UK boy's name
Anatole
Of Greek origin meaning "rising" or "sunrise".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Anatole is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Anatole popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4749, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 5 births.
This profile covers 20 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2009 to 2018. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 20 living people in the UK are called Anatole. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Anatole ranked #4749 for boys in England and Wales in 2018, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 5 boys were registered as Anatole.
- • About 20 living people in the UK are estimated to have Anatole as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4749
2018
Births in 2018
3
Latest year
Peak year
2011
5 births
Estimated living
20
2026
Meaning
What does Anatole mean?
The name Anatole has its origins in the Greek language, deriving from the word "anatole" which means "sunrise" or "the east". This name was particularly popular in ancient Greece and the surrounding regions during the classical period.
Anatole was a name given to boys in ancient Greek families, often symbolizing the hope and promise of a new day or a new beginning. The name carried connotations of rebirth, renewal, and the cycle of life.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Anatole can be found in the works of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who mentioned an individual by that name in his writings from the 5th century BCE.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Anatole. One of the most famous was Anatole France (1844-1924), a French novelist and poet who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1921 for his literary achievements.
Another prominent figure was Anatole Krakovsky (1896-1975), a Russian-born American painter and illustrator known for his vibrant and colorful works depicting scenes from everyday life.
In the realm of science, Anatole Abragam (1914-2011) was a French physicist who made significant contributions to the field of nuclear magnetic resonance and was elected to the French Academy of Sciences in 1977.
The name Anatole also found its way into the world of classical music through the composer Anatole Liadov (1855-1914), a Russian known for his orchestral works inspired by Russian folklore and fairy tales.
Lastly, Anatole Broyard (1920-1990) was an American literary critic and editor who worked for several renowned publications, including The New York Times Book Review, and was known for his insightful and thought-provoking critiques.
While the name Anatole has Greek roots, it has been embraced across various cultures and regions over the centuries, carrying with it a sense of new beginnings, optimism, and the promise of a bright future.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Anatole over time
The chart below shows babies named Anatole registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2009 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Anatole, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2018, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Anatole by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Anatole was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4457 | 17 | 5 |
| 2000s | #4527 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Anatole
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Anatole: questions and answers
How popular is the name Anatole in the UK right now?
In 2018, Anatole was ranked #4749 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Anatole most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 5 babies registered as Anatole in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Anatole?
Of Greek origin meaning "rising" or "sunrise".
How many people are called Anatole in the UK?
A total of 20 babies have been registered as Anatole across the 6 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.