Originally called the ‘Médaille d’honneur de la famille française‘ (medal of honor of the French family), the award has since undergone several name changes, and from 1983, has been known as the ‘Médaille de la Famille Française‘ (medal of the French family).
The medal was originally to honor mothers of large families but is now bestowed upon parents and carers of either gender who are deemed to have raised children with dignity.