French Boy Names That Mean Royalty
French boy names that mean royalty split into two clear families: words built straight from roi, the French word for king, and imported noble titles.
Names83
OriginFrench
MeaningRoyalty
GenderBoy
Leroy spells it out plainest of all: it comes straight from the French le roi, "the king." Royal, Royce, and Royale all grow from that same roi root, just filtered through English spelling and a famous car badge on one of them.
Other names on this list borrow actual French noble titles rather than the word for king. Marquis and Marquise are a real noble rank, just below duke, worn here with real swagger. Henri and Alphonse carry an older kind of authority, ruler and noble baked into Germanic words French folded in centuries ago.
What gives us so many French boy names that mean royalty
French history did double duty here. Centuries of monarchy wrote roi and its noble titles into the language, while Frankish rulers folded Germanic ruler roots into names such as Henri long before French existed as its own tongue. Marquis sits beside names that just sound regal, like Montgomery and Montrell, both built on French mont- for mountain.
Familiar names versus surprising finds
Royal and Royce feel familiar, still inside the US top 500. Ansel, tied to the nobleman roots the name carries and to the photographer famous for his black-and-white Yosemite images, and Reno, which hides a French ruler's counsel surname inside a Nevada city name, are the surprises, proof this meaning turns up where a parent would not guess.
Names List
Royal#476 in the U.S.From the English word 'royal,' derived from Old French 'roial' and Latin 'regalis' meaning kingly or of tPronounced ROY-ul▶Royce#500 in the U.S.English surname from Old French 'roy' (king) and the suffix '-ce' or from 'Rolls-Royce' cultural associatPronounced ROYS▶Louie#596 in the U.S.Variant of Louis, from Old Frankish Hluodwig, composed of hlud ('fame,' 'renowned') and wig ('warrior,' 'Pronounced LOO-ee▶Leroy#888 in the U.S.From Old French le roi meaning the king; a surname borne by those who worked in a royal household or who Pronounced LEE-roy▶Montgomery#962 in the U.S.From the Norman French place name Montgomeri, from Old French mont meaning mountain and Germanic GomerichPronounced mont-GUM-er-ee▶Wallace#964 in the U.S.From Anglo-Norman French Waleis meaning Welshman or foreigner, from a Germanic root related to the name fPronounced WOL-us▶Ansel#1285 in the U.S.Follower of a nobleman, divine protectorPronounced AN-sel▶Marquis#1474 in the U.S.from the French noble title 'marquis', a rank below duke, ultimately from a Germanic word meaning 'march'Pronounced mar-KEE▶Henri#1592 in the U.S.The French form of Henry, from the Germanic name Heimirich combining 'heim' (home) and 'ric' (ruler), givPronounced ahn-REE▶Avion#1875 in the U.S.From the French word 'avion' ('airplane', coined from Latin 'avis' = 'bird'). Used as a modern given namePronounced AV-yon▶Marquise#2351 in the U.S.Nobleman; lord of a march (border territory); from French marquis (a nobleman ranking above a count and bPronounced mar-KEEZ▶Alphonse#2437 in the U.S.Noble and ready; eager for battle; French form of Alfonso/Alphonso, from Germanic Adalfuns (adal: noble +Pronounced AL-fonz▶Royale#3196 in the U.S.Kingly, royal, befitting a kingPronounced roy-ALE▶Reno#3433 in the U.S.From Reno, Nevada — named for Civil War general Jesse Lee Reno, whose surname anglicized French Renault, Pronounced REE-noh▶Montrell#3488 in the U.S.Modern American name, plausibly echoing Montreal ('Mount Royal') or blending the French Mont- ('mount') wPronounced mon-TREL▶Roi#3661 in the U.S.From French roi, 'king'; also a Hebrew name, 'my shepherd' or linked to 'sight/seeing' (as in Beer-lahai-Pronounced ROY▶Oberon#3744 in the U.S.From Auberon/Alberich — Germanic 'elf ruler' (or 'noble bear' readings) — Shakespeare's fairy kingPronounced OH-bər-on▶Aldric#3781 in the U.S.From Germanic ald, 'old, wise', plus ric, 'ruler' — 'wise old ruler'; a Frankish saint's namePronounced AL-drik▶Amaury#3882 in the U.S.French form of Amalric — Gothic amal, 'work/vigor', plus ric, 'ruler' — crusader-king pedigreePronounced ah-moh-REE▶Avenir#3888 in the U.S.From French avenir, 'the future' — also Russian Avenir, from the legendary king in the Barlaam talePronounced ah-veh-NEER▶Melroy#3896 in the U.S.Melroy reads as an early-twentieth-century blend of Mel, from names like Melvin, and Roy, itself from thePronounced MEL-roy▶Etienne#3900 in the U.S.French form of Stephen — Greek stephanos, 'crown, wreath' — the first martyr's laurelsPronounced eh-TYEN▶Adolphe#3990 in the U.S.Adolphe is the French form of Adolph, from the Germanic Adalwolf, joining adal, 'noble', and wolf, 'wolf'Pronounced ah-DOLF▶Rainier#4033 in the U.S.From Germanic Raginhari — ragin, 'advice, counsel', plus hari, 'army' — 'wise army, counsel-warrior'Pronounced rə-NEER▶Elroy#4216 in the U.S.From Leroy — French le roi, 'the king' — with an El- opening; 'the king'Pronounced EL-roy▶Loys#4243 in the U.S.Loys is an archaic French spelling of Louis, a royal name descending from the Germanic Hludwig, built froPronounced LOYSS▶Leeroy#4492 in the U.S.Spelling of Leroy — from French le roi, 'the king'Pronounced LEE-roy▶Aristede#4763 in the U.S.Aristede is a form of Aristide, the French and Italian version of the Greek Aristides, from aristos, 'besPronounced ar-iss-TEED▶Verdun#4922 in the U.S.Verdun is a place-name given as a first name in honor of the French city, site of a long and decisive FirPronounced vur-DUN▶Amael#5053 in the U.S.From Breton Amael/Arthmael — 'prince, chief' (or 'bear-prince'); also read as an -ael angel name; routes Pronounced ah-mah-EL▶Leory#5351 in the U.S.Leory reads most plausibly as a scrambled spelling of Leroy, from French le roi ('the king'). The transpoPronounced LEE-oh-ree▶Sovereign#5398 in the U.S.From the word sovereign — from Latin superanus, 'above, supreme' — 'a supreme ruler; supreme, independentPronounced SOV-rin▶Luie#5570 in the U.S.Luie is a plain, sound-it-out spelling of Louie, the everyday short form of Louis. Louis descends from thPronounced LOO-ee▶Thierry#5616 in the U.S.The French form of Theodoric — from Germanic, 'the ruler of the people' (theud, 'people', plus ric, 'rulePronounced tee-EH-ree▶Darroll#5956 in the U.S.Darroll is a variant spelling of Darrell, a name that began as an English surname taken from the Norman FPronounced DAIR-ul▶Markese#6057 in the U.S.A modern spelling echoing Marquis/Marquez — from French marquis, 'a nobleman ranking below a duke; a lordPronounced mar-KEES▶Elray#6099 in the U.S.Elray reads as an American blend of the El- opening with the name Ray, and it closely echoes Elroy and LePronounced EL-ray▶Garrick#6256 in the U.S.Variously from Germanic ger, 'a spear', plus ric, 'ruler' ('a spear ruler'), and the Huguenot surname GarPronounced GAIR-ik▶Roux#6729 in the U.S.From the French roux, 'red; reddish-brown; red-haired' (a surname); also the name of a cooked flour-and-fPronounced ROO▶Rondell#7151 in the U.S.A modern name, variously a Ron- (from Ronald, 'ruler's counsel') elaboration with -dell, and echoing the Pronounced ron-DEL▶Derrill#7689 in the U.S.Derrill is a variant of Darrell, a name that began as the Norman French surname d'Airelle, marking someonPronounced DER-il▶Markis#8097 in the U.S.A respelling of Marquis, a title of nobility ('a march lord; a nobleman ranking below a duke'), long usedPronounced MAR-kis▶Montreal#8099 in the U.S.From the French place Montreal — 'Mount Royal' (Mont Real, the hill at the heart of the Canadian city); aPronounced mon-tree-AWL▶Delroy#8406 in the U.S.Delroy is most likely a variant of Leroy or Elroy, from the French le roi, 'the king'. The De- form givesPronounced DEL-roy▶Aubra#8536 in the U.S.Aubra is a variant of Aubrey, which comes through Old French from the Germanic Alberic — alb, 'elf,' plusPronounced AW-bruh▶Chamberlain#9057 in the U.S.An English occupational surname from 'chamberlain' — the officer who managed a royal or noble household'sPronounced CHAYM-bur-lin▶Avantae#9655 in the U.S.Avantae is a modern American coinage built on Avante or Avant, which come from the French word 'avant,' mPronounced ah-VAHN-tay▶Aymeric#9936 in the U.S.The French form of Emeric (Amerigo, Emery), from Germanic 'amal' ('work, labour') and 'ric' ('ruler, powePronounced AY-muh-rik▶Ricard#9940 in the U.S.Ricard is the Catalan and Occitan/French form of Richard, from the Old Germanic ric, 'power, ruler,' and Pronounced ree-KARD▶Dorrell#9947 in the U.S.Dorrell is a variant of Darrell or Durrell, an English surname carried from the Norman French d'Airelle, Pronounced DOR-uhl▶Marqui#10389 in the U.S.Marqui is a respelling drawn from the French title marquis, a nobleman ranking between a count and a dukePronounced mar-KEE▶Lancelot#10452 in the U.S.From the French Lancelot, the greatest knight of King Arthur's Round Table; variously linked to 'land; sePronounced LAN-suh-lot▶Marquese#10501 in the U.S.A modern spelling of Marquis/Marquise, from the French noble title 'marquis' — a nobleman ranking below aPronounced mar-KEES▶Noir#10578 in the U.S.From the French noir, 'black' — also evoking film noir's shadowy, stylish mood. A bold, single-syllable wPronounced NWAHR▶Royan#10632 in the U.S.Royan reads as an elaboration of Roy, which comes from the Old French roi, 'king' (and, in Scotland and IPronounced ROY-an▶Versailles#10804 in the U.S.Versailles is a French place name — the town and grand royal palace outside Paris. As a given name it is Pronounced vair-SY▶Anri#11000 in the U.S.Anri is often a Japanese rendering of the French Henri (Henry, 'home ruler'), and is also written with JaPronounced AHN-ree▶Deland#11083 in the U.S.Deland is a first-name use of the surname Deland or DeLand, from Old French de la lande, meaning of the hPronounced DEE-land▶Ector#11242 in the U.S.Ector is a medieval form of Hector, from the Greek Hektor, 'holding fast' or 'steadfast'. In Arthurian lePronounced EK-tor▶Lyonel#11777 in the U.S.Lyonel is a French spelling of Lionel, a diminutive of Leon ('lion'), meaning 'young lion' or 'little lioPronounced LY-uh-nel▶Travers#11996 in the U.S.Travers is an English and French surname from the French traverser, to cross, originally marking someone Pronounced TRAV-erz▶Renald#12047 in the U.S.Renald is a variant of Reynald, from the Germanic Raginald, joining ragin, counsel, with wald, rule or poPronounced REN-uld▶Tresor#12178 in the U.S.Tresor is the French word for 'treasure,' from the Latin thesaurus. Used as a given name it expresses a cPronounced tray-ZOR▶Acelin#12328 in the U.S.An old French name of Germanic origin, a diminutive form built on the element adal, 'noble' — glossed 'liPronounced AS-uh-lin▶Acelyn#12329 in the U.S.A modern -lyn respelling of Acelin, the old French-Germanic name meaning 'noble,' though it also reads asPronounced AS-uh-lin▶Basile#12365 in the U.S.The French form of Basil, from the Greek Basileios, 'king; royal; kingly.' Long used in France; also the Pronounced bah-ZEEL▶Cantrell#12449 in the U.S.Cantrell is an English and French surname carried into use as a given name; its deeper etymology is not fPronounced KAN-truhl▶Audric#12484 in the U.S.Audric is a Germanic name joining 'aud' ('old; wealth') with 'ric' ('ruler; power'), often read as 'old rPronounced OH-drik▶Beaudry#12530 in the U.S.Beaudry is a French surname of Germanic origin, tied to elements meaning 'bold' and 'ruler; power' (relatPronounced BOH-dree▶Claud#12592 in the U.S.An English spelling of Claude, from the Roman family name Claudius, based on Latin claudus, 'lame.' BornePronounced KLAWD▶Demarquis#12653 in the U.S.A modern coinage joining the De- prefix with Marquis (a French noble title, 'a nobleman ranking below a dPronounced deh-mar-KEE▶Demont#12658 in the U.S.Demont reads as an American De- name built on the French-looking 'de mont', 'of the mountain', in the samPronounced duh-MONT▶Dieudonne#12742 in the U.S.Dieudonné is a French name meaning 'God-given' (Dieu, 'God,' plus donné, 'given') — the French counterparPronounced dyuh-daw-NAY▶Laroy#13269 in the U.S.Laroy is a variant spelling of Leroy, which comes straight from the French phrase le roi, 'the king'. LerPronounced luh-ROY▶Landri#13365 in the U.S.Landri is a modern respelling of Landry, a French surname from the Germanic name Landric — land ('land') Pronounced LAN-dree▶Lewie#13394 in the U.S.Lewie is a friendly spelling of Louie, the pet form of Lewis and Louis. Both descend from the Germanic HlPronounced LOO-ee▶Marque#13449 in the U.S.Marque is a French-looking spelling read like 'Mark'; it sits in the Marcus/Marquis family, where Marcus Pronounced MARK▶Markeese#13458 in the U.S.Markeese belongs to the American family of names built on Marquis — the French noble title, from Old FrenPronounced mar-KEES▶Page#13680 in the U.S.From the English occupational surname Page, 'a page; a young attendant in a noble household' (Old French Pronounced PAYJ▶Rhoyal#13766 in the U.S.Rhoyal is a modern respelling of the word name Royal, from Old French roial and Latin regalis, 'of a kingPronounced ROY-ul▶Leonce#13772 in the U.S.Leonce is the French form of the Latin Leontius, drawn from the Greek leon, lion; it was borne by severalPronounced lay-ONS▶Theophile#13847 in the U.S.Theophile is the French form of Theophilus, from the Greek 'theos' (god) and 'philos' (loved, friend), giPronounced TAY-oh-feel▶Ulysse#13902 in the U.S.Ulysse is the French form of Ulysses, itself the Latin name for the Greek hero Odysseus - the wandering kPronounced yoo-LEES▶
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Frequently Asked
Is Royal really an English name or a French one?
Royal reads as an English word name, but it is built on the same roi root, French for king, that gives us Leroy and Royale. All three point back to the same word.