Gender: Feminine
Origin: Germanic
Meaning: “friend of the people.”
(luy-dee-VEEN)
The name is derived from the masculine German name, Leutwin, which is composed of the elements, leud (people) and win (friend).
In France, Ludivine may have been popularized by a 1970s television series, Les Gens de Mogador.
As of 2010, Ludivine was the 298th most popular female name in France.
The name is borne by actress, Ludivine Sagnier (b.1978)
Gender: Masculine
Origin: English/French
Eng (RAH-bin); Fre (hroh-BAHn); Swe (ROH-bin)
Though the name has become increasinly feminine over years, and is now considered somewhat of a “mom” name, Robin is currently a fashionable male name in several countries.
Robin is a Middle English diminutive form of Robert. It is often associated with Robin Hood of Legend. Robin has been used as an independent given name since at least the 19th-century. Its usage on females began in the 1930s, (most likely being influenced by the bird). It first entered the top 1000 for females in 1932. The highest it ranked for females was in in 1962/1963 when it was consecutively the 25th most popular name for girls in the United States. Despite its popularity on females in the 60s, Robin did not fall out of the U.S. top 1000 for boys during those years. The highest he ever ranked was in 1956 when it was the 147th most popular male name. As of 2011, Robin does not rank in the U.S. top 1000 for either males or females.
His rankings in other countries are as follows:
An obscure Scottish feminine form is Robina.
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Arabic نوال
Meaning: “present; gift.”
(nah-WAHL; nah-WEL)
The name is from the Arabic meaning, “gift; present.”
As of 2010, Nawel was the 312th most popular female name in France.
The name is borne by Comorian folk-singer, Nawal.
Gender: Masculine
Origin: Occitanian
(teey-too-AWn)
The name is a franconization of the Occitanian male name, Titoan, which is the Occitanian form of Anthony. Though it is a legitimate name with much history, especially in the regions within the Langue D’Oc, the name was not allowed official usage in France until 1987. The recent outburst in popularity may have something to do with Titouan Lamazou (b.1955) a famous contemporary French artist, sailor and children’s rights activist. In his case, Titouan is a nickname for Antoine, in his case, his Moroccan nanny had a difficult time pronouncing his name, giving him, instead the name of a Berber town which sounded similar to Antoine, Tétouan, which comes from the Berber, Titwan, meaning, “the eyes.” There is a district in Madrid that was named in reference to the town, Tétuan.
Titouan‘s popularity is also probably a mix of the recent interest and revival of regional cultures in France: that of the Basque, Breton, Alsatian and Occitanian. This and several other Breton and Occitanian names appear in the French top 500.
As of 2010, Titouan was the 51st most popular male name in France.
An Occitanian feminine for is Titoana, and obscure French feminine form is Titouane.
Gender: Feminine
Origin: French
Eng (shar-LEEN); Fre (shahr-LEHN)
Charlène is a French feminine form of Charles.
In the United States, Charlene first appeared in the U.S. top 1000 in 1907. The highest she ever ranked was in 1949 when she was the 100th most popular female name. She has not appeared in the top 1000 since 2000.
As of 2010, Charlène was the 313th most popular female name in France.
A notable bearer is South-African born Charlene Wittstock Grimaldi, princess of Monaco (b.1978)
Gender: Feminine
Berber (EEZ-yah) Fre (EE-ZEE-AH); Pol (EE-zhah)
The name can have a few different origins.
In Polish, it is a diminutive form of Izabela. Though it is not used as an independent given name in Poland, it may have been introduced to the French public’s attention when Sisley named their eau de parfum this. It was named after the nickname of Countess Isabelle d’Ornano, one of the brand’s founders. Isabelle’s friends and family have long called her “Izia,” a diminutive of Isabelle that reflects her Polish-French background. The fragrance itself was inspired by a unique rose that grows in the d’Ornano family garden in Poland, which blooms only once a year for a short time.
The French market often mispronounced the fragrance as EE-ZEE-AH instead of EE-ZHAH.
It is also borne by French pop-singer, Izïa Higelin (b. 1995). In her case, her parents were inspired by the Georgian female name, Mzia, meaning, “sun.”
The name can also come directly from the Berber feminine noun, izya, which describes a contemporary or a person who is the same age as another.
As of 2024, Izia was the 396th most popular female name in France, while Izïa was the 469th.
Gender: Masculine
Origin: Celtic
Meaning: “tumult; riot.”
Eng (TRIS-ten)
The name is derived from an ancient Pictish name, Drust, which is derived from the Celtic element, drest, meaning, “tumult; riot.”
The name later came to be associated with the Latin tristis (sad) and hence often took on the meaning of “sorrowful.”
Drust was borne by several Pictish kings, including the last King of the Picts, Drust X. Historically, the name is often latinized as Drustanus.
In medieval legend, the name was borne by an envoy of King Mark of Cornwall, who ends up falling in love with Isolde, the King’s betroved.
Currently, Tristan is the 87th most popular male name in the United States, (2011). His rankings in other countries are as follows:
Other forms of the name include:
Feminine forms include the English Trista, the Italian Tristana and the obscure French, Tristane.
Sources
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Arabic جيهان
Meaning: debated
(jee-HAHN)
There are several possible origins to this name. It is most widely accepted to be derived from the Persian word, جهان (jahan), meaning, “world; universe.” However, it can also be traced to several different Arabic words with JHN as their roots. These include:
As of 2010, Jihane was the 334th most popular female name in France.
A variant transcription is Jihene.
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “garden.”
Eng (HORE-tense); Fre (or-TAWNS)
In the English-speaking world, she is considered being one of the most hated baby names, on par with Bertha and Beulah; but at one time, Hortense was very much-loved in the United States, and she is still favored abroad.
Hortense appeared in the U.S. top 1000 between 1880 and 1941. The highest she ranked within those years was at # 375 in 1903. By 1942, she disappeared from the U.S. top 1000 never to be seen again.
Though the sound in contemporary English may not be so pleasant, Hortense has many redeemable qualities. She is derived from the Roman family name, Hortensius, which is derived from the Latin, hortus, meaning, “garden.” Hence horticulture! Her Latin derivative shares its name with the scientific designation of the hydrangea plant. Hortensia is also the name of a type of pear.
Hortense sounds completely different in French, in fact, it sounds rather pleasant. She appears in the French top 500 coming in as the 335th most popular female name in 2010.
Other forms of the name include:
Notable bearers include:
Gender: Masculine