Finding out you are having a baby girl means that you can narrow the baby name choices down to one gender. If you are thinking about giving a beautiful French name to your “petite choux,” you have a variety of choices. Understanding the origin and meaning of some of the names can help you pick the perfect one for your bundle of joy.

Claudine

The name Claudine is the female version of the boy’s name, Claude. A popular name in French literature at the turn of the 20th century, it became less common as the century wore on. During the 1990 U.S. Census,Claudine was ranked 864 out of 4,276 female baby names.

Darlene

Darlene, a name of English origin, became popular in France early during the 20th century. The name, which means “darling,” comes in 17 different forms, including Dalinn, and Darryleen. From the 4,276 names in the 1990 U.S. Census, the name Darlene was 157th in popularity.

Joceline

The French name Joceline is a variant of the original, which was of German origin. Its derivation may come from the Latin, meaning “cheerful.” Other variants include Jocelyn, Josceline and Jocalinia.

Nadine

In 1990, the name Nadine hit 415 on the popularity chart out of 4,276 baby girl names in the U.S. Census. While many popular names in France originated elsewhere, the name Nadine is of French origin. One well-known author, Nadine Gordimer, penned many novels under her given name.

Natalie

Natalie means “birthday” and in its truest form means “Christmas.” One of the Catholic saints in the fourth century was named Saint Natalie. The name was 216 in popularity out of 4,276 in the United States 1990.

Annabelle

If you want your daughter named for “favored grace,” name her Annabelle, a version of the name Anabel. In the U.S., out of 4,276 names in 1990, Annabelle was 809th in popularity, making it a popular choice.

Paulette

The girl’s name Paulette has many variations including Pearlette, Paulene and Pauletta. It ranks 419 out of 4,276, according to the U.S. Census of 1990.