French names that start with 'J'

Overview of French Girl Names 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.

Female Names Derived from Joseph

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.

Joséphine

Joséphine is an elegant and sophisticated female form of the male name Joseph. In France, this name might bring to mind Joséphine Bonaparte, the wife of emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, or Joséphine Baker, an American-born singer who moved to France during the 1920s and became an iconic figure of the Jazz Age in Paris.

Josée

Josée is the female form of the name José, which is a diminutive of Joseph. As a name, Josée has a rather casual and unpretentious feel compared to Josephine.

Josèphe

Josèphe is a female form of the name Joseph. Although these two names are easy to distinguish in their written form, they are difficult to tell apart based solely on their pronunciation. This may be the reason why it is not a very common name in France.

Josette

Josette is a diminutive form of the name Josèphe, formed with the suffix “-ette” which typically serves to convey a sense of smallness, cuteness, or endearment.

Josiane

Josiane is a name formed from Josée (a diminutive of Joseph) by adding the suffix “-ane”. Alternate spellings include Josianne and Josyane.

Female Names Related to Jean

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.

Jeanne

Jeanne is a classic French girl’s name that is a female form of the name Jean. In French history, a famous person with this name is Jeanne d'Arc (known in English as Joan of Arc).

Jeannette

Jeannette is a diminutive form of the name Jeanne.

Female Names Connected to Julia

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

Julie

Julie is a French girl’s name that comes from the Latin name Julia.

Juliette

Juliette is a girl's name derived from the French name Julie by adding the suffix “-ette.” This is a name with a romantic feel because of its association with William Shakespeare's “Romeo and Juliet.”

Julienne

Julienne is the female form of the name Julien.

Other French Female Names with 'J'

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

Justine

Justine is a French girl’s name that comes from the Latin name Justina (there was a Roman empress named Justina). The name’s root is the Latin adjective “iustus” which means “just” and “proper”.

Jacqueline

Jacqueline is the female form of the male name Jacques. This French name is quite popular in the U.S. and many recognize it as the name of Jacqueline Kennedy, the wife of U.S. President John F. Kennedy.

Jocelyne

This name has several variants with different spellings: Joselyne, Joseline, Josseline and Josselyne

Joëlle

Joëlle is a French female name that corresponds to the male name Joël.

Joffrette

Joffrette is the female form of the name Joffre. It is a rare name.