'anatole' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anatolē', where 'ana-' meant 'up' and 'telō' meant 'to rise'.

'anatolē' was adopted into Late Latin as 'anatole', and eventually became the rare English word 'anatole'.

Initially, it meant 'rising' or 'sunrise', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'the east' or 'the direction of the rising sun'.