Agnes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A name of Latin origin, commonly associated with purity and often given to girls
2. A feminine given name that has historical roots, often linked to literature and religious contexts
3. A classic personal name reflecting cultural significance, associated with strength and virtue

Etymology: Agnes is a name that carries its meaning in its sound. It comes from Ancient Greek "Hagnē", a form of "hagnos", meaning "pure" or "chaste", and the same root gives us "hagneia", "purity". The name was borrowed into Latin as "Agnes", which is how it reached the rest of Europe. Agnes is a doublet of Inez, meaning the two names come from the same source but reached English along different routes. Inez arrived through Spanish and Portuguese forms, while Agnes came through Latin and French, so the two spellings look distinct despite their shared Greek ancestor.