French names that start with 'J'

The letter 'J' represents a pleasant sound that resonates with gentleness and confidence. It's no wonder that there are plenty of elegant French names that start with this letter.

French girl names that start with 'J'

From classics like Joséphine and Jacqueline with their sophistication and charm, to simpler, more approachable names like Julie and Jeannette, French female names that begin with the letter 'J' offer a wide spectrum to choose from.

The names that follow have are organized into categories based on their etymology.

Five French female names, each beginning with the letter 'J', have been derived from the male name Joseph, which came to French from Hebrew via Latin.

A second group of French girl names starting with ‘J’ are those related to the male name Jean. It is worth noting that, in French, Jean is used exclusively as a male name, unlike in English, where it is often used as a female name.

A third group of French girl names beginning with the letter ‘J’ are those connected with the Latin name Julia.

Below are some more French female names that start with ‘J’:

French boy names that start with 'J'

A large number of French boy names that start with the letter ‘J’ are compound names that begin with “Jean”:

French first names that begin with ‘J’ among historical figures and public personalities

Name Occupation
Jean-Paul Sartre French existentialist philosopher and partner of Simone de Beauvoir
Jean-François Champollion Egyptologist who deciphered the Rosetta Stone
Jules Verne French novelist who authored adventure stories including “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” and “Around the World in Eighty Days”
Jeanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc) 15th-century military leader
Jean-Pierre Jeunet French film director who made the movie “Amélie”
Jean Reno French actor who starred in “Léon: The Professional” and “The Big Blue”
Jean Nouvel French architect who designed the Paris Philharmonic concert hall (Philharmonie de Paris) and the Musée du Quai Branly
Juliette Binoche French actress who starred in “The English Patient” (she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress) and the romantic movie “Chocolat” (with Johnny Depp)
Jean Dujardin French actor who starred in the movie “The Artist,” a performance that made him win an Oscar for Best Actor
Jacques Chirac Former President of France (from 1995 to 2007)
Jean-Luc Godard Film director and pioneer of the 1960s French New Wave film movement
Jacques Brel Singer-songwriter
Jean de La Fontaine 17th-century author of fables
Jean Gabin Actor
Jeanne Moreau Actress
Jacques Tati Filmmaker
Jean-Paul Belmondo Actor
Jérôme Bonaparte Younger brother of Napoleon Bonaparte
Jacques Prévert Poet, screenwriter
Jean Baptiste Camille Corot Painter
Jean-Pierre Melville Film director who made the movies “Le Samouraï” and “Army of Shadows”
Juliette Gréco Singer, actress
Jean-Michel Jarre Composer, performer
Jean-Baptiste Lully Composer
Jules Michelet Historian
Joseph Fourier French mathematician (Fourier series were named after him)
Jean-Jacques Rousseau 18th-century philosopher, author of “The Social Contract” and “Émile, or On Education”
Jacques-Louis David Painter
Jacques Cousteau French oceanographer and filmmaker
Jean Rochefort Actor
Jean Racine 17th-century French playwright who authored tragedies including “Phèdre” and “Andromaque”
Jacques Derrida Philosopher
Jean-Jacques Goldman Musician
Jules Ferry Politician who established free, compulsory, and secular public education in France
Jean-Paul Gaultier Fashion designer
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck Biologist
Jacques Cartier Explorer from the French city of Saint-Malo in Brittany who gave Canada its name.

French last names that start with J