The first use of “ingenue” appeared in the 1848 novel “Vanity Fair,” referring to Becky, an ambitious, worldly character, the opposite of what “ingenue” means today. An earlier, related word is “ingenuous,” which comes from the Latin ingenuus, meaning “native” or “innate.” The original innate characteristic was being noble and generous, but by the late 17th century, “ingenuous” had evolved to mean “honorably straightforward, frank.” Around 150 years later, the adjective “ingenuous” led into the noun “ingenue.” While the original usage of “ingenue” kept the straightforward frankness, soon both the adjective and the noun turned into wide-eyed innocence. Today, both “ingenue” and “ingenuous” carry connotations of youth and unsophistication.