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Help[Facts] Re: Anaïs
in reply to a message by clevelandkentevans
There is a character named Anaïs in the French opera Anacréon chez Polycrate, by Jean-Henri Guy, from 1798. Could this explain the emergence of the name in France in the beginning of the 19th century?
https://www.google.be/books/edition/Anacréon_chez_Polycrate/2ihHSObIKcUC?hl=pt-PT
https://books.google.be/books?id=2RISDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA20&lpg=PA20&dq=polycrates+anais&source=bl&ots=Pmcq-zIlch&sig=ACfU3U3HM5JrEYsis_n5V0MfYAB6zb3nOw&hl=pt-PT&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwippe3rx6qFAxVr_rsIHYpiBMk4FBDoAXoECAMQAg#v=onepage&q=polycrates%20anais&f=false
The play is set in Ancient Greece, so perhaps the name is meant to be Greek, similar to Athenaïs? The character Anaïs is the daughter of Polycrates
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycrates
Opera was a common source of given names during this period. So my theory is that Anaïs originated as a literary name. The usage as a pet form of Anne might be explained by the need to be baptised with a Catholic name, or simply due to the phonetic similarities.
https://www.behindthename.com/submit/names/usage/theatre
https://www.google.be/books/edition/Anacréon_chez_Polycrate/2ihHSObIKcUC?hl=pt-PT
https://books.google.be/books?id=2RISDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA20&lpg=PA20&dq=polycrates+anais&source=bl&ots=Pmcq-zIlch&sig=ACfU3U3HM5JrEYsis_n5V0MfYAB6zb3nOw&hl=pt-PT&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwippe3rx6qFAxVr_rsIHYpiBMk4FBDoAXoECAMQAg#v=onepage&q=polycrates%20anais&f=false
The play is set in Ancient Greece, so perhaps the name is meant to be Greek, similar to Athenaïs? The character Anaïs is the daughter of Polycrates
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycrates
Opera was a common source of given names during this period. So my theory is that Anaïs originated as a literary name. The usage as a pet form of Anne might be explained by the need to be baptised with a Catholic name, or simply due to the phonetic similarities.
https://www.behindthename.com/submit/names/usage/theatre
This message was edited 4/5/2024, 12:41 AM
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Replies
The earliest born woman named Anais from France I could find predates the opera by several decades. She was born in 1205. See my post below.
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Indeed, but it’s perhaps more likely that the opera popularised the name in the 19th century, than an obscure medieval name being revived.
In any case, it’s possible that we are dealing with two names of different origin that are spelled the same? A (pseudo?) Greek name and a Germanic (?) name in the line of Adelaïs or Alaïs.
Oddly enough I cannot find any French sources about this Anaïs de Brienne, and she is completely absent in the French Wikipedia where all the children in the house of Brienne are mentioned, with sources. In other French sources this woman who was seduced by Frederick II is called “Marguerite”.
http://w.genealogy.euweb.cz/brienne/brienne1.html
This lack of sources is unexpected if such a obscure medieval figure would be the inspiration for the use of this name in France. Perhaps some lost book telling the story became popular around 1800?
In any case, it’s possible that we are dealing with two names of different origin that are spelled the same? A (pseudo?) Greek name and a Germanic (?) name in the line of Adelaïs or Alaïs.
Oddly enough I cannot find any French sources about this Anaïs de Brienne, and she is completely absent in the French Wikipedia where all the children in the house of Brienne are mentioned, with sources. In other French sources this woman who was seduced by Frederick II is called “Marguerite”.
http://w.genealogy.euweb.cz/brienne/brienne1.html
This lack of sources is unexpected if such a obscure medieval figure would be the inspiration for the use of this name in France. Perhaps some lost book telling the story became popular around 1800?
3
Yes, maybe they're two different names. French wikipedia lists it as a form of Anne: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ana%C3%AFs I do believe it is possible, that there are two etymologies.
This is what French wikipedia says about the usage: On relève sa présence en France depuis 1610, mais c'est au début du XIXème qu'on commence réellement à le rencontrer. Il connaît un regain de popularité depuis les années 1980 (notamment après la sortie du parfum Anaïs Anaïs de Cacharel). Le pic de popularité date de 1993.
So the name has been recorded in France since 1610, but the more widespread use started at the beginning of the 19th century. The 1610 usage predates the opera and then we have Anais de Brienne as well.
It is so interesting to think about its origins. It's such an intrigueing name to me and I love Anahita as well.
This is what French wikipedia says about the usage: On relève sa présence en France depuis 1610, mais c'est au début du XIXème qu'on commence réellement à le rencontrer. Il connaît un regain de popularité depuis les années 1980 (notamment après la sortie du parfum Anaïs Anaïs de Cacharel). Le pic de popularité date de 1993.
So the name has been recorded in France since 1610, but the more widespread use started at the beginning of the 19th century. The 1610 usage predates the opera and then we have Anais de Brienne as well.
It is so interesting to think about its origins. It's such an intrigueing name to me and I love Anahita as well.
This message was edited 4/5/2024, 8:43 AM
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Here's the usage since 1610: https://www.geneanet.org/prenom/Anais
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I wish we could locate the women in Geneat named so in 1610, to figure out the geographical location.
I still maintain my theory that the Opera popularised the name in the 19th century. In Geneall (admittedly a smaller database but usually an accurate one) the first Anaïses date precisely from 1798.
https://geneall.net/pt/pesquisa/?s=Anaïs&t=p&total=222&start=8
I still maintain my theory that the Opera popularised the name in the 19th century. In Geneall (admittedly a smaller database but usually an accurate one) the first Anaïses date precisely from 1798.
https://geneall.net/pt/pesquisa/?s=Anaïs&t=p&total=222&start=8
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I'm sure that the opera popularized it. I completely agree with you. But I'm also sure, that it was in use long before the opera, just not as common.
This message was edited 4/5/2024, 11:15 AM
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