|
Gender
Feminine
|
Origin of the Name Agnes
Greek
|
Usage of the Name Agnes
English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German, Dutch
|
Meaning of the Name Agnes
The name Agnes is a Latinized form of the Greek name Hagnē, which is derived from the Greek word "hagnos" meaning "chaste, sacred".
This was the name of St. Agnes of Rome (c. 291 - c. 304), a Roman virgin and martyr who was very popular in the Middle Ages. Because of its similarity with the Latin word "agnus" meaning "lamb", the initial H- was dropped and the lamb became St. Agnes's symbol.
The name Agnes was extremely popular in the Middle Ages and regained popularity during the early 20th century.
|
Interesting Facts about Agnes
- Because St. Agnes of Rome was so young when she was martyred, it is traditional to perform rituals on the eve of her feast in order to see one's future spouse. The Eve of St. Agnes (1820) by John Keats, one of his best, tells the story of a girl who performs such rituals.
- The tragic story of Albert, son of the Duke of Bavaria, and his lover Agnes Bernauer (c. 1410 - 1435) has been retold in dozens of dramas, poems, and novels. Young Albert met and fell in love with Agnes. Albert's father Ernest, angry that Agnes's commoner status might endanger his son's succession, had lured his son away on a hunting expedition and had Agnes arrested and drowned for witchcraft.
- The first novel by English author Anne Brontë was named Agnes Grey (1847).
- Agnes Wickfield is an important character in David Copperfield (1850) by Charles Dickens.
- Agnes is the female lead in Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize-winning play A Delicate Balance (1966).
- Agnes von Hohenstaufen (1829) is a historical-romantic opera by Italian composer Gaspare Spontini about Agnes, who is the cousin of the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI and is also betrothed to the son of his enemy, Henry the Lion.
|
Famous Bearers
Bearers of the name include Agnes Mowinckel (1875 - 1963), a Norwegian actress and theatre director;
Agnes Moorehead (1900 - 1974), an American actress;
Agnes de Mille (1905 - 1993), an American dancer and choreographer;
Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, known as Mother Teresa (1910 - 1997), an Albanian Roman Catholic nun;
Agnes Baltsa (born 1944), a Greek opera singer;
Agnes Bruckner (born 1985), an American actress;
Agnes Carlsson (born 1988), a Swedish singer.
|
Names Related to Agnes
List of names related to Agnes.
|
|
Did you find the information about the origin and meaning of Agnes interesting and helpful?
Share this page with your friends or leave a comment:
|
|
|
