower, and why it matters to you.
31. Gaspard
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Origin: Persian via French
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Meaning: “Bringer of treasure”
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Description:
Gaspard feels like a secret well-kept, a name with royal undertones and poetic depth. A boy named Gaspard often carries a sense of mystery, as if he knows something the world has forgotten. He may love old libraries, vintage keys, or quiet corners filled with light. There’s richness in his silence, elegance in his presence, and wonder in his mind. Gaspard doesn't demand attention—he draws it in like moonlight through an open window.
32. Augustin
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Origin: Latin via French
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Meaning: “Great” or “majestic”
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Description:
Augustin walks slowly, speaks softly, and loves deeply. His name feels timeless, like stained-glass light or handwritten philosophy. There’s wisdom in his presence—an old soul housed in a gentle heart. He doesn’t chase greatness, he is greatness—measured, kind, and deeply rooted. He’s the type to carry flowers in one hand and convictions in the other, bridging logic and feeling with grace.
33. Léandre
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Origin: From Greek Leandros, via French
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Meaning: “Lion of men”
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Description:
Léandre is romance with spine. A name made for poets and dreamers, it carries an undercurrent of strength beneath its lyrical rhythm. A Léandre is passionate, expressive, and devoted. He may write letters, defend the soft-hearted, and hold eye contact that lingers just a moment longer than expected. His name carries longing, loyalty, and a quiet kind of bravery that blooms slowly—and lasts forever.
34. Philibert
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Origin: Germanic via French
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Meaning: “Very bright” or “beloved”
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Description:
Philibert feels antique and endearing—like a linen-bound book passed down through generations. A boy with this name might grow into a charming eccentric: thoughtful, artistic, and full of curious wisdom. He makes people laugh without trying, comforts without knowing, and often sees the world just slightly differently. He is light with edges, kindness with wit, and the feeling of finding a forgotten letter in a jacket pocket.
35. Isidore
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Origin: Greek via French
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Meaning: “Gift of Isis” or “divine gift”
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Description:
Isidore is sacred elegance. With roots in mysticism and ancient culture, this name feels like a whisper from a more symbolic world. A boy named Isidore may be artistic, introverted, and deeply spiritual. He could spend hours staring at the stars or sketching thoughts no one else can translate. He doesn’t rush. He reveals. And when he does, it’s magic.
36. Blaise
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Origin: Latin via French
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Meaning: “Lisping” (historically), or “soft-spoken one”
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Description:
Blaise is fire disguised as calm. A name with cool sophistication, it suits someone who blends intellect and instinct. A Blaise may love philosophical questions, jazz music, or sharp silhouettes. He doesn’t need volume—his energy is magnetic. There’s a slow burn in how he thinks, speaks, and loves. You don’t notice Blaise entering a room—but you feel when he’s gone.
37. Émeric
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Origin: Germanic via French
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Meaning: “Powerful ruler” or “industrious leader”
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Description:
Émeric is calm control. A boy with this name feels like structure, integrity, and poetic order. He may grow into someone others trust instinctively—reliable, honest, and unafraid of truth. He doesn’t compete—he embodies. He brings a sense of refinement to everything he does, like tailoring the day with intentional presence. An Émeric doesn’t follow trends; he becomes the standard.
38. Aimé
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Origin: French
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Meaning: “Beloved”
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Description:
Aimé is love—quiet, wholehearted, and unwavering. His name says everything before he even speaks. A boy named Aimé might be gentle with animals, kind to strangers, and protective of beauty in all its forms. His eyes soften when he speaks of someone he cares for. He doesn’t love easily—but once he does, he never forgets. To know an Aimé is to be seen in the tenderest way.
39. Arsène
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Origin: Greek via French
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Meaning: “Virile” or “powerful”
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Description:
Arsène is bold elegance. Think: mystery novels, velvet jackets, stolen glances across a room. A boy named Arsène may have a brilliant mind, a quick wit, and a flair for the dramatic—but always with style. He walks like he knows something you don’t, and speaks like he’s composing music. Underneath his charm lies a fierce sense of justice. He is the storm in the still air.
40. Barthélemy
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Origin: Aramaic via French
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Meaning: “Son of the furrows” (linked to farming and depth)
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Description:
Barthélemy is deep soil and still skies. A name with Biblical and historical resonance, it suits a boy who is grounded, wise, and slow to speak but quick to understand. He often nurtures others—quietly, without expectation. His thoughts are layered like sediment, shaped by silence, study, and faith. A Barthélemy doesn’t bloom fast, but when he does, the flowers stay.
41. Cyprien
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Origin: Latin Cyprianus, French form
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Meaning: “From Cyprus” or “lover of beauty”
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Description:
Cyprien is romantic wanderlust. His name is sun-drenched islands, the scent of sea salt and citrus, and the sound of someone humming to themselves while painting. A Cyprien may be intuitive, expressive, and wildly imaginative. He sees life as something to feel—not just understand. His presence is soft and golden, like morning light across a linen curtain.
42. Étienne
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Origin: French form of Stephen
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Meaning: “Crown”
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Description:
Étienne is quiet royalty. Not in title, but in heart. A boy named Étienne often shows strength through gentleness, leadership through kindness, and clarity through quiet thinking. He doesn’t lead with force—he inspires with soul. The kind of child who grows into someone others turn to when things are hard. His crown is invisible, but real.
43. Floris
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Origin: Latin via French
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Meaning: “Flowering” or “blossoming”
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Description:
Floris is delicate wildness. A name like a field in spring—unexpected, open, and full of small, meaningful joys. A Floris may be creative, sensory, and deeply sensitive. He touches everything with care, speaks in soft cadences, and sees beauty where others glance past. He doesn’t shout his emotions—he grows them, slowly, like petals under the sun.
44. Luc
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Origin: French form of Luke
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Meaning: “Light”
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Description:
Luc is clarity incarnate. Sharp, timeless, and clear as morning air. A boy named Luc may be analytical but kind, firm but fair. He often brings simplicity to complexity and calm to chaos. He may not have many words, but each one lands like truth. Luc doesn’t dazzle—he illuminates.
45. Timéo
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Origin: Modern French form from Greek Timaios
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Meaning: “Honor”
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Description:
Timéo is golden-hearted grace. A modern name with ancient spirit, it belongs to someone who leads with integrity and lives with heart. A Timéo may be deeply empathetic, intuitive, and honest. His sense of honor is not performative—it’s embedded in how he listens, how he acts, how he forgives. His name feels like sunlight filtered through stained glass—warm, colored by experience, and deeply sacred.
46. Albin
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Origin: Latin via French
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Meaning: “White” or “bright”
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Description:
Albin is stillness wrapped in clarity. The name evokes snowfall, moonlit rooftops, and the kind of silence that teaches rather than hides. A boy named Albin may be sensitive and observant, with a soft heart protected by a thoughtful mind. He is kindness without decoration, and truth without noise. He sees the essence, not just the surface.
47. Amael
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Origin: Breton origin
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Meaning: “Prince” or “leader”
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Description:
Amael is calm authority. He walks softly, but the world listens. An Amael doesn’t need to assert dominance—his energy is magnetic, wise, and emotionally balanced. He often cares deeply, loves quietly, and leads by example. There’s something almost angelic in how he moves, speaks, and exists.
48. Séverin
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Origin: Latin Severus, French form
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Meaning: “Serious” or “solemn”
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Description:
Séverin is introspection in human form. A name that feels like winter fog and deep thoughts, it belongs to someone who thinks more than he says and feels more than he shows. He may be reserved, but when he opens up, his depth is profound. His silence isn’t empty—it’s full of reflection, of stories waiting to be told.
49. Elian
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Origin: Hebrew and French
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Meaning: “God is my light” or “the shining one”
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Description:
Elian is a gentle star. He brings warmth into shadowed places and hope into heavy days. An Elian may be creative, loyal, and unusually intuitive. He offers comfort by simply being himself, and uplifts others not by effort, but by essence. His name hums like a lullaby—soft, steady, and full of soul.
50. Joël
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Origin: Hebrew via French
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Meaning: “Yahweh is God”
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Description:
Joël is sacred simplicity. A name that carries spiritual resonance and emotional sincerity, it suits a boy who values presence over performance. A Joël often listens with his full being, gives love freely, and honors every moment like it matters. His kindness isn’t loud—but it’s unforgettable.
