Names And Their Meanings

Male French Names

*GORLOIS: French Arthurian legend name of Igraine's first husband, the Duke of Cornwall, before she married Uther Pendragon. The name may have been derived from Gorlassar, an Old Welsh epithet belonging to Uther, possibly meaning "above the blue" or "higher than the sky."GOSSE: Old French form of German Gozzo, meaning "good" or "god."GRATIEN: French form of Roman Latin Gratian, meaning "pleasing, agreeable."GRÉGOIRE: Norman French form of Latin Gregorius, meaning "watchful; vigilant."GRÉGORY: French Provençal form of Latin Gregorius, meaning "watchful; vigilant."GRINGOLET: French Arthurian Legend name probably meaning either "white-hardy" or "handsome-hardy." This was the name of Sir Gawain's horse, famous for his ability in combat. He first appears in Chretien de Troyes's Erec and Enide where he is borrowed by Sir Kay for a joust against Sir Erec.

*GROSVENOR: French surname transferred to forename use, composed of the Anglo-Norman French elements gros "chief, great" and veneur "hunter," hence "chief hunter" or "great hunter."

GUARIN: French form of Germanic Warin, meaning "cover, shelter."GUARINOT: Pet form of French Guarin, meaning "protection, shelter." GUILBERT: Norman French form of Latin Gilebertus, meaning "pledge-bright."GUILLAUME: French form of Latin Guillelmus, meaning "will-helmet."GUL: Pet form of French Guillaume, meaning "will-helmet." GUSTAVE: French form of Latin Gustavus, meaning "meditation staff."GUY: Variant form of Norman French Gy, a derivative of Latin Wido, meaning "wide." This name was popular until 1605 when Guy Fawkes tried to blow up Parliament after which it acquired the negative connotation "grotesque man." In Arthurian legend, this is the name of a son of Bevis of Hamptoun. In use by the English.GWENAËL: French name composed of the Breton elements gwenn "fair, holy, white" and hael"generous," hence "holy and generous."GY: Norman French name derived from the medieval Latin name Wido, meaning "wide."GYSBERT: Variant spelling of French Gisbert, meaning "pledge-bright."HAMBLIN: Variant spelling of Norman French Hamlin, meaning "tiny little home."HAMELET: Old French diminutive form of the German word hamel ("little village"), a diminutive of ham"village," hence "tiny little village." HAMELIN: Variant spelling of Norman French Hamlin, meaning "tiny little home."HAMLIN: Norman French double diminutive form of German Haimo ("home"), meaning "tiny little home."HAMNET: Diminutive form of Norman French Hamon "home," hence "little home." This was the name of Shakespeare's son who died at age eleven. The names Hamnet and Hamlet seem to have been interchangeable in Shakespeare's time.HAMON: Old Norman French form of German Heimo meaning "home."HENRI: French form of Latin Henricus, meaning "home-ruler." Compare with another form of Henri.HERCULE: French form of Latin Hercules, meaning "glory of Hera."HERLUIN: Norman French name composed of the Germanic elements erl "nobleman, warrior" and wini"friend," hence "noble friend" or "noble warrior."HERVÉ: French form of Breton Haerveu, meaning "battle worthy."HILAIRE: French name derived from of Latin Hilarius, meaning "joyful, happy."HONORÉ: French form of Latin Honorus, meaning "honor, valor."HORACE: English and French form of Roman Latin Horatius, meaning "has good eyesight."HRODGER: Norman French form of Old High German Hrodgar, meaning "famous spear."HUBERT: Old French form of Latin Hubertus, meaning "bright heart/mind/spirit." HUGON: Old form of French Hugues, meaning "heart," "mind," or "spirit."HUGUES: French name of Germanic origin, derived from the element hug, meaning "heart," "mind," or "spirit."IGNACE: French form of Latin Ignatius, possibly meaning "unknowing."ILBERT: Norman French form of German Hilbert, meaning "battle-bright."IRÉNÉ: French form of Latin Ireneus, meaning "peaceful."ISAÏE: French form of Latin Isaias, meaning "God is salvation."IVES: Older form of French Yves, meaning "yew tree."IVON: Variant spelling of French Yvon, meaning "yew tree." Used in Germany and infrequently by the English.JACQUES: French diminutive form of Latin Jacobus, meaning "supplanter."JAMES: Middle English and Old French vernacular form of Late Latin Jacomus, from Greek Iakobos, meaning "supplanter." In the New Testament bible, this is the name of several characters, including two apostles and a half-brother of Jesus.JEAN: A derivative of Anglo-Norman French Jehan, meaning "God is gracious." Compare with feminineJean.JEAN-BAPTISTE: French compound name composed of Jean "God is gracious" and Baptiste "baptist."JEANNOT: Pet form of French Jean, meaning "God is gracious."JEHAN: Old French form of Latin Johan, meaning "God is gracious."JÉRÉMIE: French form of Greek Ieremias, meaning "Jehovah casts forth" or "Jehovah hurls."JÉRÔME: French form of Latin Hieronymus, meaning "holy name."JOËL: French form of Greek Ioel (Hebrew Yowel), meaning "Jehovah is God" or "to whom Jehovah is God."JORI: French Provençal form of Latin Georgius, meaning "earth-worker, farmer."JOSCE: Norman French form of Latin Jodocus, meaning "lord."JOSCELIN: Norman French form of Old High German Gautelen, meaning "Gaut." JOSUE: French and Spanish form of Hebrew Yehowshuwa, meaning "God is salvation."JOURDAIN: French form of Hebrew Yarden, meaning "flowing down."JULES: French form of Roman Latin Julius, meaning "descended from Jupiter (Jove)." In use by the English. JULIEN: French form of Roman Latin Julianus, meaning "descended from Jupiter (Jove)."JUSTE: French form of Roman Latin Justus, meaning "fair, just."LAMMERT: Low German form of Germanic Landebert, meaning "land-bright." In use by the Dutch and French.LANCE: Old French form of German Lanzo, meaning "land." Compare with another form of Lance.LANCELOT: Norman French Arthurian legend name of the bravest Knight of the Round Table who betrayed King Arthur by having an affair with Queen Guinevere. The name is probably a diminutive form of Lance ("land") or the word lance (the weapon), meaning either "little land" or "little lance."LAUNCE: Short form of French Launcelot, meaning either "land" or "lance (the weapon)." LAUNCELOT: Variant spelling of Norman French Lancelot, meaning either "little land" or "little lance."LAURENT: French form of Roman Latin Laurentius, meaning "of Laurentum."LAURENTIN: French form of Roman Latin Laurentinus, meaning "of Laurentum."LAZARE: French form of Latin Lazarus, meaning "my God has helped."LÉANDRE: French form of Latin Leander, meaning "lion-man." LEGÉR: French form of German Luitger, meaning "people-spear."LEMOINE: French surname transferred to English forename use, derived from the Old French wordmoine, meaning "monk."LÉOLIN: French form of Welsh Llywelyn, meaning "oath of Belenus." LÉON: French form of Latin Leo, meaning "lion."LÉONARD: French form of German Leonhard, meaning "lion-strong."LÉONCE: French form of Latin Leontius, meaning "lion-like."LÉONIDE: French form of Latin Leonides, meaning "lion's son."LÉOPOLD: French form of Old High German Liutpold, meaning "people-bold."LEROY: French name, meaning "the king." In use by the English.LIONEL: Anglo-Norman diminutive form of French Léon ("lion"), hence "little lion" or "young lion." In Arthurian legend, this is the name of a Knight of the Round Table. He was the younger son of King Bors, and cousin to Lancelot and Hector de Maris. When King Bors died in battle, Lionel and Bors were rescued by the Lady of the Lake and raised by her, along with Lancelot, in her underwater kingdom.LOOIS: Old French name derived from Middle Latin Ludovicus, meaning "famous warrior."LOOYS: Old French name derived from Middle Latin Ludovicus, meaning "famous warrior."LOTHAIR: Variant spelling of French Lothaire, meaning "loud warrior."LOTHAIRE: French form of Latin Lotharius, meaning "loud warrior."LOUIE: Pet form of French Louis, meaning "famous warrior."LOUIS: Middle French form of Old French Loois, meaning "famous warrior." LOUP: French form of Latin Lupus, meaning "wolf."