French names that start with 'S'

French names like Sylvie, Solène, and Solange, which start with the letter 'S', have a captivating quality that naturally draws attention. Perhaps this is because of the high-frequency sound corresponding to this letter.

In phonetics, the letter ‘S’ represents a sibilant sound. This soft and soothing sound often gives an appealing quality to a name.

French girl names that start with S

A first group of French girl names that start with ‘S’ are those related to the theme of forests and woodlands, because they originate from the Latin word “silva” meaning “forest”. This connection adds a touch of poetry and enchantment to these names.

• Sylvie: From the Latin word “silva” meaning “forest”.
• Sylviane: This is the feminine form of the male name Sylvain. Both are derived from the Latin word “silva” meaning “forest”.
• Sylvette: This is a diminutive of the name Sylvie
• Sylvaine: This name has the same origin as the name Sylviane.

A second group of French girl names that begin with the letter ‘S’ are those that originate from the Latin word “sollemnis”, a term that has several meanings, including “solemn”. This connection provides an aura of dignity and respect to these names.

• Solange: This name contains the French word “ange” (which means “angel”). But that is not its etymology; it comes from the Latin word “sollemnis” which means “solemn”.
• Solène (alternate spellings: Solenn and Solenne)
• Soline: This French girl’s name also originates from the Latin word “sollemnis” (which means “solemn”)

Although France is a language that evolved from Latin, it has some terms that come from Greek as well. Here are some French girl names starting with the letter ‘S’ that come from Greek:

• Stéphanie: The corresponding male name is Stéphane. This name can be traced back to the Greek word “stephanos” which can refer to a crown.
• Sandrine: Sandrine is derived from the name Alexandrine, a feminine form of the name Alexandre.
• Sophie: In France, Sophie is a name that is frequently used, both by itself as well as in the compound name Anne-Sophie. The name Sophie can be traced back to the Greek word “sophia” which means “knowledge”.

And here are some more names French female names that begin with the letter “S” and do not fit into the previous groups:

• Suzanne: Suzanne is the French form of the English name Susan. The origin of these names can be traced back to a Hebrew word that means “lily” (the flower).
• Simone (alternate spelling: Simonne) This is the feminine form of the male name Simon. A famous French person with this name is the author Simone de Beauvoir.
• Séverine: Séverine, the female form of the male name Séverin, can be traced back to the Latin adjective “severus” which means “serious” or “severe”.
• Ségolène: Ségolène is a French name of Germanic origin. It contains the Germanic roots “Sieg” (victory) and “lind” (gentle, soft)
• Suzette: Suzette is a name that arose as a diminutive form of the name Suzanne. This form expresses affection or familiarity. There is also a culinary connection to this name, as “Crepe Suzette” is an elegant dessert in French cuisine.
• Soizic: Soizic is a French girl’s name that comes from Breton, a Celtic language from Brittany, the westernmost region of France.

French boy names that start with S

Perhaps due to its soft and smooth sound, the letter ‘S’ is more frequently encountered at the beginning of French girl names than boy names. But there are still some boy names that start with this letter.

• Stéphane: This is the male version of the female name Stéphanie. It also originates from the Greek word “stephanos” which can refer to a crown.
• Sébastien: This name originates from the Greek word “sebastós” which means “venerable” and “revered”.
• Serge: Serge is a French male name that has the same Latin root as the names Sergio (in Italian) and Sergey (in the Slavic languages).
• Sylvain: Sylvain is a French boy’s name that comes from ancient Roman mythology. Sylvain is derived from Silvanus, the name of a Roman deity associated with woodlands and forests.
• Simon: Although Simon is an international name rather than a French name, the French language does have some compound names that include it, for instance: Pierre-Simon, Jean-Simon, and Simon-Olivier.
• Swan (alternate spelling: Swann). This name has literary connections: Charles Swann, often referred to simply as Swann, is one of the main characters in Marcel Proust's work “In Search of Lost Time” (À la recherche du temps perdu).

French last names that start with S

Seguin is one of the most widely-known French last names starting with the letter ‘S’. This name's wide recognition is due to a short story by the 19th-century French author Alphonse Daudet titled “La Chèvre de monsieur Seguin” (The Goat of Monsieur Seguin).

In French cuisine, the “Galette Seguin” is a reference to this short story. It is a galette (savory buckwheat crepe) with goat cheese.

Then there is Sabatier, a French last name that many in France will recognize as being the name of a large university situated in the city of Toulouse. That university is named after Paul Sabatier, a French chemist and Nobel Prize laureate.

• Simon
• Seguin
• Sabatier
• Saunier
• Soler
• Sellier
• Sarrazin
• Soulier
• Sergent
• Simonet