Antonin is a French masculine given name derived from the Roman family name Antonius. This family name was borne by several prominent Romans throughout history, including Mark Antony, a general and lover of Cleopatra.
The name Antonin itself means "priceless" or "of great price." It is composed of the Latin prefix "anti-" meaning "in place of," and "-inus" which forms adjectives based on nouns. Therefore, Antonin could be interpreted as being "instead of value" or "instead of worth."
The name Antonin has a long history in France. It was popular among French nobility during the Middle Ages, with many notable figures bearing this name throughout French history. For example, Antonin Carême was a renowned French chef in the 19th century who revolutionized culinary arts.
In recent years, Antonin has seen a resurgence in popularity as a given name for boys in France and other Francophone countries. Despite its historical roots, it remains quite rare outside of these regions.
Overall, Antonin is an elegant and timeless choice for a boy's name with deep historical significance and a unique meaning that sets it apart from many other names.
Over the period from 1992 to 2021, there were a total of 100 babies named Antonin born each year. The years with the highest number of births for this name were 2002 and 2018, both with 8 births.