The submarine is the sixth vessel to bear the name marking France’s humiliating 1415 defeat at the hands of the English army led by King Henry V.
Naval experts and commanders on the Ships’ Names and Badges Committee considered the potential for controversy around the name in 2018 before deciding to sign it off.
But a row blew up again recently when it was suggested the name should be reviewed for “fear of upsetting the French”, according to a naval source.
Government insiders said Defence Secretary Grant Shapps believes demands to change names over concerns of offence are “ridiculous”.
An MoD source said: “The Defence Secretary thinks considering renaming a ship because it may offend the French is woke nonsense.
“The French are close allies and remain so because of our long history together – it is a relationship that is not going to be affected by the naming of a ship.
“Is anyone suggesting we should rename Waterloo or Trafalgar Square so we don’t offend anyone? It’s ridiculous. The Battle of Agincourt was more than 600 years ago.
“Five previous naval craft have been named after Agincourt. It was an important victory in the 100 Years War and is rightly part of our rich naval history.”
Evoking the St Crispin’s Day speech on the eve of the Battle of Agincourt from Shakespeare’s Henry V, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg said: “They clearly have ‘no stomach to this fight’ and should ‘think themselves accursed … and hold their manhood cheap’ for being so snivelling.”
Conservative MP James Daly said: “It is fantastic news that HMS Agincourt retains the name of one of England’s great military victories.”
It is the sixth HMS Agincourt, with the last ship bearing the name a Dreadnought Battleship launched in 1913.
The seventh Astute Class hunter-killer submarine, built in Barrow-in-Furness, is expected to enter service from her base at Faslane this year.
A Royal Navy spokesman said: “It is entirely appropriate to name a naval vessel after a great military victory and this will be the sixth HMS Agincourt named after the 15th Century battle, with the last ship bearing the same name having been launched in 1913.
“We take great care in naming our ships and ensuring that they have appropriate affiliations across the country and we have no intention to rename it.”
