Stunning French Baby Names You've Never Heard Of

Somehow, the French have a way of making everything seem more sophisticated. Take a standard name like Karen, for example. While lovely, this Danish shortened form of Katherine has become so popular in English-speaking countries that it feels like it has always been an English name. It is so widely used that at the peak of its popularity in the mid-20th century, many American parents were even giving the name to their baby boys.

Karen might be overused, but the French name Karine, on the other hand, has a similar sound and spelling yet still manages to sound new and elegant (at least to American ears). It is both the French version of the name Carina and the French version of the name Karin, which is the Swedish nickname for Catherine. If "k" names aren't your style, the French still have you covered; the name can also be spelled as Carine.