Every year, vintage-style names rank among the major naming trends. For boys, names like Léon, Louis, Arthur, Marceau and Gabin appear among the projected top 20 for 2027. On the girls’ side, Louise has overtaken Emma to top the French list, ahead of Adèle and Rose in the top 10. That illustrates how much expectant and new parents are drawn to retro names. But, as Stéphanie Rapoport, author of L’Officiel des Prénoms, points out, “they should be distinguished from truly old-fashioned names that aren’t necessarily retro, such as Catherine”.

Stack of baby name books and vintage toys illustrating naming trendsPin
Vintage-style names regularly reappear on baby-name lists.

Still, some names are both antique and retro. “Charles is an old name, but it fits both categories,” Rapoport explains. Although it goes back to the Middle Ages, it evokes French kings and famous figures like Charles Dickens or Charles Baudelaire. “In France, this name never completely vanished from maternity wards after its decline in the 1920s, and it’s even regaining momentum today,” she notes in her book. More generally, when a name shone in the 19th century but was rarely used by our grandparents, “there’s a strong chance it will make a powerful comeback”, she analyses. Practically speaking, “the previous generation must no longer be present; they need to have disappeared”.

In fact, one male name could climb the ranks in the next few years, the naming expert believes. Félix, which peaked in the 19th century and means “happiness, luck,” was borne in France by President Félix Faure. “Its resurgence in the 1920s, tied to the popularity of the American cartoon Felix the Cat, was followed by a half-century lull. The rise of table tennis player Félix Lebrun, who emerged in 2024 during the Paris Olympic Games, has given the name fresh visibility,” the author writes. Given to 560 babies in 2025, Félix is “a quintessential retro name that will become, once again, a fresh choice in the coming years,” Rapoport predicts.

Table tennis player celebrating a win, representing Félix Lebrun's visibilityPin
The rise of Félix Lebrun at the 2024 Games boosted the name Félix.

Other names such as Marcel, Suzanne and Madeleine are also likely to follow this pattern and reappear more prominently. And unlike Félix and Marcel, which are expected to gain popularity in the near future, names ending in “ette” will return somewhat later — in “about thirty years.” This applies to female names like Arlette, Brunette, Colette, Huguette, Josette, Pâquerette, Paulette, Suzette, Violette and Yvette.