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Top 12 French-Canadian Boys’ Names

from 1980 to 2016 

including their origins and meaning, taken from Guy Bouthillier’s Nos prénoms et leurs histoires

#1: Alexandre

The given name Alexandre is of Greek origin. It comes from the name Alexandros and the verb alexein which means "protect" or "repel". A symbol of conquest, glory and strength, the name was chosen by many royal families of Greek, Bulgaria, Serbia and Yugoslavia. It was, and still is, extremely popular in Russia. In Canada, the name Alexander was popular with Anglo-protestant families in Montreal starting in the 19th century (Alexander Mackenzie, John Alexander Macdonald, Alexander Graham Bell). Later in that century, the name was slowly adopted by francophone families as well. The name Alexandre was the #1 name in 1987, 1993 and 1994.   

#2: Samuel

The given name Samuel is a Hebrew name derived from the word Shemuel, whose meaning is "his name is God". Frequently found within Jewish families in Israel and around the world, the name Samuel became well-known in Canada starting in the 19th century with English-speaking families. Even though the town of Québec was founded by Samuel de Champlain, there were only 11 instances of people named Samuel in New France. The popularity of the name with French-speaking families seemingly came out of nowhere in the 1970s. It reached the top spot for 5 years in the 1990s, and also in 2004 and 2005.  

#3: Maxime

The given name Maxime has its roots in the Latin maximus, meaning “the tallest”. Popular in Asia Minor, it spread to nearby Orthodox countries and became very common in Russia. In Germanic countries, it was Maximilien that was most popular. In New France, records for only 27 persons named Maxime exist. Discreet until the 19th century, Maxime exploded in popularity in the 20th century, clinching the #1 spot from 1988 to 1992.

#4: Mathieu

The first name Mathieu is derived from the Hebrew name Mattatyahu, which combines "gift" and "yah" (meaning God), translating as "gift of God". Many characters from the Ancient Testament carried this name, as did Christian families thanks to the apostle Matthew. It became Mateus in Portugal, Mateo in Spain, Matteo in Italy, Matthäus in Germany and Mats in Scandinavian countries. In France, the name Mathieu was seldom given until the last quarter of the 1900s, when in surged in popularity. The same happened in French-Canada, where it occupied the top spot for 3 years in the 1980s.

#5: Gabriel

The given name Gabriel comes from the Old Testament and a Hebrew word meaning “man of God” or “Strength of God”. The name became Gavriill in Russia and Greece, Gabriele in Italy and Gabor in Hungary. It was never very common in England, nor was it was given often in France. In contrast, many persons were given the name Gabriel in New France, no doubt influenced by the Maison Saint-Gabriel, a home that welcomed hundreds of Filles du roi once they arrived from France. In the centuries that followed, the name was given to a modest number of newborns, until it returned to the forefront starting in 1975 (when singer Peter Gabriel was topping the charts).

#6: Jonathan

The name Jonathan derives its etymology from the Hebrew Yehonatan, meaning "given from God". It has always been popular in Israel and within Jewish families around the world. In France, Jonathan only became popular in the 1980s, influenced by the U.S. Similarly, there were no persons named Jonathan in New-France or in the centuries that followed. The name only appeared in the 1970s and quickly made its way to the top spot in 1981 for 3 years.

#7: Olivier

The name Olivier has two possible origins. One is Germanic, while the other is Greco-Latin, referring to the olive tree and to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. In England, this name has been popular since the Middle Ages (Oliver Cromwell, Oliver Plunkett, Oliver Twist). In Canada, Olivier was seldom used until the 20th century. It made a resurgence in the 1990s and has been popular since then.

#8: David

The biblical name David comes from the Hebrew daoud or yadad, which means "well loved". Second king of Israel, David’s reign lasted nearly 40 years. The star of David (Magen David in Hebrew), prominent on the Israeli flag, was David’s emblem. Popular in Jewish culture, the name of David was also adopted by Christians after David became a Catholic saint. The use of the name spread to the British Isles, especially in Wales and Scotland. In the 19th century, the name David became popular with Anglo-protestant families in Canada. Never as popular in French-Canada, the name David was given modestly until it rose to prominence in the 1970s and 80s.

#9: William

This given name comes from Guillaume, of which William is the Anglo-Saxon form. William is a name of Germanic origin, from will, meaning "will", and helm, meaning "protection" or "helmet". In the 19th century, William was the most popular name among Anglo-Protestants in Québec, with 14% of boys named William! The name was also popular with the Irish. Some French-speaking Quebecers also adopted it at that time, but William was still rather rare as a first name among them. William's popularity gained momentum in the last 20 years of the 20th century. Since the year 2000, it has taken the top spot in Québec among boys’ first names.

#10: Nicolas

The given name Nicolas comes from the Latin Nicolaus, itself derived from the Greek Nikolaos, meaning “victory of the people”. Saint Nicolas (270-345) was an archbishop in present-day Turkey who, in a hooded coat and long white beard, distributed candy and small presents to children and students. Indeed, he is the cultural ancestor of our modern Santa Claus. From that era on, the name of Nicolas was popular in Cyprus, Greece, the Balkans and Russia. It slowly spread to western Christians, from Italy to Germanic countries, before finally arriving in North America in the 17th century. Here, the original Saint-Nicolas (Sinterklass) would be transformed into Santa Claus. The name Nicolas is known as Nicola or Niccolo in Italy, Nikolaus, Niklaus or Klaus in Germany and Nicolaj or Mikolaj in Poland. In England, the name was at first Nicol, then Nicolas and finally Nicholas. In France, the name Nicolas was common from the Middle Ages, but didn’t attain much popularity until the 1960s, when it reached the top 10. In New France, the name was very common for boys, before dropping in the ranks for the next two centuries. In the middle of the 20th century, its popularity surged for both boys and girls (through the derivative Nicole).    

#11: Simon

The name Simon has two possible origins: first from the Hebrew shim'ôn (meaning fulfilled or granted), and secondly of Greek origin from the word simos, meaning "has a short, flat nose". Popular within Jewish families in and out of Israel, the name Simon was also given to boys in the Slavic Christian families of Russia and Bulgaria. In France, the name was common in the Middle Ages, and again in the 20th century. In Canada, the name was first common in the era of New France, and then again in the 20th century (especially in the 1960s). From 1985 to 1989, Simon remained in the top 10.

#12: Vincent

The name Vincent originates from the Latin word vincentius which literally means "who wins" or "who triumphs". Outside of Latin countries, the first name Vincent is relatively unused. The name Vincent is known as Bixente in Basque countries, Vicente in Spanish-speaking countries, and Vincenzo in Italy. In both France and Canada, the name was most common in the 20th century. In the 1990s, about 2% of French-Canadian boys were given the name Vincent.

Related articles:

• Top 12 Girls’ Names in New France

• Top 12 Boys’ Names in New France

• Top 12 Girls’ Names in Québec from 1980 to 2016

• Top 12 Boys’ Names in Québec in 2017

• Top 12 Girls’ Names in Québec in 2017

Sources:

• Guy Bouthillier, Nos prénoms et leurs histoires : les prénoms masculins du Québec (Montréal, Québec : Les Éditions de l'Homme, 2010), 270 pages.   

• Roberto Rocha, “Comment Guillaume est devenu William, l’évolution des prénoms au Québec depuis 1980”, Ici Radio-Canada  (https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/special/2017/05/prenoms-populaires-quebec-tendance/).  

• NotreFamille, online database on first names and their origins (https://www.prenoms.com/).   

• magic maman famili, online database on first names and their origins (http://prenoms.famili.fr/).