logo
French baby names are having a moment—and Olivia Culpo's pick shows exactly why

French baby names are having a moment—and Olivia Culpo's pick shows exactly why

Yahoo17-07-2025
When Olivia Culpo and Christian McCaffrey introduced the world to their daughter, Colette Annalise, they tapped into a growing trend among new parents.
Romantic, refined, and rich in meaning, the name Colette (a diminutive of Nicole, meaning 'people of victory') feels effortlessly elegant. Paired with Annalise, a name with roots in grace and devotion, the choice struck a chord for its beauty and its emotional resonance.
While the celebrity moment made headlines, it's part of a broader wave we're seeing everywhere: the quiet rise of French-inspired baby names that feel timeless, poetic, and deeply meaningful.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Olivia Frances Culpo (@oliviaculpo)
The rise of romantic French baby names
Names like Margot, Eloise, Camille, and Colette are undeniably having a moment. These names often carry a lyrical softness that feels gentle and feminine while remaining strong. They strike a balance between vintage charm and modern minimalism, making them especially appealing to today's parents.
Parents are revisiting the past with a fresh perspective. Names like Margot and Eloise have steadily climbed the charts over the past decade, signaling a shift toward revival names that blend tradition with trend. French names in particular carry a certain romantic nostalgia—calling to mind cobblestone streets, literary heroines, and timeless fashion icons—while still feeling rooted and strong.
In a fast-moving world, these names bring a sense of calm and thoughtfulness. A sense of story. Of softness. Of soul.
Related: 'Old people baby names' are the 2025 trend we didn't know we needed
Colette as a symbol of strength
Colette sounds delicate, yet its meaning—'victory of the people'—embodies quiet power. And for Olivia Culpo, who has spoken candidly about her struggles with endometriosis and fertility, the name likely carries even more emotional weight.
Parenthood often begins long before a baby is born. It begins in the waiting rooms, in the procedures, in the quiet prayers. For many families—especially those who've faced loss, challenges, or uncertainty—naming a child becomes a deeply symbolic act. A way to honor the past while hoping for the future.
Choosing a name like Colette reflects resilience and grace alongside beauty. This is a strength that stands firm with quiet confidence. Culpo's choice captures what many parents seek today: names that are emotionally grounded and quietly powerful, whether for their meaning or sound.
Beautiful French baby names to consider
If you're drawn to the elegance of names like Colette, here are 40 more romantic French names—20 for girls and 20 for boys—to inspire your list. Each one carries its own unique note of charm, strength, or softness.
French baby girl names:
Esmé – 'Beloved'; light and lyrical
Odette – 'Wealth'; graceful and classic
Sylvie – 'From the forest'; nature-inspired and gentle
Anaïs – 'Grace'; vibrant and fresh
Geneviève – 'Tribe woman'; regal and romantic
Elodie – 'Foreign riches'; melodic and modern
Camille – 'Attendant'; chic and unpretentious
Manon – 'Bitter'; simple yet strong
Delphine – 'Dolphin'; aquatic and elegant
Lucienne – 'Light'; vintage and luminous
Margot – 'Pearl'; playful yet polished
Céline – 'Heavenly'; celestial and sleek
Chloé – 'Blooming'; fresh and youthful
Noémie – 'Pleasantness'; sweet and serene
Vivienne – 'Alive'; timeless and spirited
Josette – 'God will add'; delicate and classic
Colette – 'Victory of the people'; refined and resilient
Amélie – 'Hardworking'; dreamy and determined
Renée – 'Reborn'; grounded and graceful
Léonie – 'Lioness'; bold and beautiful
French baby boy names:
Étienne – 'Crown'; noble and sleek
Lucien – 'Light'; artistic and poetic
Théo – 'Gift of God'; short and sweet
Olivier – 'Olive tree'; warm and classic
Henri – 'Ruler of the home'; old-world charm
Julien – 'Youthful'; soft yet strong
Marceau – 'Warlike'; modern and edgy
Benoît – 'Blessed'; gentle and grounded
Remy – 'Oarsman'; fashionable and fresh
Laurent – 'From Laurentum'; elegant and cool
Gaspard – 'Bringer of treasure'; rare and radiant
Mathis – 'Gift of God'; stylish and spirited
Florent – 'Blooming'; romantic and rare
Pascal – 'Easter child'; vintage with a twist
Romain – 'From Rome'; worldly and rich
Anselme – 'Divine protection'; soulful and unique
Cédric – 'Kind and loved'; classic and familiar
Loïc – 'Famed warrior'; compact and strong
Armand – 'Soldier'; bold and distinctive
René – 'Reborn'; timeless and tender
French baby names offer a quiet magic that touches on meaning, sound, and feeling all at once. They speak to resilience and grace. To softness and strength.
Sometimes, a name like Colette expresses what words alone cannot.
Related: The most unique celebrity baby names
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Phil Collins explains why he's in hospital and debunks hospice claims
Phil Collins explains why he's in hospital and debunks hospice claims

Yahoo

time12 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Phil Collins explains why he's in hospital and debunks hospice claims

A representative for Phil Collins has assured fans that the 74-year-old music legend is not in hospice care, despite recent rumors. Instead, the former drummer and frontman of British rock band Genesis is currently in the hospital after undergoing knee surgery, his spokesperson confirmed to The Independent. Last week, unfounded rumors that the retired musician was on his deathbed went viral online. It's unclear what sparked them; however, they came months after the eight-time Grammy-winning artist revealed that he was 'very sick.' 'I keep thinking I should go downstairs to the studio and see what happens but I'm not hungry for it anymore,' Collins told Mojo magazine in February after his final concert with the group at London's O2 Arena. The concert was billed as the band's last ever together and saw Collins say goodbye to his fans. 'The thing is. I've been sick, I mean very sick,' he said. 'Phil wasn't in as great a shape as he used to be, but they did a great job,' founding Genesis member Peter Gabriel added. Though Gabriel didn't perform with the rock group, he explained: 'Me going was a rite of passage, really. I'd been part of the creation of Genesis, so I wanted to be there at the end.' Collins announced his retirement from live shows in 2022, after having previously said he can 'barely hold a drumstick' following a serious spinal injury in 2007. The injury damaged vertebrae in his upper neck and caused lasting nerve damage. 'I'm kind of physically challenged a bit, which is very frustrating because I'd love to be playing up there with my son,' he said in a September 2021 interview with BBC Breakfast. Collins' 24-year-old drummer son, Nic, filled in for his father during Genesis's final The Last Domino tour in 2021. Nic regularly drums for the band Better Strangers. Collins, who has been married three times, is also a father to four other children: actor Joely, 52; drummer Simon, 48; Emily in Paris star Lily, 36; and soccer player Mathew, 20. He was married to his first wife, Andrea Bertorelli, from 1975 to 1980, followed by his second marriage to Jill Tavelman from 1984 to 1996, and his third wife, Orianne Cevey, from 1999 to 2008. Solve the daily Crossword

Johnny Depp honors Ozzy Osbourne in surprise performance alongside Alice Cooper
Johnny Depp honors Ozzy Osbourne in surprise performance alongside Alice Cooper

Fox News

time15 minutes ago

  • Fox News

Johnny Depp honors Ozzy Osbourne in surprise performance alongside Alice Cooper

Johnny Depp honors Ozzy Osbourne in surprise performance alongside Alice Cooper By Brie Stimson Johnny Depp made a surprise appearance on Friday, joining Alice Cooper at his concert in London, honoring Ozzy Osbourne with a song just days after his death. The "Pirates of the Caribbean" star rocked out with Cooper and his band on his guitar, playing Black Sabbath's 1970 hit "Paranoid" to a raucous audience while sporting a Captain Jack-style scarf and sunglasses. "Lovely tribute last night to Ozzy by Alice Cooper featuring Johnny Depp," one person wrote on social media while posting video of the performance. A second person posted on X: "I saw Johnny Depp last night in London. He made a surprise appearance at the Alice Cooper gig I was at. I was so excited." OZZY OSBOURNE'S MESSAGE TO FANS CAPS DECADES-LONG LEGACY: 'THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART' Cooper jokingly introduced Depp as "some guy we found out in the alley that said something about vampires" as the crowd roared, another video on social media showed. Depp and Cooper are in the band The Hollywood Vampires together. "Here's for Ozzy!" Cooper shouted to the crowd while wearing an Osbourne T-shirt as they finished the song. The actor, who is returning to Hollywood with the upcoming thriller "Day Drinker" with Penélope Cruz, stayed around after the Osbourne tribute to play the Alice Cooper classic "School's Out" with the band. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Osbourne died on Tuesday at 76 years old after battling multiple health issues, including Parkinson's, which he announced in 2022. JOHNNY DEPP SAID 'F--- YOU' TO HOLLYWOOD AS AMBER HEARD ALLEGATIONS DERAILED HIS CAREER "Everybody in, this one's for Oz tonight," Cooper told his band backstage before a show in Cardiff, Wales, on the night Osbourne died in a video he shared on his Instagram. Cooper wrote in the post's caption that the band found out about Osbourne's death just before going on stage. "Well, we all know that time is going to take us rockers, but when the giants fall, it's really hard to accept," Cooper said in a statement he posted in the caption and recorded for his radio show Alice's Attic before performing that night. "Even though everybody saw it coming with Ozzy, it just took our breath away when it happened. So Ozzy and family - your records and your music and your legend and all that you brought - the humor to the rock business - will live on forever and we're gonna miss you man." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER APP USERS CLICK HERE FOR POST The post said that the Cardiff show was dedicated to the late Black Sabbath frontman. "Following the show, Alice summed up his thoughts by saying 'The whole world is mourning Ozzy tonight. Over his long career, he earned immense respect among his peers and from fans around the world as an unmatched showman and cultural icon,'" the post said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Cooper said he always saw Osbourne as a mix between the "Prince of Darkness" and what his family and friends saw: "a court jester." "He was and will continue to be a rock n roll legend. Rock n Roll is a family and a fraternity. When we lose one of our own it bleeds. I wish I would have gotten to know my brother Ozzy better," he added. URL

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store