Antionette is a unique and elegant female given name of French origin. The name is derived from the French name Antoine, which itself comes from the Latin name Antonius. Antonius is believed to have been an ancient Roman family name that was derived from the Latin word "antiochus," meaning "priceless" or "invaluable."
The name Antionette is a feminine form of Antoine and was likely created by adding the French feminine suffix "-ette" to the name. The suffix "-ette" is used in French to denote a small version or a female form of something, such as in the words "habitette," meaning a little habit, or "chocolatette," meaning a small chocolate.
While Antoine has been a popular male given name for centuries, Antionette is less common and may have originated more recently. It is not clear when exactly the name began to be used as a feminine given name, but it likely emerged sometime during the 19th or early 20th century.
Today, Antionette remains relatively rare compared to other female names of French origin such as Marie, Sophie, or Charlotte. However, its unique sound and elegant origins make it an attractive choice for parents looking for a distinctive name for their daughter.
In summary, Antionette is a feminine given name of French origin that means "priceless" or "invaluable." It was likely created by adding the French feminine suffix "-ette" to the male name Antoine. While it is less common than many other female names of French origin, its unique sound and elegant origins make it an attractive choice for parents looking for a distinctive name for their daughter.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Antonette has had varying levels of popularity in the United States over the past century and a half.
In the late 19th to early 20th centuries, Antonette was not a particularly popular name. Between 1887 and 1914, there were fewer than 36 births with this name each year on average. However, starting in 1915, there was a significant increase in popularity, with an average of over 50 births per year until 1924.
The peak of Antonette's popularity occurred between the late 1940s and early 1960s. During this period, there were consistently more than 80 births per year, with peaks of 232 births in 1960 and 196 births in 1959. This trend continued throughout the 1960s, with an average of over 170 births per year.
However, starting in the late 1960s, Antonette's popularity began to decline steadily. By the 1970s, there were fewer than 150 births per year on average, and this trend continued into the 1980s and 1990s. Between 1994 and 2000, there were fewer than 70 births with this name each year.
In recent years, Antonette has become quite rare as a baby name in the United States. Since 2016, there have been fewer than 15 births per year on average. Despite its decline in popularity, Antonette remains a unique and historic name with a rich history in America.
Overall, these statistics provide insight into the trends and fluctuations in the popularity of the name Antonette over time, demonstrating how tastes and preferences can change significantly across generations.