Anatole
Boy name · French · Greek · Latin
Meaningsunrise, east · French
- US rank
- #12,008
- Syllables
- 4
- Peak
- #974 in 1889
5 babies were named Anatole in the US in 2025.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1889–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Anatole you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Anatole
Anatole Litvak
Ukrainian-American filmmaker (1902–1974)
Choose Anatole and your child shares a first name with Anatole Litvak, an Ukrainian-American filmmaker. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Anatole, like who?” Anatole Litvak's Wikipedia article is available in 36 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Anatole Litvak on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Wikiwatcher1 at en.wikipedia, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 344,828 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Anatole, 5 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Anatole would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryAnatole first shows up in US birth records in 1889, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 136 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1889, when it ranked #974. Today it's #12,008, so it could be due a comeback.
- MeaningIn French, Anatole means “sunrise, east”. Our records link it to French, Greek and Latin roots.
About the name Anatole
Anatole is a boy name of French, Greek and Latin origin meaning “sunrise, east”. It has 7 letters and 4 syllables, starting with A and ending in “-ole”. US birth records list Anatole for boys from 1889 to 2025, in 31 of those 137 years. Its best year was 1889, when it ranked #974 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #12,008, with 5 babies.
Origin:French namesGreek namesLatin names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 45 | 22,124 boys |
| 1910s | 3.4 | 298,507 boys |
| 1920s | 5.1 | 194,553 boys |
| 1930s | 1.7 | 588,235 boys |
| 1940s | 0.4 | 2,564,103 boys |
| 1950s | 1.7 | 591,716 boys |
| 1960s | 0.3 | 2,941,176 boys |
| 1970s | 0.8 | 1,315,789 boys |
| 1990s | 0.5 | 1,960,784 boys |
| 2000s | 0.2 | 4,166,667 boys |
| 2010s | 0.3 | 3,125,000 boys |
| 2020s | 1.1 | 952,381 boys |
More French boy names
- Boy name: Sebastian · venerable
- Boy name: Leo · lion
- Boy name: Daniel · God is my judge
- Unisex name: Gabriel · God is my strength
- Unisex name: Wyatt · brave in war
- Boy name: Charles · free man
- Unisex name: Beau · handsome
- Boy name: Robert · bright fame
Questions about the name Anatole
What does the name Anatole mean?
Anatole means “sunrise, east” in French.
What is the origin of the name Anatole?
Anatole has French, Greek, Latin roots in our records. Other French names include Sebastian, Leo, Daniel.
Is Anatole a boy or girl name?
Anatole is a boy name.
How popular is the name Anatole?
Anatole ranked #12,008 for US boys in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1889 (#974).