where does the last name real come from
French name
Traditionally , most people were given names from the Roman Catholic calendar of saints . Common names of this type are Jacques ( James ) , Jean ( John ) , Michel ( Michael ) , Pierre ( Peter ) , or Jean - Baptiste ( John the Baptist ) for males ; and Marie ( Mary ) , Jeanne ( Jane ) , Marguerite ( Margaret ) , Françoise ( Frances ) , or Élisabeth ( Elizabeth ) for females . In certain regions such as Brittany or Corsica , more local names ( usually of local saints ) are often used ( in Brittany , for instance , male Corentin or female Anne ; in Corsica , Ange ( suitable both for males and females , French version corresponding to Corsican Angelo , Angela ) . However , given names for French citizens from immigrant communities are often from their own culture , such as Mohammed , Karim , Saïd , Toufik , Jorge , etc. for males , Fatima , Fatoumata , etc. for females . Furthermore , in recent decades it has become common to use first names of English or other foreign origin , mainly in the popular classes of the society , such as Kevin , Enzo , or Anthony ( instead of Antoine in the upper classes ) for males ; for females , Jessica , Jennifer , Karine or Barbara ( instead of Barbe , now out - of - fashion , because it sounds exactly the same as barbe `` beard '' as in the expression la barbe ! `` What a drag ! / How boring ! '' ) . Also , females are often given names like Jacqueline and Géraldine that are feminine forms of traditional common masculine French names .
Traditionally , most people were given names from the Roman Catholic calendar of saints . Common names of this type are Jacques ( James ) , Jean ( John ) , Michel ( Michael ) , Pierre ( Peter ) , or Jean - Baptiste ( John the Baptist ) for males ; and Marie ( Mary ) , Jeanne ( Jane ) , Marguerite ( Margaret ) , Françoise ( Frances ) , or Élisabeth ( Elizabeth ) for females . In certain regions such as Brittany or Corsica , more local names ( usually of local saints ) are often used ( in Brittany , for instance , male Corentin or female Anne ; in Corsica , Ange ( suitable both for males and females , French version corresponding to Corsican Angelo , Angela ) . However , given names for French citizens from immigrant communities are often from their own culture , such as Mohammed , Karim , Saïd , Toufik , Jorge , etc. for males , Fatima , Fatoumata , etc. for females . Furthermore , in recent decades it has become common to use first names of English or other foreign origin , mainly in the popular classes of the society , such as Kevin , Enzo , or Anthony ( instead of Antoine in the upper classes ) for males ; for females , Jessica , Jennifer , Karine or Barbara ( instead of Barbe , now out - of - fashion , because it sounds exactly the same as barbe `` beard '' as in the expression la barbe ! `` What a drag ! / How boring ! '' ) . Also , females are often given names like Jacqueline and Géraldine that are feminine forms of traditional common masculine French names .