Baby Names: Diversity Multiplied by Eight Over Eighty Years, According to INSEE
A study by France's National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies shows that names given to newborns in France have become considerably more diverse since 1946.
According to a study published by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE), the diversity of names given to newborns in France has increased significantly over the past eighty years.
According to the data, the 649,000 babies born in France in 2025 were given 65,940 different names. This figure represents, according to INSEE, eight times more distinct names than those recorded in 1946, a year when 869,000 births were registered.
The study also highlights an evolution in the most common names. While Marie and Jean once dominated birth registers, they have since been replaced by names such as Louise, Jade, Gabriel, or Noah, according to data cited by INSEE.
This evolution illustrates, according to the institute, a transformation in social practices surrounding the choice of names in France over the long term.
Sources
- Les prénoms donnés depuis quatre-vingts ans se sont beaucoup diversifiés, selon une étude de l’Insee — Le Monde — Une
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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