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North America

Québécois names

87 names used by Québécois families, arranged by the age in which each first appears, oldest first.

AllGirlsBoys

The Biblical WorldAbout 1200 BC to AD 100

ChloeGirlGreek Chloē, 'young green shoot', an epithet of the goddess Demeter.Biblical · peak 2010

GabrielBoyFrom Hebrew Gavri'el 'God is my strength'.Biblical · peak 2010

OnesimusBoyGreek onēsimos, 'useful, profitable'; Paul plays on the meaning in Philemon 11.Biblical · forgotten

The Early Middle Ages400 to 800

CatherineGirlGreek Aikaterinē, of unknown origin. Its link to katharos 'pure' is a later folk etymology that changed the Latin…Early Medieval · peak 1909

ClovisBoyLatinized form of Frankish Chlodowig, from hlod 'fame' and wig 'battle'; the same name that became Louis and Ludwig.Early Medieval · peak 1914 · forgotten

GenevieveGirlUncertain. Possibly from Germanic or Gaulish elements; proposals include 'kin' and 'woman', but none is settled.Early Medieval · peak 1915

LouisBoyFrom Frankish Chlodowig: hlod 'fame' and wig 'battle'; the same name as Clovis and Ludwig.Early Medieval · peak 1880

The High and Late Middle Ages1100 to 1450

AntoineBoyFrom the Roman family name Antonius, of unknown, possibly Etruscan, origin. The meaning 'priceless' is a folk etymology.Middle Ages · peak 1976

BeatriceGirlFrom Latin Beatrix, probably an altered form of Viatrix 'voyager', reinterpreted as from beatus 'blessed'.Middle Ages · peak 1910

ÉtienneBoyFrom Greek stephanos 'crown, wreath'.Middle Ages · peak 1902

GillesBoyFrom Latin Aegidius, probably from Greek aigidion 'young goat'.Middle Ages

HéloïseGirlProbably from a Germanic name such as Helewidis, but the elements are disputed.Middle Ages

HuguetteGirlFeminine diminutive of Hugues, from Germanic hug 'mind, heart'.Middle Ages · forgotten

IsabelleGirlA form of Elisabeth, from Hebrew Elisheba 'my God is an oath'.Middle Ages · peak 2007

JacquesBoyFrom Hebrew Ya'aqov, traditionally linked to aqev 'heel'.Middle Ages · peak 1973

JeanBoyFrom Hebrew Yohanan 'Yahweh is gracious'.Middle Ages · peak 1929

LaurenceGirl or boyFrom Latin Laurentius 'of Laurentum', a town near Rome.Middle Ages · peak 1913

MadeleineGirlFrom Mary Magdalene, 'of Magdala', a place name from Aramaic or Hebrew migdal 'tower'.Middle Ages · peak 1998

MargueriteGirlFrom Greek margaritēs 'pearl', probably borrowed from Persian.Middle Ages · peak 1897

MarieGirlThe French form of Maria (Mary), from Hebrew Miryam, whose meaning is unknown.Middle Ages · peak 1899

MathieuBoyFrom Hebrew Mattityahu 'gift of Yahweh'.Middle Ages · peak 1998

MichelBoyFrom Hebrew Mikha'el 'who is like God?'.Middle Ages · peak 1966

PierreBoyFrom Greek petros 'stone', translating Aramaic kepha.Middle Ages · peak 1986

RenéBoyFrom Latin Renatus 'born again'.Middle Ages · peak 1969

The Renaissance1400 to 1600

AngéliqueGirlFrom Latin angelicus 'angelic', from Greek angelos 'messenger'.Renaissance · peak 1970 · forgotten

ClaudeGirl or boyFrom the Roman family name Claudius, traditionally linked to claudus 'lame'.Renaissance · peak 1882

FrançoisBoyFrom Latin Franciscus 'Frankish, French'.Renaissance · peak 1992

FrançoiseGirlFeminine of François, from Latin Franciscus 'Frankish, French'.Renaissance

GabrielleGirlFeminine of Gabriel, from Hebrew Gavri'el 'God is my strength'.Renaissance · peak 1998

HonoréBoyFrom Latin Honoratus 'honoured'.Renaissance · forgotten

LouiseGirlFeminine of Louis, from Frankish Chlodowig: hlod 'fame' and wig 'battle'.Renaissance · peak 1908

ThérèseGirlUncertain. Proposals include Greek therizein 'to harvest' or the island name Therasia; none is settled.Renaissance · peak 1927 · forgotten

The Colonial Americas1500 to 1800

EuphrosineGirlFrench form of Greek Euphrosyne 'mirth, good cheer', one of the three Graces.Colonial · forgotten

Jean-BaptisteBoyFrench compound honouring John the Baptist; Jean is from Hebrew Yochanan 'Yahweh is gracious', Baptiste from Greek…Colonial · forgotten

PélagieGirlFrench form of Greek Pelagia, from pelagos 'the open sea'.Colonial · forgotten

RosalieGirlFrom Latin Rosalia, the name of a Roman festival of roses, borne by Saint Rosalia of Palermo.Colonial · peak 1938

ToussaintBoyFrench 'All Saints', often given to boys born around All Saints' Day.Colonial · forgotten

The Age of Revolutions1750 to 1837

ÉmileBoyFrom the Roman family name Aemilius, possibly from aemulus 'rival', though this is not certain.Revolutions · peak 1882

ÉmilieGirlFrom the Roman family name Aemilius, possibly from aemulus 'rival', though this is not certain.Revolutions · peak 1891

LudgerBoyFrom Germanic liud 'people' and ger 'spear', after St Ludger of Münster.Revolutions · forgotten

ManonGirlA French pet form of Marie.Revolutions

NapoleonBoyItalian Napoleone, of uncertain origin; often linked with Napoli (Naples).Revolutions · peak 1880 · forgotten

Victorian and Belle Époque1837 to 1914

AdélardBoyFrom Germanic adal 'noble' and hard 'hard, brave'.Victorian · forgotten

AlcideBoyFrom Greek Alkeides, a name of Heracles, from alke 'strength'.Victorian · peak 1880 · forgotten

AmédéeBoyFrom Latin Amadeus, 'love God'.Victorian · forgotten

CamilleGirl or boyFrom the Roman family name Camillus, perhaps related to camillus, a youth serving at sacrifices; the deeper origin…Victorian · peak 2019

ElzéarBoyA French form of Eleazar, from Hebrew 'God has helped', after St Elzéar of Sabran.Victorian · forgotten

EvangelineGirlFrom Greek euangelion 'good news'.Victorian · peak 2016

HormisdasBoyFrom the name of Pope Hormisdas, ultimately Persian Ohrmazd (Ahura Mazda), 'wise lord'.Victorian · forgotten

OvilaBoyUncertain; no established derivation for this Quebec name.Victorian · forgotten

Rose-AnnaGirlA compound of Rose (Latin rosa) and Anna (Hebrew Hannah 'grace').Victorian · peak 1950 · forgotten

TélesphoreBoyFrom Greek Telesphoros, 'bringing to completion'.Victorian · forgotten

WilbrodBoyFrom Willibrord, the Anglo-Saxon missionary saint, from Germanic wil 'will' and brord 'point, spear'.Victorian · forgotten

ZéphirinBoyFrom Latin Zephyrinus, from Greek zephyros 'the west wind'.Victorian · forgotten

The Modern Age1880 to today

CélineGirlUncertain. Often derived from Latin caelum 'heaven', or as a short form of Marceline; neither is settled.Modern · peak 2020

ClaudetteGirlA French feminine diminutive of Claude, from the Roman family name Claudius.Modern · peak 1936 · forgotten

GaétanBoyFrom Italian Gaetano, 'man of Gaeta', made popular by St Cajetan.Modern · forgotten

GaétaneGirlFeminine of Gaétan, from Italian Gaetano 'man of Gaeta'.Modern · forgotten

GermaineGirlFrom Latin germanus 'of the same parents, brother', through French; St Germaine Cousin made it popular.Modern · peak 1908 · forgotten

GhislainBoyAfter St Ghislain of Hainaut; probably from Germanic gisil 'pledge, hostage', but uncertain.Modern · forgotten

GhislaineGirlFeminine of Ghislain; probably from Germanic gisil 'pledge, hostage', but uncertain.Modern · forgotten

GinetteGirlA pet form of Geneviève.Modern · forgotten

JacyntheGirlThe French form of Hyacinth, from Greek hyakinthos, a flower name of pre-Greek origin.Modern · forgotten

Jean-GuyBoyA French compound of Jean (Hebrew 'God is gracious') and Guy (Germanic, possibly 'wood' or 'wide').Modern · forgotten

JeannineGirlA French feminine diminutive of Jean (John), from Hebrew 'God is gracious'.Modern · peak 1929 · forgotten

JoséeGirlA French feminine of Joseph, from Hebrew 'he will add'.Modern · forgotten

LauretteGirlA French diminutive of Laure, from Latin laurus 'laurel'.Modern · peak 1904 · forgotten

LéaGirlFrom Hebrew Le'ah; the meaning is uncertain, with 'weary' and 'wild cow' both proposed.Modern · peak 1970

LiseGirlA French short form of Élisabeth, from Hebrew Elisheva 'my God is an oath'.Modern · peak 1959 · forgotten

Marc-AndréBoyA French compound of Marc (Latin Marcus) and André (Greek andreios 'manly').Modern

Marie-ClaudeGirlA French compound of Marie (from Hebrew Miryam) with Claude, from Latin Claudius, a Roman family name.Modern

Marie-ÈveGirlA French compound of Marie (from Hebrew Miryam) with Ève (Eve), from Hebrew Chavah, 'life'.Modern

Marie-FranceGirlA French compound of Marie (from Hebrew Miryam) with France, from the country name.Modern

Marie-JoséeGirlA French compound of Marie (from Hebrew Miryam) with Josée (feminine of Joseph), from Hebrew 'he will add'.Modern

Marie-PierGirlA French compound of Marie (from Hebrew Miryam) with Pier (Pierre), from Greek petros 'stone'.Modern

Marie-SoleilGirlA French compound of Marie (from Hebrew Miryam) with soleil 'sun', from French.Modern

MaximeBoyFrom Latin Maximus 'greatest'.Modern · peak 2001

NormandBoyFrench for 'Norman', ultimately 'north man'.Modern · peak 1929 · forgotten

Pierre-LucBoyA French compound of Pierre (Greek petros 'stone') and Luc (Latin Lucas).Modern

PierretteGirlA French feminine diminutive of Pierre, from Greek petros 'stone'.Modern · forgotten

RéalBoyUncertain. Probably from Latin regalis 'royal', but the Quebec use has no settled explanation.Modern · forgotten

RéjeanBoyUncertain. A name distinctive to Quebec; explanations from Régent or re- plus Jean are guesses.Modern · forgotten

RéjeanneGirlFeminine of Réjean, a Quebec name of uncertain origin.Modern · forgotten

RolandeGirlFeminine of Roland, from Germanic hrod 'fame' and land 'land'.Modern · forgotten

RosaireBoyFrom French rosaire 'rosary', honoring Our Lady of the Rosary.Modern · forgotten

YvetteGirlFeminine diminutive of Yves, probably from Germanic iv 'yew'.Modern · peak 1967 · forgotten

YvonBoyA French form derived from Yves, probably from Germanic iv 'yew'.Modern · forgotten

Meanings and histories are drawn from the study of names and their languages, each with a confidence rating; popularity figures come from official birth records. Name histories are a living field: if you know of a correction, we would be glad to hear it.