To check out the latest trends in French baby names, we turn once again to our go-to expert Stéphanie Rapoport, creator of the popular site Meilleurs Prénoms. Each year, Stéphanie shares her predictions for the following year, based on her analysis of the current data provided by the French National Statistics Office. Here’s what she sees ahead for 2016.
The success of the retro names does not prevent the domination of the endings in “a”: eight of them feature in the Top 20. For its part, Chloe never ceases to amaze with its endurance: it remains third while its co-stars of the 1990s (Clara, Anaïs, Lucie) plunged in the top 40.
1. Louise
11. Camille
2. Emma
12. Juliette
3. Chloé
13. Léna
4. Lola
14. Sarah
5. Inès/Ines
15. Lilou
6. Manon
16. Éva
7. Jade
17. Zoé
8. Alice
18. Anna
9. Lina
19. Adèle, Rose
10. Léa
20. Mila
The popularity of Old Testament names weakens the dominance of retro names (Louis, Jules), which in general, despite a triumphant Léo, rose only modestly. Meanwhile, I see Theo suffering a setback, but the boys’ names endings in “eo” are still vigorous via their figurehead (Léo) and Timéo. Maël is also riding the wave of el-ending names, sharing 20th place with Gabin, a newcomer to the elite.
Note that Liam has risen 12 ranks in a year, enough to possibly galvanize the success of other Irish names.
1. Léo
11. Nolan
2. Gabriel
12. Enzo
3. Adam
13. Jules
4. Timéo
14. Liam
5. Raphaël
15. Ethan
6. Lucas
16. Noah
7. Louis
17. Sacha
8. Arthur
18. Tom
9. Nathan
19. Théo
10. Hugo
20. Gabin, Maël