Anselm
|An-selm|
🇺🇸
/ˈænzəlm/
🇬🇧
/ˈænz(ə)lm/
god + helmet (protection)
Etymology
'Anselm' originates from Old High German, specifically the elements 'ans' and 'helm', where 'ans' meant 'god' and 'helm' meant 'helmet, protection'.
'Anselm' was Latinized as 'Anselmus', appeared in Old French as 'Anselme', and was adopted into Middle English and modern English as 'Anselm'.
Initially it combined the elements meaning 'god' + 'helmet/protection' (a protective or divine helm); over time it came to be used primarily as a personal name without literal sense.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a male given name of Germanic origin.
Anselm visited his relatives last summer.
Noun 2
specifically, Anselm of Canterbury (1033–1109), a medieval Archbishop of Canterbury, philosopher and theologian known for the ontological argument.
Anselm argued for the ontological proof of God's existence.
Last updated: 2025/09/29 06:23