
The Best French Horse Names For Mares and Stallions
France is a country that has a long history of horse breeding. It is one of the most popular countries for horse racing and it also exports horses to many other countries. In France, there are many different breeds of horses and they have different names depending on their colour, size or their purpose. There are also some specific French horse names that are used in France and not anywhere else in the world. This article will introduce you to some of the best horse names as well as the meanings behind them.

The Origin of French Horse Names
French horse names are usually composed of two parts. The first part is the gender, which is either “cheval” or “jument.” The second part is the color, which can be “blanc” (white), “noir” (black), or “gris” (gray).
There are a few factors that you should keep in mind when choosing a French horse name. One of them is to make sure that your horse’s name sounds good with your last name. Another factor would be to find a French horse name that has meaning to you, such as one that has ties to your family history.
We’ve put together a list of some common and some not so common ideas to get you started.
Famous French Horses in History
The French language is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, and it is only natural that there are a lot of famous horses to be found among its speakers. The word for horse in the French mother tongue is cheval which is a beautiful suitable name in itself don’t you think?
Here are some of the most famous French origin names in history:
Bayard, a great white steed who was the subject of many legends and stories. He was said to be invulnerable, and could not be subdued by any means. He was also thought to be capable of understanding human speech.
The horse belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte’s general, Marengo. Marengo was said to have been one of Napoleon’s best generals because he won battles for Napoleon despite being wounded on multiple occasions.

The horse belonged to Joan of Arc, who led France into victory against England in the Hundred Years’ War. Joan rode her horse during battles and often spoke with it before going into battle.”
What are the Less Common French Horse Names?
Here is a list of best names names for Mares and Stallions:
- Bourreau
- Chevalier
- Dauphin
- Éléphant
- Marceau
- Griffon rouge
- Hamadryaïe
- Juge d’instruction
- Montparnasse
- Panthère blanche et brune
- Poule noire et rougeoleuse
- Sanglier
The Most Common Names for Mares and Stallions?
There are many different French horse names for Mares and Stallions. The most common name for a Mare is Brigitte, while the most common name for a Stallion is Cavalier.
The 4 Most Popular Names
1. Cavalier: This name is derived from the French word “cavalier” which means knight or horseman. It is an appropriate given name for a horse that has been trained to jump over fences and canters on command.
2. Quarteron: This name is derived from the word “quarter” which means one-fourth, and “quin” which means five in old French. It is a cross between a Quarter Horse and a Thoroughbred and was originally bred in France in the 1700s by King Louis XVIII for use as cavalry horses during his reign.
3. Cheval Noir: This name translates to “black horse” in English and it was given this name because it was used as a symbol of death during medieval times, just like how black cats were considered bad luck today.
4 . Cheval de Lussac: This name originates from the French word “Lussac” which means “of the Lussac family.” It was originally bred by the Lussac family in France in the 1800s.5. Cheval d’Aurec: This name originates from “au” meaning gold and “rec” which means black in old French. The horse is said to have been a direct descendant of Grey Ghost, an American Thoroughbred.
Some of the more common French horse names for Mares and Stallions include:
- Brigitte
- Castor
- Camille
- Pollux
- Charolais
- Félix
- Agnes
- Gavotte
- Madeleine
- Fleur
- Bisou
- Mademoiselle
- Luna
- Phillipe
- Gustave
- Napoleon
- Jacques
- Parfait
Fun French Feminine Names
This list of french names is perfect for a sweet palomino mare or mysterious black horses!
- Loulou: means “sweetie”
- Biscotte: means “cookie”
- Poulette: means “chicken”
- Meringue: means “meringue”
- Café au lait: means “coffee with milk”

Floral Names For Your French Trotter
It’s all about finding the right name and the easiest way to do it. Here are some good girl horse names for your mare:
- Daphné
- Rose
- Rosalie
- Fleur
- Anémone
- Reine
Celebrities with French Horse Names
- Brad Pitt’s horse is named “Chevalier.”
- George Clooney’s horse is named “Aquila.”
- Julianne Moore’s horse is named “Cupido.”
- Leonardo DiCaprio’s horse is named “Ranger.”
French Pony Names
French pony names are often inspired by the country’s culture and history.
Some of the most popular French pony names are:
- Fleur de Lis
- Amour des Chevaux
- Belle de Nuit
Heavy Horse French Names
In the 18th century, the French aristocracy was in love with heavy horses and the draft horses breed Trait Du Nord, so they wanted to give their horses a unique name. The names were often presented in a French translation of the English name, but sometimes they were just made up.
The 17th Centuries saw the rise of names like “Nero”, “Cato” and “Phaeton” and the horses were often named after Roman emperors or mythological figures.
The most popular Heavy Horse French Names:
- Le Roi Soleil – The Sun King is a good name for male horses
- La Favorite – The Favourite one
- L’Impératrice – The Empress is an excellent name for a gorgeous mare
- Nero – Black
Favorite Names from Your Favorite Show
If you are still needing inspiration for a better name or a cool name, why not use one from your favourite show?
These are the great name of the Game of Thrones horses and their riders.
- Stranger – The Hound
- Smiler – Theon
- Dancer – Bran
- Craven – Arya
- Honor – Jamie
- Silver – Dany
- Blood – Ramsay
- Chestnut/Thunder – Dunk
- Rain – Egg

French Horse Breeds
If you have a list of names already in mind for a horse and you are still thinking about what breed you want, why not look into native French breeds? Generally, they are used mainly for long-distance riding, but some of them are also used for pulling carriages.
The most common types of French horses are the Percheron, the Thoroughbred and the Anglo-Norman horse, but you also have these for consideration:
- The Boulonnais horse is also known as a white marble horse and is a draft breed from northern France.
- The Ardennais horses are gorgeous heavy draft horses from the Ardennes area of Belgium, France and Luxembourg. Quiet in nature with docile personality traits they make excellent short-distance riding horses.
- The Poitevin horse is another draft horse breed originating from west-central France.
- The Camargue horse is one of the smaller horses that are used by cowboys to round up herds. They are also thought to be one of the oldest breeds from Southern France in the world they can be a white horse in colouring so have white hair and black skin beneath. Their foals are often born bay in colour and lighten as they get older in the right place.
- The Breton horse is a French draught horse. It originates in north-western France

How To Choose a Horse Name
Choosing a new horse name is a difficult task. I believe a female horse name is easier to choose than a male name. There are many factors to consider. You have to think about the personality of your horse, the colouring? is it a red roan? and what you want them to represent and of course something you love. It could be a Latin word or an old name in the family or even a brand new name. Or what about famous french names? A designated letter of the alphabet that is a family tradition? The options for first names are infinite.
The French have a long history of breeding horses, and the names they give their animals reflect this. A horse is an important animal in French culture and therefore deserves the perfect name. Often they choose ancient names or even French baby names!
There are some rules that should be followed when choosing a name for your horse so that the name fits:
– The name should be short, easy to pronounce and easy to remember
– The name should not sound like something negative or scary, such as “nightmare”
I hope this post has helped you to choose a French horse name for your beautiful best friend. If you have any more ideas for names, I would love to hear them!
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