French female names originate from the French language as used in France and other Francophone regions. They commonly mark the feminine with endings such as -e, -ine, -ette, and -elle, and by forming feminine counterparts of masculine names (for example, -ien to -ienne, -er to -ère). Traditional female naming has been shaped by Catholic practice, with saints’ names and compound forms built on Marie or Anne widely used.

Today, girls’ names in French often favor short, two‑syllable forms and endings like -a and -ie. Hyphenated compounds remain in use but are less frequent. Diacritics (é, è, ï, ç) are standard in official spellings.