'Anselm' originates from Old High German, specifically the word 'Anselm', where the elements 'ans' meant 'god' and 'helm' meant 'helmet, protection'.

'Anselm' passed into Latin as 'Anselmus', then Old French as 'Anselme', and entered Middle English before becoming the modern English name 'Anselm'.

Initially it literally conveyed the idea of 'divine protection' (as a compound name), but over time it became used primarily as a personal name without the literal sense being prominent.