Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Anthony
BoyLatin· “uncertain; from the Roman name Antonius”
- Meaning
- uncertain; from the Roman name Antonius (origin disputed)
- Origin
- Latin
- Pronunciation
- AN-thuh-nee
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #46
- US babies 2025
- 5,967
- Best rank
- #7 (2007)
- Peak year
- 1990
Meaning and origin of Anthony
Anthony is often said to mean “uncertain; from the Roman name Antonius”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Latin roots.
Anthony comes from Antonius, the name of a Roman family whose best-known member was Mark Antony, the ally of Julius Caesar and partner of Cleopatra. The origin of the family name is unknown; it may be Etruscan. The "h" in the English spelling came later, from a mistaken link with the Greek anthos, "flower", and the popular meaning "priceless" has no solid basis. Saint Anthony the Great, an early desert monk, and Saint Anthony of Padua, patron of lost things, spread the name through Christian Europe. Anthony remains a sturdy classic, with Tony as the usual nickname and forms such as Antonio and Antoine used abroad.
Popularity over time
Anthony has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #7 in 2007, and the most babies received it in 1990, when 25,088 were named Anthony. In 2025, 5,967 babies were named Anthony, and it ranked #46 nationally. That is 44% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #43 in 1920, #36 in 1950, #24 in 1980, #17 in 2000, #10 in 2010, and #46 in 2025. Of the 1,488,042 US boys named Anthony since records began, 15% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 211,861 babies. Since 2010, 151,184 more have been named Anthony.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Kyle, Jordan, Benjamin, Aaron, and Sean.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Anthony ranked highest in New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Delaware.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | #11 | 327 |
| Rhode Island | #14 | 32 |
| Delaware | #15 | 28 |
| Connecticut | #16 | 102 |
| Massachusetts | #20 | 195 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Anthony is usually pronounced AN-thuh-nee, with three syllables. It has seven letters, starts with A and ends in “-ny”.
Middle names for Anthony
A few middle names that flow with Anthony: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Anthony
Similar names
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suh-BAS-chuhn
“from Sebaste; venerable” · Latin
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Cornelius Boy
kor-NEEL-yus
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Domenic Boy
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Constantine Boy
KAHN-stuhn-teen
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Lucas Boy
LOO-kuhs
“man from Lucania” · Latin
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Lists that include Anthony
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Anthony mean?
Anthony is often said to mean “uncertain; from the Roman name Antonius”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Latin roots.
What is the origin of the name Anthony?
Anthony has Latin roots. Anthony comes from Antonius, the name of a Roman family whose best-known member was Mark Antony, the ally of Julius Caesar and partner of Cleopatra.
Is Anthony a popular name?
Yes. Anthony ranked #46 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Anthony a boy or girl name?
Anthony is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Anthony?
Anthony is usually pronounced AN-thuh-nee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings