The first name Anatole
A boy’s name from Greek meaning “sunrise”.
Pronounced /ˈænətoʊl/ 3 syllables Male
Meaning and origin
Greek origin
Anatole means “sunrise” in Greek.
From French Anatole, from Ancient Greek ἀνατολή (anatolḗ, “sunrise”). Cognate with Latin Anatolius.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
Anatole last appeared in the official list in 2018, given to 3 boys. It peaked in 2011, with 5 births (#3,300).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Anatole with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Anatole at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 5 boys born in the United States were named Anatole, the 12,139th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1918, when 11 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Anatole
19 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Anatole FranceFrench writer (1844–1924)
- Anatole AbragamFrench physicist (1914-2011)
- Anatole Le BrazBreton writer and scholar (1859–1926)
- Anatole de MonzieFrench politician (1876–1947)
- Anatole MalletFrench-Swiss mechanical engineer (1837-1919)
- Henri Jean Baptiste Anatole Leroy-BeaulieuFrench publicist and historian (1842–1912)
- Anatole KatokAmerican mathematician (1944–2018)
- Anatole MilandouCatholic archbishop, born 1946
- Anatole de BaudotFrench architect (1834-1915)
- Anatole AbangCameroonian footballer, born 1994
- Anatole JakovskyFrench art critic (1907-1983)
- Anatole ChauffardFrench internist, 1855–1932
More Greek boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Anatole mean?
- Anatole means “sunrise” in Greek.
- What is the origin of the name Anatole?
- From French Anatole, from Ancient Greek ἀνατολή (anatolḗ, “sunrise”). Cognate with Latin Anatolius.
- How popular is the name Anatole?
- In 2018, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Anatole, ranking 4,749th. Its peak was 2011, with 5 births.
- Is Anatole a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 204 US babies named Anatole since 1880 were boys.
- When was Anatole most popular?
- 1918 in the United States, when 11 babies were named Anatole, its highest rank at 2,549th.
- How do you pronounce Anatole?
- Anatole is /ˈænətoʊl/, 3 syllables.