Maëlle

“Princess,” as a feminine interpretation of Breton mael, “prince” or “chief.”

Maëlle is a feminine name of Breton origin, used in French, whose meaning is often rendered as “princess.” Behind that interpretation lies Maël and the Breton element mael, meaning “prince” or “chief.” The feminine meaning follows the relationship between the names; it is not a separate word for a princess. In French, Maëlle sounds like two clearly separated parts, ma-el: /ma.ɛl/. The l is heard, but the last written e adds no syllable. Maël and Maëlle therefore sound alike in French, although their spellings distinguish the masculine and feminine forms. You may also encounter Maelle without the two dots. The soft m and l give Maëlle a gentle outline, while the meeting of its two vowel sounds keeps it airy. To our ear, it feels contemporary and understated rather than ornate. That can be part of its appeal if you enjoy a feminine name with a flowing sound and a consonant ending.

Etymology: Maëlle is the feminine form of Maël. Its roots are Breton, while this spelling is used in French.