Anatole

Anatole is a masculine given name of French origin. It derives from the Greek name Anatolios, from anatolē meaning east or sunrise, reflecting the ancient association of the rising sun with the east. The name entered Western Europe through Latin and French usage and has been used primarily in French-speaking contexts, though it has appeared in other languages as well.

In modern usage, Anatole remains relatively uncommon but is still recognized in France and some Francophone communities. Variants include Anatol (found in several languages) and the Slavic forms Anatoliy/Anatoli; in English contexts the form Anatole tends to appear in historical, literary, or stylized usage.

Notable people named Anatole include the French writer Anatole France (pseudonym of François-Anatole Thibault; 1844–1924), a Nobel Prize in Literature laureate in 1921; and the film director Anatole Litvak (1902–1974), known for works such as The Snake Pit (1948) and Anastasia (1956).

Beyond individuals, the name shares roots with Anatolia, the region in Asia Minor, and with related names such as Anatoly in Russian and Anatol in various European languages. The etymology thus ties the given name Anatole to the concept of the east and sunrise.