Antoine
Antoine Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
/ɑ̃.twan/
Meaning of Antoine: Antoine is the French form of the Latin name Antonius, the name of one of Rome’s most prominent patrician families. The Roman gens Antonia produced the general and triumvir Mark Antony (Marcus Antonius, 83–30 BC) and the emperors Antoninus Pius (86–161 AD) and Marcus Aurelius (121–180 AD).
The family name’s etymology is uncertain; a popular but unverified theory connects it to Greek anthos (flower), but Roman family names of this antiquity rarely have documented etymologies.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900–1944) is the name’s most celebrated modern bearer: the French writer, aviator, and poet whose novella The Little Prince (1943) became one of the most translated and best-selling books in history.
What Does Antoine Mean? Origin & Etymology
Saint-Exupéry disappeared over the Mediterranean during a reconnaissance mission in 1944, and his romantic image as both artist and aviator made him a cultural icon in France. The name Antoine carries his literary and adventurous associations for French-speaking readers worldwide.
Antoine peaked in US SSA records in 1970 and remains in the top 600 today, used primarily in African American communities in the American South and among French American and Haitian American families.
Its French sound distinguishes it from the English Anthony, and the Saint-Exupéry connection gives it a specific literary weight that Anthony does not carry. Antoine Walker (born 1976), the NBA basketball player, is among its prominent American sports bearers.
Further reading: etymology records and US popularity records from SSA.
Numerology & Symbolism of Antoine
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Antoine – Similar Names & Alternatives
Not seeing what you want? Browse all names by origin or popularity
Frequently Asked Questions about Antoine
What does Antoine mean?
How popular is Antoine?
Antoine ranked in the US top 200 for boys in the 1970s-1990s, particularly popular in African American communities. It remains in use and is associated with basketball player Antoine Walker among others.
Is Antoine a boy or girl name?
Antoine is exclusively a masculine name, the French masculine form of Antonius. The French feminine equivalent is Antoinette.