Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
French
BoyEnglish, French· “from the surname French”
- Meaning
- from the surname French
- Origin
- English, French
- Pronunciation
- FREHNCH
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- Unranked
- US babies 2025
- 0
- Best rank
- #534 (1891)
- Peak year
- 1915
Meaning and origin of French
French is an English and French name that is usually said to mean “from the surname French”.
French is an English surname meaning a French person, or someone who came from France, used as a given name in the US mainly in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The word goes back to the Franks, the Germanic people who gave their name to France. Surnames like this often became given names through family use. It is said FREHNCH. French is simple and distinctive, and it sits with other surname names such as English and Irish.
Popularity over time
French first appears in US Social Security records in 1882. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 13 different years, starting in 1882. Its best national rank was #534 in 1891, and the most babies received it in 1915, when 31 were named French. It did not appear in the 2025 data, which only lists names given to at least five babies.
Its national rank moved from #1,338 in 1920 and #2,363 in 1950. Of the 1,119 US boys named French since records began, 22% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 177 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Vinton, Gaines, Lige, Glover, and Perley.
Gender, sound and spelling
About 99% of US babies named French over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
French is usually pronounced FREHNCH, with one syllable. It has six letters, starts with F and ends in “-ch”.
Middle names for French
A few middle names that flow with French: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for French
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Lists that include French
Frequently asked questions
What does the name French mean?
French is an English and French name that is usually said to mean “from the surname French”.
What is the origin of the name French?
French has English and French roots. French is an English surname meaning a French person, or someone who came from France, used as a given name in the US mainly in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Is French a popular name?
No. French was not recorded for five or more babies of its most common sex in 2025, so it is rare today.
Is French a boy or girl name?
French is mainly a boy's name. About 99% of US babies named French over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce French?
French is usually pronounced FREHNCH. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings