Anselm

The first name Anselm for men is interpreted as "the one under the protection of the gods," "the one protected by the gods," or simply "the one protected by God."

What does the name Anselm mean?

Anselm is a male first name whose meaning can be interpreted as "the one under the protection of the gods," "the one protected by the gods," or "the one protected by God." The name has its roots in the Old Germanic element 'ans', meaning 'the Ase', 'the god', or 'the deity', as well as in Old High German 'helm', meaning 'the helmet', 'the covering', 'the protection', or 'the shelter'. Among the Germans, it was customary to have the helmets of warriors blessed by their gods (also called Ans or Aasen) before a battle, so they would return victorious from the fight. After this blessing, these fighters were referred to as Anshelm or Anselm. In Germany, the name has been in use since the Middle Ages and gained particular significance through the veneration of Saint Anselm of Canterbury, who served as archbishop in the 11th and 12th centuries. Anselm can also appear as a surname. Variants include Anselmo, Anselmus, Anzo, Anselme, and Anselmi. The female counterpart is Anselma. Among the notable bearers of the name are the German painters Anselm Kiefer and Anselm Feuerbach.

Where does the name Anselm come from?

The name Anselm has Old Germanic and Old High German roots and means "the one under the protection of the gods."

How do you pronounce Anselm?

The pronunciation of Anselm is traditional and two-syllable. It is pronounced as "An-selm" [ˈanzɛlm], starting with an open A sound. The consonant cluster in the middle gives the name structure, while the final M provides a soft, stable ending. Thus, Anselm conveys a dignified, calm impression – down-to-earth, clear, and enduring.

When is the name day of Anselm?

The name day for Anselm is celebrated on April 21, in honor of Anselm of Canterbury.

Popularity

In Germany, Anselm is a common first name and currently ranks 3,183rd in the list of the most popular male first names. Its best placement was in 2006, when it reached 930th place. In the last ten years, Anselm has been given as a first name about 170 times, which places it 1,733rd in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 1,675th.

Nicknames & pet names

Aasgeier / Amsel / Amsi / Ani / Anseli / Anselmi / Ansi / Asi / Elmi / Salm / Schelm / Selm / Selmi / Selmo

Similar first names

Famous people

• Anselm Audley (British writer)
• Anselm Barth (Innkeeper of the Munich House on the Zugspitze and mountain rescuer)
• Anselm Bayly (English writer)
• Anselm Bilgri (Priest and author)
• Anselm Bresgott (Actor/Singer)
• Anselm Feuerbach (Painter)
• Anselm Franz Freiherr von Ritter Zu Groe (German architect)
• Anselm Franz von Ingelheim (Bishop)
• Anselm Franz von Ritter zu Groenesteyn (Architect)
• Anselm Glück (Austrian writer)
• Anselm Grün (Father, author)
• Anselm Haverkamp (Philosopher from Germany)
• Anselm Hertz (Theologian from Germany)
• Anselm Hollo (Poet from Finland)
• Anselm Hüttenbrenner (Austrian composer)
• Anselm Jappe (German philosopher)
• Anselm Kiefer (German painter and sculptor)
• Anselm Knuuttila (Russian skier)
• Anselm König (Composer from Germany)
• Anselm Leonard Strauss (US sociologist)