French feminine form of Justin, from Latin 'justus' meaning just or righteous.
Justine flows from the Latin "Justinus," derived from "justus" — meaning just, righteous, or fair. It is the feminine form of Justin, a name with deep roots in early Christian martyrology: Saint Justina of Padua, martyred in the 4th century, gave the name an air of serene moral conviction. The name spread through France and the French-speaking world with particular elegance, becoming associated with a certain classical poise.
In literature, Justine was commandeered most dramatically by the Marquis de Sade, whose 1791 novel "Justine, or the Misfortunes of Virtue" made the name synonymous with innocence beset by a corrupt world — a philosophical argument dressed as a narrative, however disturbing. A century and a half later, Lawrence Durrell reclaimed the name for his celebrated Alexandria Quartet, where Justine is the complex, magnetic Egyptian-Jewish woman at the center of the first novel's moral labyrinth. These literary associations give the name a provocative intellectual depth unusual for feminine names.
In modern usage, Justine has a cool Franco-European quality — more restrained than Jacqueline, less common than Julie. It peaked in France and French Canada in the 1980s and 1990s, and in English-speaking countries maintains a steady, understated presence. Justine Henin, the Belgian tennis champion, and Justine Bateman, the American actress, represent its range across temperament. It is a name that wears intellectual seriousness naturally, without sacrificing softness.