Date
Meaning & History
This name was used by Molière in his play, 'The Imaginary Invalid' (1673) ('Le Malade imaginaire' in French), for the main character. Most likely, it comes from the Norman surname, Argentine. Its specific etymological origin is unknown, but it probably is derived from the root of Indo-European arg, which means "clear, white, bright". Alternatively, the name may have originated from the Argan tree and would therefore be rooted in Shilha, a Berber language.