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ArchivesMale name Anne
I've come across Anne used as a male name in France during the Renaissance. Does anyone know why a man would have been given a woman's name? TIA.
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According to Chantal Tanet and Tristan Hordé, in French, the use of Anne as masculine name appeared with Anne de Montmorency (1493-1567), Marshal and Constable of France, named in honour of his godmother Anne of Brittany (1477-1514).
But the use of Anne as masculine name is not unheard in other languages, strongly associated with the Catholic culture, mainly because of devotion to Saint Anne, mother of Virgin Mary. In Spanish, apart from María, Ana is the only feminine name used regularly as a part of compound masculine names, always in the second spot; however, it is not very common.
But the use of Anne as masculine name is not unheard in other languages, strongly associated with the Catholic culture, mainly because of devotion to Saint Anne, mother of Virgin Mary. In Spanish, apart from María, Ana is the only feminine name used regularly as a part of compound masculine names, always in the second spot; however, it is not very common.
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In eighteenth-century England there was a Lord Anne Someone (can't recall his ln) whose godmother was Queen Anne; he was given her name as a mark of respect and, probably, to impress everybody else who didn't have a regular, royal queen as their godmother ...
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