32 Great French Cat Names and Their Meanings

When deciding on a name for your feline friend, it can be helpful to look to other languages for inspiration! Specifically, French cat names can be elegant, unique, elaborate, or even simple and inspired by pop culture. Below, we’ll take a look at 32 great French cat names to give you plenty of ideas when naming your next cat!

1. Amelie

The name “Amelie” became popular with the French movie of the same name in 2001. However, the name is a great choice for a strong-willed cat, as it roughly translates to “hard-working” in English.

2. Hugo

Interestingly, the name “Hugo” has several origins from languages like Latin, German, and French. In French, it means “mind” or “intelligence.” The English version of the name, Hugh, can also be a great choice for a male cat.

3. Beau

The name “Beau” is gender-neutral in French, so you can use it for both male and female cats. It means “beautiful” in French, and it’s a common nickname in France. It’s also a fairly popular pet name, particularly for cats and dogs.

4. Chloe

The French name “Chloe” is also quite popular for both dogs and cats. In French, it translates to “growth” or “fertility.” It originates from the Greek name Khloe, which means “little green shoot” and refers to blooming foliage.

5. Camille

Although “Camille” sounds rather feminine, it’s a gender-neutral name in French. It’s a variant of the name Camilla, which has Latin origins in the surname Camillus. In French, it translates to “the priest’s helper.”

6. Louis

The name “Louis” has both Germanic and French origins. In French, it translates to “famous warrior” or “loot bringer.” It originally comes from the name Ludwig.

7. Toulouse

What could be a more fitting French name for your cat than a name from the Disney movie Aristocats? Toulouse also evokes artist Toulouse Lautrec, as well as the French city of Toulouse.

8. Berlioz

The name Berlioz is the second of three great Disney-inspired names from the movie Aristocats. It’s an especially fitting name if your cat has black or gray fur, as the fluffy little kitten from the movie also has dark gray fur!

9. Marie

Finally, we’ve come to the most recognizable name of the three kittens from Aristocats: Marie, the adorably pompous yet elegant white-furred kitten with a bright pink bow. If your cat has a bit of a mischievous streak, this name might be perfect. After all, “Ladies don’t start fights, but they can finish them.”

10. Antoine

If you love and cherish your cat like a child, why not consider the name Antoine? In French, it means “praiseworthy” or “priceless.” It’s the perfect name for a cat you consider priceless or even irreplaceable.

11. Laurent

The name “Laurent” certainly evokes luxury, as it also brings to mind designer Yves Saint Laurent. Although it’s traditionally a masculine name meaning “the bright, shining one,” it can also be a more gender-neutral name for both male and female cats if you wish.

12. Pierre

Is your cat rather stubborn? If so, the name Pierre might be a fitting French cat name for your furry friend. That’s because it essentially means “stone” or “rock.” Its true origins are in the Greek word “petros,” which also means “stone.”

13. Francois

“Francois” is a perfectly French cat name, as it translates to “Frenchman.” Alternatively, it can also mean “free man,” making it a great name for more free-spirited, fun-loving kittens.

14. Henri

The French name “Henri” brings to mind the French painter Henri Matisse, but it also means “home ruler.” It sounds masculine, but traditionally, it’s more gender-neutral. It’s the French version of the name “Haimrich,” which has old Germanic origins. It’s also a variant of the English name “Henry.”

15. Alain

The name Alain has both Celtic and French origins, but it’s becoming a more popular baby name in France as of late. It has a few different meanings, from “noble” to “stone” or even “harmony,” meaning it can be fitting for a variety of cats’ personalities.

16. Genevieve

The name Genevieve is an excellent name for an elegant and poised female cat, as it means “of the race of women” in French. It has old Germanic roots, and it comes from the Germanic word “Genovefa,” which means “fair one.”

17. Celeste

Celeste is another gender-neutral French name that, while it can be used for both male and female cats, has a very elegant, feminine sound. It’s based on the Latin word “caelestis,” which means “heavenly.” 

18. Jacques

Jacques is an excellent traditional French name for both humans as well as cats, dogs, and other pets. It’s the French version of the name “Jacob,” and it means “supplanter,” which means “takes the place of someone else.”

19. Armand

Is your cat a brave little soldier? If so, consider the name Armand. It translates from French to mean “soldier,” so it’s perfect for cats that are a bit headstrong, tough, or even stubborn.

20. Delphine

If your cat likes to swim, why not name her Delphine? This French cat name means “dolphin,” and it’s adorably perfect for water-loving kitties. It has both French and Greek origins.

21. Noe

The name “Noe” (pronounced No-AY) is a great French cat name that means “rest” or “repose.” Considering how much cats love to sleep, this name is ideal for both female and male cats, though it’s especially perfect and elegant for females.

22. Sacha

For many, the name Sacha likely brings to mind actor Sacha Baron-Cohen. However, it has French roots and means “defending warrior.” If your cat is especially attached to and protective of you, this name is ideal for both male and female felines.

23. Pascal

Pascal is another great French name for cats that translates to “Easter child.” If your cat was born in the springtime or just likes that particular time of year, this name can be especially fitting for them.

24. Sebastien

The name Sebastien likely brings to mind the lobster from Disney’s The Little Mermaid for some, but it also has very meaningful French roots. It originally comes from the Greek word “sebastos,” meaning “venerable.”

25. Fleur

Is your cat pretty and elegant like a flower? If so, you can just name her “Fleur,” the French word for “flower.” Though the name originated in France, it has made its way across the world and is now used by English speakers as well as in other countries.

26. Vivienne

For especially lively and rambunctious cats, the name “Vivienne” is ideal. That’s because it means “alive” or “lively” in French. If the name is a bit long for your liking, you could always nickname your cat “Viv.”

27. Devereaux

The name Devereaux may call to mind Blanche Devereaux from The Golden Girls for some, but it also has very meaningful French roots. It means “river bank” in French, so it can also be great for water-loving cats, too.

28. Cerise

For cats with orange or reddish-brown fur, the name Cerise is perfect! It’s the French word for “cherry.”

29. Auguste

Particularly lively and bombastic cats may be great candidates for the name Auguste, which means “great” or “magnificent” in French. It can be a male or female name, and you can also modify it to August, Augustine, or even Augustina.

30. Florent

The name “Florent” also calls to mind flowers and blooming plants. This is because it’s a masculine version of the name Florence, and it means “blooming” or “flourishing.” You could even modify it to the longer version of the name, Florentine.

31. Gisele

Interestingly, the name Gisele can either mean “hostage” or “pledge.” It also evokes supermodel Gisele Bundchen, so if your cat is beautiful and has a model-like strut, you can consider this great French cat name.

32. Soleil

The name Soleil can be used for male or female cats, as it is fairly gender-neutral. It’s also the French word for “sun” or “sunlight,” so bright, sunny, fun-loving cats are ideal for this moniker.

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