These Rococo Names Embody the Opulence Elegance of the Era
At the beginning of each new year, predictions abound: what will be the hottest styles, the biggest trends, the things people can’t get enough of? According to Pinterest’s tracking data, one of those things is going to be the French Rococo era of the 1700s. The search for the term “Rococo outfit” alone skyrocketed 5465% — and that’s just one of the Rococo-related terms that people are searching. They’re calling it the “Rococo Revival,” and people are loving the bougie aesthetic.
For context, the Rococo era originated in early 18th-century France, particularly during the reign of King Louis XV from 1715-1774. (The king’s mistress, Madame de Pompadour, played a significant role in promoting the Rococo style — proving that even waaaay back in the day, celebs and socialites were style influencers). Advances in technology and trade meant that the middle class was advancing in prosperity and wealth, so naturally they wanted to emulate the ornate and luxurious style of the bourgeoisie, and fashion, art, décor, even architecture reflected this. It was less grandiose and dramatic than the previous Baroque period, but every bit as opulent.
The Rococo style encompasses many qualities you might want your child to embody: Light and playful, but still possessing an undeniable elegance and complexity. So let their name reflect that fancy aesthetic! These melodic French names were actually used during the Rococo era … and still have an aristocratic feel to this day.
One thing to consider before taking the plunge on a Rococo name: unless you live in a predominantly French-speaking location, you (and of course, your child) will likely have a lifetime of correcting people’s pronunciation, as some of these names and accent marks are unfamiliar to native English speakers. But some of them are recognizable to the vast majority of people (élisabeth, for example), so unless you want to stick strictly to the correct French pronunciation, the “Americanized” or anglicized pronunciation will work just fine.
Whether you’re expecting a petite mademoiselle or a petit monsieur — or want a name that can work for either — you’re sure to find a Rococo name on this list that’s your cup of (fancy French) tea!
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Léonie
Pronunciation: LEH-AW-NEE
Léonie may sound ultrafeminine, but don’t let that trick you into thinking it’s demure — it comes from the Latio leo, meaning “lion.”
Corentin
Pronunciation: KAW-RAHN-TEHN
(A note on pronunciation — even though we’ve ended with an “N” in our key, it’s not quite a hard N; more like a nasalization, common in French. But there’s nothing wrong with a more Americanized pronunciation either — and Corey could be a cute nickname!) Corentin likely comes from the Breton word korventenn, meaning “storm.”
Antoinette
Pronunciation: AHN-TWA-NEHT
Born in the middle of the Rococo era, this name makes most people think of Marie Antoinette, who was the queen of France during the French Revolution. It comes from the male name Antonius (also the same root name as Anthony!), which is a Roman family name of unclear origin.
Jules
Pronunciation: ZHUYL
The traditional French pronunciation is not “jewels”; rather, it starts with a soft “zh” sound and ends with a silent S. But if you live in an English-speaking country, you (and everybody else!) will probably pronounce it like the latter, and that makes it a great unisex choice. It’s the French form of a Roman family name derived from the Greek word ioulos, meaning “downy-bearded.”
Honorée
Pronunciation: AW-NAH-REH
This beautiful name means just what it sounds like: honor, but make it elegant.
Auguste
Pronunciation: O-GUUST
Auguste is the French form of a name that comes from the Latin word augere, meaning “to increase.” The name August (with no E at the end) is actually super-popular right now; according to the most recent data from the U.S. Social Security Administration, it’s #104 of the top 1000 most popular boy names in the United States. A lot of that has to do with its nickname potential — both Augie and Gus are cute options. Auguste is a great way to put a spin on a popular name that not a lot of people hear.
Amédée
Pronunciation: AH-MEH-DEH
OK, hear us out: this is a traditionally-masculine name, but we think it could be a great option for a girl. It’s the French form of Amadeus, which comes from the Latin words amare, meaning “love,” and Deus, meaning “God.”
Bastien
Pronunciation: BAS-TYEHN
Like August, Sebastian is another name that’s hugely popular in the U.S., ranking in the top 15 according to the latest data. This version is a diminutive of the French form of Sebastian — Sébastien — meaning “from Sebaste” (a town whose name was derived from a Greek word meaning “venerable”). Americans may pronounce it more like Bastian (as in Bastian Bux, the boy from The Neverending Story), which is just as acceptable … at least in an English-speaking country!
Eugénie
Pronunciation: U-ZHEH-NEE
This is the gorgeous French form of Eugenia, which is itself derived from the Greek word eugenes, meaning “wellborn.” And it’s good enough for royalty; several princesses have borne this name, most recently Princess Eugenie of York — the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II.
Guillaume
Pronunciation: GEE-YOM
William is a perennially-popular name — as in, it has never left the top 1000 most popular names, not even close; in fact, in the past decade it’s reached as high as #3. So the French form, Guillaume, is a more unique option. It means, oddly enough, “will helmet.”
Odile
Pronunciation: AW-DEEL
Once you know it isn’t pronounced “oh-dial,” this name is so pretty and distinctive! It’s the French form of the name Odilia, derived from the Old German element uodil and meaning “heritage.”
étienne
Pronunciation: EH-TYEHN
Like Amédée, we think that even though étienne is a traditionally-masculine name in France, it sounds great for a girl in English-speaking countries (where the “-enne” suffix usually indicates a female name). Can you guess which traditional male name this is the French version of? It’s Stephen! So this would be a great option for naming your baby after a beloved relative named Stephen or Steven without directly calling them that. The name means “crown” or “wreath.”
Aurélie
Pronunciation: O-REH-LEE
You truly can’t get any more glamourous than the name Aurélie, right down to its meaning: “golden” or “gilded.”
Marceau
Pronunciation: MAR-SO
Derived from the name Marcel, this is the Old French version. But they both come from another name: Marcus, which originated as a Roman family name likely associated with the god Mars.
Hélène
Pronunciation: EH-LEHN
The French form of the Greek name Helen, meaning “torch,” which is a vintage classic — but Hélène just sounds more elevated and sophisticated.
Damien
Pronunciation: DA-MYEHN
As in several of the other Rococo names on our list, the end of Damien is not so much pronounced with a hard “N” as it is with a softer nasalization — but if you’re in an English-speaking country, people will probably pronounce it the Anglicized way anyway: DAY-mee-en. Either way you pronounce it, it’s derived from the Greek word damazo, meaning “to tame.”
Athéna?s
Pronunciation: A-TEN-AH-EES
Arguably one of the prettiest — if a bit harder to pronounce — names on our list, Athéna?s comes from the name of the Greek goddess Athena, the goddess of warfare and wisdom.
Pascal
Pronunciation: PAS-KAL
Pascal would be a fantastic choice if you’re having a spring baby, or more specifically, an Easter baby — because it comes from the Latin word Pascha, meaning “Easter!”
Joséphine
Pronunciation: ZHO-ZE-FEEN
The majority of people will pronounce this exactly like the anglicized version: Josephine. But the French version begins with a lovely soft J that’s almost more like a “zh” sound, and the S in the middle is pronounced more like a Z. Either way, it’s the feminine form of Joseph, meaning “he will add.” Many people will associate this with the wife of the famous Napoleon Bonaparte, Joséphine de Beauharnais (who was born in — you guessed it — the Rococo era!).
élisabeth
Pronunciation: EH-LEE-ZA-BEHT
Obviously this is the French form of the ever-popular Elizabeth, meaning “God’s oath,” and most people will ignore the diacritical mark over the first “E” and pronounce it this way. But the French pronunciation sets it apart, so if you want a unique spin, élisabeth is the way to go.
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