Anthony Name Meaning

According to some sources, the name Anthony means “priceless one” or “highly praiseworthy,” but others contend that its original meaning is unknown. Regardless of its meaning, it has remained a popular name choice for centuries.

With saints, artists, and nobility as namesakes throughout history, Anthony is a strong, classic name. An English form of the Roman family name Antonius, Anthony is often linked to Marcus Antonius (also known as Mark Antony), a notable Roman politician in the ancient world.

Mark Antony isn’t the only well-known historical figure with this name, however. Two prominent Catholic saints, the fourth century Egyptian hermit St. Anthony the Great and thirteenth century Portuguese St. Anthony of Padua, also made the name famous.  

How Popular Is the Name Anthony?

The name Anthony has enjoyed consistent popularity since baby name records have been kept in the United States. Since 1905, the name has been among the top 50 for boys—but was quite common even before that.

At its lowest point of recorded popularity in 1900, it ranked #67. Then, at its peak in 2007 and 2008, Anthony was the seventh most popular baby name for boys. As of 2020, the name ranked #41.

Although Anthony is most frequently used as a boy’s name, the Social Security Administration has tracked its use for girls as well. From 1961 to 1988, Anthony ranked in the top 1,000 baby names for girls.

Name Variations

Anthony has almost too many variations to count! It’s represented in numerous cultures, with examples including:

• Anakoni (Hawaiian)
• Andon (Macedonian)
• Antanas (Lithuanian)
• Antal (Hungarian)
• Antek (Polish)
• Anthon (Danish)
• Antin (Ukrainian)
• Antoine (French)
• Antonijs (Latvian)
• Antonio (Spanish, Italian)
• Antônio (Portuguese)
• Tone (Slovenian)
• Toni (Swahili)

Similar Names

Other boys’ names with connections to the Roman name Anthony include: 

• Alexander
• Caesar
• Fabian
• Felix
• Julian
• Lucius
• Marcus
• Maximus

Other boys’ names beginning with A include:

• Abraham
• Adam
• Aiden
• Alan
• Alonzo
• Archer
• Arthur
• Ashton
• Austin
• Axel

Common Nicknames

• Tony (or Thony): Depending on your associations, the nickname Tony may conjure up movie star glamour—or a hint of rough-around-the edges New York City grit. There’s no denying this nickname has appeared in its fair share of mobster movies—but that doesn’t mean it can’t also represent a friendly, down-to-earth image.
• Anton: For a more refined-sounding nickname for Anthony, consider Anton. This abbreviated version of the name carries a British sensibility, as many Brits pronounce Anthony with a hard “t.”
• Ant: Ant is a short and sweet abbreviation for Anthony. This nickname might make you think of an upbeat personality with a positive attitude.

Suggested Sibling Names

• Aaron
• Abigail
• Adrian
• Andrew
• Aurelia
• Cecilia
• Claudia
• Dominic
• Sabina
• Valeria

Famous People Named Anthony 

Beginning with Mark Antony in Roman times, a series of well-known people have been attached to this name. Fictional Anthonys and Tonys also appear regularly in literature, TV, and movies. Here are some you may recognize.

Famous Anthonys

• St. Anthony of Padua, 13^th century saint
• Anthony Bourdain, American chef and journalist
• Anthony Hopkins, British actor
• Anthony Trollope, English Victorian novelist

Famous Tonys

• Tony Bennett, American singer
• Tony Hawk, American skateboarder
• Tony Romo, American football player
• Tony Shalhoub, American actor

Fictional Famous Tonys

• Tony Micella, protagonist of TV series "Who’s the Boss?" played by actor Tony Danza
• Tony Soprano, lead character of TV series "The Sopranos," played by actor James Gandolfini
• Tony Stark, alter ego of Iron Man in the Marvel series