Avant first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Avant has been for the last 24 years (from 2000 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Avant

A French word meaning "before" or "forward".

Popularity of Avant by gender

Based on the last 24 years of data, Avant is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 12 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Avant.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 12 0
2022 9 0
2021 15 0
2020 9 0
2019 13 0
2018 10 0
2017 11 0
2016 25 0
2015 15 0
2014 24 0
2013 26 0
2012 28 0
2011 23 0
2010 34 0
2009 38 0
2008 25 0
2007 33 0
2006 38 0
2005 42 0
2004 58 0
2003 31 0
2002 47 0
2001 31 0
2000 23 0

The history of the first name Avant

The name Avant has its origins in the French language, tracing back to the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance period. It is derived from the French word "avant," meaning "before" or "in front of." The name carries a sense of being ahead of its time or forward-thinking.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Avant can be found in the writings of the French poet and scholar François Villon, who lived from 1431 to 1463. He mentioned an individual named Avant in one of his ballads, though the context is unclear.

During the 16th century, the name Avant gained some prominence among French nobility and intellectuals who were part of the avant-garde movement. This movement embraced new ideas and artistic expressions, aligning with the name's connotation of being ahead of its time.

In the 17th century, a notable figure named Avant de Saint-Julien (1616-1687) made his mark as a French military engineer and architect. He was renowned for his innovative fortification designs and contributed significantly to the development of military architecture during that era.

Another historical figure bearing the name Avant was the French philosopher and writer Avant de Condillac (1715-1780). He was a prominent figure of the Enlightenment period and is best known for his works on epistemology and the theory of knowledge.

In the realm of literature, Avant Dubois (1779-1848) was a French poet and dramatist who gained recognition for his romantic plays and poems. His works were widely celebrated during the Romantic movement in France.

Moving into the 20th century, Avant Garde (1901-1965) was a French artist and sculptor known for his abstract and avant-garde works. He was associated with the Cubist and Surrealist movements and was a influential figure in the Parisian art scene of his time.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the name Avant, highlighting its French origins and association with forward-thinking and innovative ideas across various fields.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Avant was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Avant, please contact us.

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"Avant first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 14, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/avant-meaning-and-history/.

"Avant first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/avant-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 14 May, 2025

Avant first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/avant-meaning-and-history/.

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