French names: compound names and how to address someone
French given names are usually clearly gendered, but two features complicate quick guessing: hyphenated compound names built from two given names (often one of each traditional gender), and a small set of names, led by Camille, that are genuinely unisex. This guide covers the name order, the formal Monsieur/Madame salutation used in French business correspondence, how compound and unisex names behave, and a safe neutral option when you cannot tell.
Name order and structure
The order is given name then family name, as in English. Compound given names joined by a hyphen are common and are treated as a single given name, not a first-and-middle pair: Jean-Pierre, Marie-Claire, Anne-Sophie. The first element of a compound name does not reliably predict the gender of the whole; Marie-Pierre and Jean-Marie both exist and both lean toward the gender of their first element, but exceptions are common enough to check rather than assume.
Honorifics and titles in business email
French business letters open with "Monsieur," or "Madame," alone, without the family name, which is the norm in formal French correspondence and can read oddly plain to a non-French reader. In English-language email to a French contact, "Dear Mr./Ms. [family name]," is the natural translation once gender is known; "Dear [full given name],", first name only, is a safe and common fallback for less formal or first-contact email.
Gender and names
Camille is the clearest unisex French name, used for both men and women with no reliable lean either way. Dominique, Claude and Noël are also used for both genders, though less frequently for one than the other depending on generation. Compound names generally signal gender through their components (Jean- almost always signals a male-leaning name, Marie- a female-leaning one) but not with full certainty.
What to write when unsure
For Camille, Dominique, Claude or any name you are unsure about, "Dear [full name]," with no title is the cleanest neutral option in English, and "Bonjour [full name]," works the same way in French. Avoid defaulting to "Monsieur" or "Madame" from a compound or unisex name without other context.
Examples
Formal letter, gender known (male)
Dear Mr. Girard,
Formal letter, gender known (female)
Dear Ms. Girard,
Formal letter, gender unclear (Camille)
Dear Camille Girard,
Everyday email, first contact
Hi Camille,
Names to try
Frequently asked questions
Is Camille a male or female name?
Both. Camille is a genuinely unisex French given name with no reliable lean toward either gender, so it needs a full name or other context.
How do French compound names like Jean-Pierre work?
They are a single given name joined by a hyphen, not a first-and-middle-name pair, and are addressed as a whole: "Jean-Pierre", never just "Jean" or "Pierre" alone unless the person signs that way.
What is the standard salutation in a French business letter?
"Monsieur," or "Madame," alone, without the family name, is standard formal French. In English, "Dear Mr./Ms. [family name]," is the equivalent once gender is known.
Are there other unisex names in French besides Camille?
Yes, Dominique and Claude are also used for both men and women, though less evenly than Camille.