Antoinette

The name Antoinette is a French feminine form of the Late Roman name Antonius, which itself derived from an old Roman family name of uncertain origin. The root "ant-" possibly meant "inestimable" or "priceless", while "onius" may relate to being constant or continuous. Alternatively, some suggest the name arose from a child's attempt to say "Antonius".

Antoinette gained popularity in France during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, spreading across Catholic Europe. A famous early bearer was Marie Antoinette (1755-1793), the last Queen of France before the French Revolution. She was an unpopular sovereign who met an untimely end by the guillotine, sowing her name's reputation.

Another prominent Antoinette was the Baroque painter Antoinette Bourignon (1616-1680). She founded a religious sect teaching the end of theological study in favor of waiting for God's illumination. Other notables include Antoinette Deshoulieres (1638-1694), a beloved French poet. Antoinette Feyre Grimaldi (1920-2011) was a French actress active in theater, film, and television from the 1930s to 1980s.

Antoinette du Ligier de la Garde Deshoulières (1638-1694) was a French poet admired by Molière, Jean de La Fontaine, and Charles Perrault. She wrote poems and plays satirizing hypocrisy among the upper classes. Her salon hosted cultural icons like Jean Racine and Philippe Quinault. Despite facing misogyny, Deshoulières enjoyed great renown.

Saint Antoinette Guzzo (1676–1767) was an Italian Catholic mystic venerated for her religious writings and charity work. She founded the Franciscan Sisters Oblates of the Most Holy Redeemer and Protectress of Maidens. Her spiritual guidance even influenced Benedict XIV, then Pope.