300+ French Nicknames for Friends and Lovers

Ah l’amour! As essential as the baguette at lunch or some cheese before dessert, love is indisputably the first topic of conversation in France and it is as prominent for the French as Mamma is for the Italians. So, if you want to dig into the French culture, it will be nice to know some French terms of endearments.

Also, following our articles on Spanish nicknames for guys and ladies, and the article on Indian nicknames, we began to receive a lot of requests from readers, asking that we write about French nicknames and so, here you go.

In this article, we share a couple of beautiful French nicknames you can call your lovers, siblings, parents, and even random strangers.

To help you choose the most appropriate nickname, we decided to classify them into 10 categories. Some of the pet names can be used for both men and women, and “U” stands for Universal. Some of them are only women-related (see sign F for Female), and some only dedicated to men (M for Male).

Some can be used just for young or old lovers, some for friends. To see the difference, just take a quick look at the definition. Have fun!

List of French nicknames:

 french terms of endearment

This list contains French nicknames for guys and girls, boyfriends, and girlfriends.

French Nicknames from Nature

French Nicknames from Nature

The following are French nicknames for guys and girls from nature. These are nicknames you can call any guy; friend, sibling, and even a stranger:

  1. Bout de chou (U) ‒ Little cabbage, a nickname for the small and big ones
  2. Chou (U) ‒ Cabbage, shorter than bout de chou, but as intense
  3. Chouchou (U) ‒ Just to say that he or she is the favorite
  4. Choufleur (M) ‒ Cauliflower, more manly than the little cabbage
  5. Choupinou (M) ‒ Boy version of cabbage
  6. Choupinette (F) ‒ Girl version of choupinou
  7. Cucul de la lune (U) ‒ For friends who are often distracted and love to blue sky
  8. Fleurette (F) ‒ A poetic expression for desire, you say « let’s go and see fleurette »
  9. Groseille (F) ‒ Gooseberry, because girls are so sweet
  10. Lila (F) ‒ Lila, Girls are fragile and fragrant like this flower
  11. Ma fleur (F) ‒ My flower, who doesn’t think girls are flowers?
  12. Mon arbre (M) ‒ My tree, it stays strong even in stormy nights
  13. Mon pétale (F) ‒ Petal, for fragile and poetic girls
  14. Ma petite myrtille des bois (F) ‒ My little wild blueberry, small size but very intense taste
  15. Ma petite noisette (F) ‒ My small hazelnut, a concentrate of charm
  16. Ma petite rose des champs (F) ‒ Field rose, for a wild and colorful girl
  17. Ma rose (F) ‒ Rose, it is a cute French nickname for a beautiful girlfriend
  18. Ma violette (F) ‒ Violet, a charming purple flower name which always fits ladies
  19. Mon coquelicot (F) ‒ Poppy, for joyful and natural girls
  20. Mon lys adoré (F) ‒ Lily, a noble and beautiful girl
  21. Mon roc (M) ‒ Rock, for solid and confident men who never doubt
  22. Mon soleil (U) ‒ My sun, not a single day of bad weather with him
  23. Petit chou (U) ‒ As sweet as bout de chou
  24. Petite fleur (F) ‒ Small flower, how can you resist the charm of little girls?
  25. Ver de terre (M) ‒ Literally worm, for very shy small kids
  26. Vieille branche (M) ‒ Old branch, for friends who have known each other for ages

French Nicknames from Objects

The following are French terms of endearments gotten from objects. They are appropriate for friends, siblings, co-workers, and even strangers:

  1. Bijou (F) ‒ My jewel. Use this nickname for a precious guy or girl
  2. Doudou (M) ‒ You immediately think of the teddy bear you used to carry everywhere when you were a baby
  3. Mon enclume (M) ‒ Anvil, for someone who gives weight to your life
  4. Mon petit bouchon (U) ‒ Small cork, because love makes your head spin faster than a glass of wine
  5. Trésor (U) ‒ Treasure, boys, and girls, young and old, we are all someone’s treasure

French Nicknames Based on Physical Features

French nicknames for girlfriend

The following are French nicknames based on a person’s physique or appearance:

  1. Beauté (F) ‒ Beauty, a nice way to show your love to your beautiful girlfriend
  2. Beau brun (M) ‒ Cute dark-haired, for latinos with a manifest innate sensuality
  3. Belle gueule (M) ‒ A great French nickname for a young, good-looking boy
  4. Belle gosse (F) ‒ Same thing as bogosse, but for women
  5. BG (M) ‒ It stands for ‘beau gosse,” which means hot guy
  6. Bogosse (M) ‒ For a young, good-looking boy
  7. Cœur (U) ‒ Heart, all versions available; petit cœur-little heart, my mon cœur-heart, joli cœur-beautiful heart
  8. Filou (M) ‒ For little and big mischievous boys
  9. Fripouille (U) ‒ For kids with an irresistible smile
  10. Gros (M) ‒ Like Big Boy, which is a sign of affection
  11. Jeune homme (M) ‒ Young man, to grab a man’s attention with elegance
  12. Ma belle (F) ‒ My beauty, a passionate salutation or term of endearment for a sweetheart
  13. Ma douce (F) ‒ My sweetheart, it is meant for girlfriends
  14. Ma mignonnette (F) ‒ If your girlfriend is cute and good looking, call her this nickname
  15. Ma petite femme (F) ‒ My little woman, use it after many years of common life
  16. Mignon (M) ‒ Cutie, girls use it to talk about/to a man they fancy
  17. Mignonne (F) ‒ Cutie, female version of mignon, but more poetic
  18. Mon grand (M) ‒ Big Man, for kids, mainly
  19. Petit bout (U) ‒ Small thing, we use it mostly for very little kids
  20. Petite (F) ‒ Small girl, because girls will always be smaller than boys
  21. Petiote (F) ‒ For very small girls
  22. Pitchoune (F) ‒ The same as petiote in Southern France
  23. Pitchounette (F) ‒ More adorable than pitchoune
  24. Quinquin (M) ‒ This is how they call kids in Northern France
  25. Titenana (F) ‒ For little girls who already behave like grown-ups
  26. Toudou (M) ‒ For men as soft as stuffed animals

French nicknames derived from Food

French nicknames derived from Food

The following are French nicknames derived from cooking, eating, and food:

  1. Andouille (U) ‒ Sausage, for those who make little mistakes
  2. Barbe à papa (U) ‒ Cotton candy, for little girls
  3. Bonbec (U) ‒ The short version of bonbon, meaning candy, for kids
  4. Cacahuète (U) ‒ Peanut. You can use it as a nickname for someone who is full of fantasy and fun
  5. Chantilly (F) ‒ Your girlfriend is lighter and tastier than this cream
  6. Choucroute (F) ‒ Sauerkraut, I hope you’ve known your wife for a long time to call her out like this
  7. Cucul la praline (U) ‒ For those who rarely stay focused
  8. Chamallow (U) ‒ Marshmallow, the adult version of barbe à papa
  9. Honey (U) ‒ Simply Bee-cause you like it sweet
  10. Loukoum (U) ‒ Is she as sweet as Loukoum, the popular Turkish delight?
  11. Ma petite biscotte (F) ‒ My little toast, for crunchy girlfriends
  12. Ma guimauve (F) ‒ Another type of marshmallow to call your sweet boyfriend
  13. Macaron tout rond (U) ‒ Macaron tout rond is a sweet cookie, which is why it is a cute nickname for a sweet friend
  14. Mon petit caramel (U) ‒ Sweet caramel, a romantic French nickname for a very special friend
  15. Ma petite douceur (F) ‒ Sweet candy, for men and women who like to share a small moment of pleasure
  16. Ma petite fleur en sucre (F) ‒ Sugar flower, a double pleasure
  17. Mon cœur au chocolat (U) ‒ For your chocolate sweetheart
  18. Mon petit sushi (U) ‒ Because you sometimes want to eat him/her in one single bite
  19. Mon sucre d’orge (U) ‒ Candy cane, how can you resist his/her sweet call?
  20. Mou roudoudou en sucre (M) ‒ It does not mean anything, but it sounds good
  21. Petite nouille (U) ‒ Small noodle, for small and « tasty » kids
  22. Petit Sucre rose (U) ‒ My little pink sugar, a good pet name for a cute little friend
  23. Pomme d’amour (U) ‒ Candy apple, an excellent nickname for your sweet little one, girls mainly
  24. Régalette (F) ‒ If your girlfriend treats you well, then this is the perfect name for her
  25. Sucre d’or (F) ‒ Gold sugar, for a sweet girl
  26. Sucrerie (F) ‒ Candy, who does not want to enjoy a sweet moment with him or her?

French nicknames derived from Mythology, cartoons, and magic

French nicknames derived from Mythology

The following are French pet names based from on mythology, cartoons or magic:

  1. Cendrillon (F) ‒ Because girls are as nice as Cinderella and not only at the ball
  2. Cupidon (M) ‒ Cupido, be careful ladies, his charm is even more dangerous than his arrows   
  3. Daisy (F) ‒ A little more used in regions close to English-speaking countries such as Canada
  4. Déesse (F) ‒ Goddess, men bow before her
  5. Désirée (F) ‒ Desired, to delicately express what she already knows
  6. Diablesse (F) ‒ She-Devil; men do not resist her spells
  7. Diablotin (M) ‒ Imp, for small mischievous boys
  8. Donkikong (M) ‒ You better not resist him; otherwise he risks smashing everything
  9. Impératrice (F) ‒ Empress, men are at her feet
  10. Ma duchesse (F) ‒ Duchess, to express an unwavering allegiance to her
  11. Ma fée (F) ‒ Fairy; a good name for a magical girl
  12. Ma Juliette (F) ‒ If you are her Romeo, she’s your Juliet
  13. Ma muse (F) ‒ For someone who inspires you
  14. Ma nymphe (F) ‒ A cute nickname for a girlfriend that could be likened to a Goddess
  15. Ma petite reine d’amour (F) ‒ For small girls, in princy-ple
  16. Ma petite sirène (F) ‒ Little mermaid. A good nickname for a girlfriend full of surprises.
  17. Ma poupée (F) ‒ Doll, because we all love to play with dolls
  18. Ma princesse (F) ‒ All girls are princesses, aren’t they?
  19. Ma reine (F) ‒ Queen, a respectful word used to refer to your loved one
  20. Ma schtroumpfette (F) ‒ Smurfette, a romantic nickname for your girlfriend
  21. Ma Valentine (F) ‒ A great name for your Valentine girl
  22. Mon ange (U) ‒ My angel
  23. Mon Apollon (M) ‒ Apollo, for the divine beauty of your man
  24. Mon étoile (F) ‒ My star, no need to wait until nightfall, your wife shines all the time for you
  25. Mon héros (M) ‒ My hero, if your boyfriend is your hero
  26. Mon prince (M) ‒ A cool French nickname to call your prince
  27. Mon preux chevalier (M) ‒ Isn’t he your valiant knight?
  28. Mon roi (M) ‒ Will your king share his kingdom with you?
  29. Mon Tarzan (M) ‒ Sounds like he’s ready to cross the entire jungle to join you
  30. Pépito (M) ‒ Pepito is a comic-book hero. You can say that to someone acting as a pioneer or fighter
  31. Petit prince (M) ‒ He may be small, but God, he is so charming!
  32. Prince charmant (M) ‒ Charming prince, he’s grown up, and he’s still as handsome as ever
  33. Petite licorne (F) ‒ Little Unicorn, a great French nickname for a great small friend
  34. Winnie L’Ourson (M) ‒ French term for Winne the Pooh. Is she gentle, friendly, adorable, and childlike, then call her this nickname.

French Nicknames Derived from Animals

French Nicknames Derived from Animals

The following are French nicknames based on animals. The following French pet names are appropriate for friends, siblings, co-workers, and even strangers:

  1. Asticot (M) ‒ Maggot, but can be seen as a funky name for a crazy friend
  2. Belette (F) ‒ Weasel, some boys call their young accomplices like that
  3. Biche (F) ‒ Female deer, but you need to think of Bambi to understand the sweet meaning
  4. Bichette (F) ‒ Female deer, but it is often used as an affectionate name for one’s girlfriend
  5. Bibiche (F) ‒ Same as Bichette, even if it sounds a bit old school
  6. Bichon (M) ‒ Bichon, what girl wouldn’t fall for him?
  7. Biquet (M) ‒ Young goat, for women who are curious about life in a farm
  8. Biquette (F) ‒ Young goat, for men who miss the farm
  9. Bisounours (M) ‒ Even more cute than a teddy bear
  10. Bonobo (M) ‒ Not very nice for your boyfriend, but we know love is blind
  11. Bouba (M) ‒ Named after a famous bear on TV
  12. Bunny (M) ‒ This is the modern version of the rabbit, but it is less widespread
  13. Canard (M) ‒ Duck, ladies, ready to join the duck patrol?
  14. Canaille (U) ‒ Scoundrel, for playful darlings
  15. Canari (F) ‒ Canary, she’s so small that you can hold her in your hand
  16. Chat (M) ‒ Cat, doesn’t his look make you fall for him, ladies?
  17. Chaton (U) ‒ Kitten, use it for your adorable kids
  18. Chatounette (F) ‒ Kitty, less used by lovers
  19. Chatte (F) ‒ Pussy, doesn’t her meowing make you fall for her, gentlemen?
  20. Coccinelle (F) ‒ Ladybug, she’s small, discreet and flies away whenever she wants
  21. Crapaud (M) ‒ Toad, for the little ones who jump more than they walk
  22. Crapule (U) ‒ Baby toad, for grown-ups and little rascals
  23. Féline (F) ‒ Feline, for women who get their claws out when they are hungry
  24. Grominet (M) ‒ Sylvester, the comic book version of the cat that hunts Tweety, I am sure you remember
  25. Grizzly (M) ‒ Size and appetite are bigger than a bear’s
  26. Jumbo (M) ‒ XXL version XXL of men
  27. Lapin d’Amour (U) ‒ Who does not love rabbits?
  28. Lapinette (F) ‒ Small female rabbit, usually for small girls
  29. Lapinou ‒ My little rabbit, for boys and girls
  30. Loulou ‒ This may derive from Loup-Wolf, to express affection to little and big men
  31. Louloute (F) ‒ The feminine version of loulou, for young girls you want to kiss on the cheek
  32. Louve (F) ‒ She-wolf, for women who always defend their man
  33. Ma Caille (F) ‒ A French term of endearment, the direct translation is quail, but as a term of endearment, it means “honey.”
  34. Ma colombe (F) ‒ Dove, thanks to her, you feel like you are growing wings
  35. Ma gazelle (F) ‒ Springbock, a cute nickname for your girlfriend
  36. Ma lionne (F) ‒ Lioness; a cool French nickname for a wild girlfriend
  37. Ma loute (F) ‒ Sounds like the female version of loup, but it is not. Use it for sweet girls
  38. Ma loutre (F) ‒ Otter, a little clumsy to call your 50 years old wife
  39. Ma petite chatte (F) ‒ For young and old girls, but the meaning varies according to the age
  40. Ma petite crevette (U) ‒ Small shrimp, for all the kids, not only those who like mayonnaise
  41. Ma petite grenouille (U) ‒ Little frog; it is used as a romantic nickname for girlfriends.
  42. Ma petite marmotte (U) ‒ Little marmot, a cute pet name for your sleepy kids
  43. Ma poule (F) ‒ Chicken, A French slang among female friends and girlfriends
  44. Ma puce (U) ‒ Flea, use it like “my dear” in an informal way
  45. Ma petite puce (U) ‒ For all children, from the very young to the very young
  46. Matou (M) ‒ Aren’t boys’ big cats?
  47. Ma tourterelle (F) ‒ Turtledove. It is used as a pet name for someone you love
  48. Minet (M) ‒ Men are also small cats that we like to pet
  49. Minette (F) ‒ Female version of minet, with a sexier connotation
  50. Minou (M) ‒ It is the smallest version after matou and minet
  51. Moineau (U) ‒ Another type of sparrow, we love birds in France
  52. Mon bel étalon (M) ‒ Bright stallion, this should be reserved for a handsome man
  53. Mon canari des îles (U) ‒ Island canary, a cute French nickname for your munchkin
  54. Mon loup (M) ‒ My wolf, if you like small wolves, you will adore big bad wolves
  55. Mon petit calamar doré (U) ‒ A squid is not the cutest animal unless it is covered with gold…
  56. Mon petit canard (M) ‒ Little duck. Si si, c’est logique pour le pays du foie gras
  57. Mon petit caneton (M) ‒ Baby duck, mainly for kids
  58. Mon petit chamois (M) ‒ You may call your kids like that in the mountains and in the city too
  59. Mon petit chat d’amour (M) ‒ You may say that when your kid is drinking milk at breakfast
  60. Mon petit escargot adoré (M) ‒ My sweet golden snail, attention, we are not speaking of food here
  61. Mon petit koala (M) ‒ Be careful, don’t just serve her plants
  62. Mon petit lapin (U) ‒ Small rabbit, he too doesn’t only eat vegetables
  63. Mon poussin (U) ‒ For your cute little chicken
  64. Mon poussinet (M) ‒ If your boyfriend is cute and dedicated, this is the nickname to call him
  65. Mon souriceau (M) ‒ My small mouse. It can be used for a troublesome boyfriend or an energetic lover
  66. Nounours (M) ‒ Teddy bear, how long will you resist his charm?
  67. Ourson (M) ‒ Baby bear, he plays and falls all the time, you need to rescue him!
  68. Panda (M) ‒ Black and white is trendy, especially for men of all ages
  69. Petit loup (M) ‒ Little wolf, for children
  70. Petit escargot (M) ‒ Baby snail, usually for boys because of the size, not the speed
  71. Petit canaillou (M) ‒ Cuter than Little rascal, for those who like to set small traps to their parents
  72. Petit poussin (U) ‒ Baby chick, for very young children, a priori
  73. Petit oiseau (U) ‒ Small bird, your child is still young, but he will soon fly away, so enjoy his/her presence
  74. Petite canaille (U) ‒ The small version of scoundrel
  75. Piaf (U) ‒ Sparrow, la version old-school of Little bird
  76. Pingouin (M) ‒ You can call men like that because they’re cute, even if they dance like penguins at the disco
  77. Pioupiou (U) ‒ Baby sparrow, for kids mainly
  78. Poulette (F) ‒ It is used just as you would use Chick in English, mostly for friends
  79. Poupou (M) ‒ Use it to tell your daddy how much you love him
  80. Poussin (U) ‒ Everybody loves chicks, not only Sylvester!
  81. Pupuce (U) ‒ A cute French nickname for your Honeypot
  82. Souris (F) ‒ Mouse, you know, the little animal that always escapes the matou
  83. Tigre (M) ‒ Tiger, be careful ladies, this man is a fierce animal!
  84. Tigrou (M) ‒ Relax ladies, this baby tiger is sweet as pie, no need to hide
  85. Titi (U) ‒ Tweety, the comic book character who flees Sylvester alias Grominet

French nicknames derived from General words

french girlfriend nicknames

The following are French nicknames based on general terms. These French nicknames are either soft or quite serious but can also be used as a way to tease your beloved one!

  1. Amour (U) ‒ love, actually.
  2. Baby (U) ‒ Easy word, right? And the French love it
  3. Bébé (U) ‒ Baby, now you know how to tell your boyfriend about the happy occasion…
  4. Bébé d’Amour (U) ‒ Baby love, a bit childish, but maybe he/she enjoy being back to childhood
  5. Bibi d’amour (U) ‒ A sweet, not that common nickname for someone you love
  6. Bibou (U) ‒ Is he a sweet and kind soul?
  7. Bisounours (M) ‒ Is he your sweet carebear?
  8. Boubou (M) ‒ No real meaning, just one of those cool-sounding nicknames you can call your boyfriend
  9. Calinette (F) ‒ Comes from câlin, cuddle. It is used for a cuddling girl
  10. Calinours (M) ‒ For a boyfriend as adorable as a teddy bear
  11. Chéri and chérie (U) ‒ A great classic among lovers
  12. Chérichou (U) ‒ Sweeter though less elegant than chéri and chou
  13. Chouchou (U) ‒ This is also the name of a famous movie. It also means my favorite one if you want to choose it
  14. Choupette (F) ‒ A cute French nickname for a close female friend
  15. Choupi (U) ‒ A short version of Choupinette; a nickname to show your love for a kid
  16. Choupine (F) ‒ A medium version of Choupinette
  17. Choupinet (M) ‒ A boy version of choupinette
  18. Choupinette (F) ‒ Use it for girls
  19. Choupichou (M) ‒ Use it for small choupinets
  20. Crazy Chérie (F) ‒ It means crazy love. It is a good French term of endearment for a wild friend or someone you appreciate
  21. Chouquette (F) ‒ A Chouquette is a delicious pastry sprinkled with pearl sugar and sometimes filled with custard or mousse. It can also be dipped in chocolate or covered in chocolate chips. Use it for girls
  22. Coquinette (F) ‒ A cute French name for a naughty girlfriend
  23. Darling (U) ‒ As it is in English
  24. Doudounette (F) ‒ The female version of doudou, but far less common
  25. Fofolle (F) ‒ Use it for the crazy girl you love
  26. Foufou (M) ‒ Use it for the crazy boy you love
  27. Kiki (M) ‒ A cute sounding term for a darling
  28. Loleuse (F) ‒ A good pet name for a cheerful friend
  29. Lolotte (F) ‒ For someone who is independent and fun
  30. Ma chouette (F) ‒ Owl. But “Ma Chouette” is an affectionate term used for a nice person
  31. Ma cocotte (F) ‒ Hen, it is commonly used like poule-chicke between friends
  32. Ma douce (F) ‒ Girls keep the world as sweet as ever
  33. Ma dulcinée (F) ‒ It means sweetheart. Maybe a bit too romantic
  34. Ma joie (U) ‒ My joy, you can use it for men and women
  35. Ma meuf (F) ‒ my wife/girl. Comes from « femme » – woman, upside down like keum.
  36. Ma mie (F) ‒ An old word to call your sweetheart
  37. Ma mignonette (F) ‒ Use it for adorable little girls
  38. Ma moitié (F) ‒ If you are very close to your half one, then this is the right name
  39. Ma pépite (F) ‒ It means a piece of gold; a good nickname for a girl you are lucky to have
  40. Ma petite femme (F) ‒ My little woman, to express your desire for protection
  41. Ma promise (F) ‒ The promised one is the girl you hope to marry someday
  42. Ma tendre (F) ‒ A cute nickname for a true sweetheart
  43. Mamour (U) ‒ Like ‘mon amour,’ i.e., my love. Sounds old-fashioned
  44. Meuf (F) ‒ Like Mec, Meuf can be used for your girlfriend or any female
  45. Mimi (F) ‒ The short version of mignon
  46. Mimoune (F) ‒ A bit old fashioned but sweet pet name for your girlfriend
  47. Mini Lady (F) ‒ A funny little name for your best friend
  48. Mon amour (U) ‒ It means my love!
  49. Mon amoureux (U) ‒ My lover, this says it all
  50. Mon bébé (U) ‒ My baby, because we’re all wannabe parents
  51. Mon bébé d’amour (U) ‒ My babylove, be careful, girls, boys may find it annoying!
  52. Mon bien aimé (M) ‒ A great way to tell your darling how much he means to you
  53. Mon cher et tendre (M) ‒ A romantic term of endearment to show your love and feelings to your boyfriend
  54. Mon chéri (M) ‒ This means babe. Pronounce it with three “rrr” from the throat to make it sound even more French!
  55. Mon chou (M) ‒ This is also the name of a creamy cupcake… It means my sweetheart
  56. Mon chouchou d’amour (M) ‒ How to express your feelings while keeping your child’s soul
  57. Mon cœur (U) ‒ It beats for both men and women
  58. Mon coussinet (M) ‒ If your boyfriend is soft and calm, this is a sweet name that refers to a small cushion
  59. Mon cum or Mon keum (M) ‒ Derives from Mec. Dans les années 1990, on aimait prononcer les mots à l’envers. It means “My man.”
  60. Mon étoile (U) ‒ My star, for those who have bright eyes when they look at their darling
  61. Mon gazou (M) ‒ In Arabic language, Gazou means boy and should be used for someone who is sweet and charming – Use « gazelle » as a female equivalent
  62. Mon homme (M) ‒ My man
  63. Mon Jules (M) ‒ An elegant word for boyfriend
  64. Mon namoureux (M) ‒ My lover, when you want to act like a little girl in love
  65. Mon petit cœur (U) ‒ My little sweetheart
  66. Mon petit vent d’amour (M) ‒ this little wind will cool your man who’s getting hot
  67. Mon précieux (M) ‒ My precious, mostly used in the black community
  68. Mon rayon de soleil (U) ‒ Sunshine, when Mister or Miss Sun comes to help you change your bad mood
  69. Mon z’amour (U) ‒ a childish option for My love
  70. Pépette (F) ‒ A cool nickname for a girlfriend you value highly
  71. Petit diamant (U) ‒ Little diamond, a powerful term of endearment for someone precious
  72. Petit filou (M) ‒ For playful and smart boys
  73. Petite filoute (F) ‒ Female version of petit filou
  74. Petite poupée (F) ‒ Little doll. A cute French nickname for a cute friend
  75. Petite chérie (F) ‒ Little Sweetheart, for girls with a big heart
  76. Poupée (F) ‒ Doll, a classic for girls with an irresistible charm
  77. Poupette (F) ‒ Small version of poupée
  78. Poupettine (F) ‒  Extra Small version of poupée
  79. Poupinette (F) ‒ Extra Extra Small version of poupée
  80. Poupou d’amour (M) ‒ Boys can also be dolls
  81. Roudoudou (M) ‒ A cute nickname for a sweetheart
  82. Toutoune (F) ‒ If you love to paddle and cuddle your girlfriend, this is perfect

Sensual French Nicknames

French pet names for girlfriend

These French nicknames are more matured, and obviously not to be used for kids.

  1. Bitch (F) ‒ For girls with a strong character
  2. Bombasse (F) ‒ For femmes’ Fatales
  3. Gonzesse (F) ‒ When you are tired of saying, Nana
  4. Lover (M) ‒ For heartbreakers
  5. Loveuse (F) ‒ For women who love passionately
  6. Nana (F) ‒ When you are tired of the conservative version of girlfriend or just female friend
  7. Ogre (M) ‒ For men with insatiable appetites

French Nicknames for Friends

french boyfriend nicknames

These French nicknames you can call any guy or lady; friend, sibling, and even a stranger.

  1. Boss (M) ‒ As per its meaning in English, it is used to show some respect
  2. Champion (M) ‒ As it is in English
  3. Chef (M) ‒ Boss, it can be used as a sign of respect
  4. Chochotte (F) ‒ A term of endearment you can use to tease your over sensible friend
  5. Cousin (M) ‒ Cousin, but used to call someone you don’t necessarily know in French suburbs
  6. Frangin (M) ‒ A slang commonly used for a friend or brother
  7. Frangine (F) ‒ A common slang used for a sister or close buddy
  8. Frérot (M) ‒ A funny version of Frère, close to Bro
  9. Gus (M) ‒ Old version of mec
  10. Mec (M) ‒ Man. It is commonly used to address guys in general, but you can name your boyfriend like that
  11. Mecton (M) ‒ Little Man, for little men who will one day become big men
  12. Mon frère (M) ‒ My brother. You can use this nickname for a guy who means a lot to you.
  13. Mon pote (M) ‒ My Friend. There is also Ma pote for girls
  14. Poto (M) ‒ Shorter version of Pote
  15. Sœurette (F) ‒ Little sister, for bad boys who want to tell something nice to their female friend

French nicknames derived from Undetermined origin

These French nicknames don’t have any specific origin; they are appropriate for friends, siblings, co-workers, and even strangers.

  1. Biloute ‒ This is how you call a friend in Northern France
  2. Fripounou ‒ Similar to petite canaille
  3. Pilou (M) ‒ Similar to Doudou
  4. Zouzou ‒ For funny kids

So, tell us what your favorite French nickname on our list! Also, if you spot an error or you want to add up your own on top of our list, please feel free to drop a comment.

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5 thoughts on “300+ French Nicknames for Friends and Lovers”

  1. I like this website. It sounds like fun. I speak a little French, but it’s been a while. I love speaking French. It makes me feel good.

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