Anthony Name Meaning: Origin, Popularity & Nicknames

What Does Anthony Mean?

The name Anthony, or Antony, has been debated on its definitive meaning due to its origin and popularity.

Anthony is believed to have come from the Greek word, anthos, meaning “flower.” However, the actual gain of popularity spawned from the Roman family, Antonius, and has been translated into ‘Praise-worthy’ or ‘Priceless one.’

What is the Origin of the Name Anthony?

The name Anthony is Latin.

It comes from the Greco-Roman world, originating from the critical Roman family, Antonius ⁽¹⁾. Mark Antonius, better known as the Roman politician, Mark Antony, claimed the prestigious name was derived from Anton, the mythical son of Hercules.

Also, the name Anthony has a strong Christian influence, although it isn’t found anywhere in the Bible. Catholics, specifically, hold Anthony’s name in the highest esteem after the Egyptian St. Anthony the Great.

How Popular is the Name Anthony?

The name Anthony is very popular, remaining in the Top 100 baby names for generations. Since 1905, the name Anthony has been listed in the top 50 boys’ names within the United States ⁽²⁾.

History has shown that the name Anthony has also been previously listed on the Top 1000 baby names for girls in the U.S.

How Do I Pronounce Anthony?

The name Anthony is pronounced an-thuh-nee. Others pronounce Anthony in only two syllables, like anth-nee or ant-nee.

Is Anthony a Boy or Girl Name?

The U.S. Social Security office has recorded the name Anthony for boys and girls.

The name Anthony for a boy has been popular for centuries, dating back to William Shakespeare’s play Antony and Cleopatra, which debuted in 1607.

Other variations of the name Anthony, such as Antonia, have been reported to have a more popular longstanding for girls’ names.

Variations of Anthony

The name Anthony has plenty of variations since it has been around since the Middle Ages. It was first spelled “Antony.” The ‘h’ was introduced to the name sometime in the 17th Century and grew to become the most frequent way to spell Anthony.

Other variations developed over the years as the name became popular for both genders as families wanted to pass along the legacy to their children.

The Most Popular Variation

• Anton (Bulgarian, Croatian, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, German, Macedonian, Norwegian, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Swedish, Ukrainian)

Other Variations

• Ankoni (Hawaiian)
• Andon (Albanian, Macedonian)
• Āndōngní (Mandarin)
• Andonis (Greek)
• Ansonī (Japanese)
• Antaine (Irish)
• Antanas (Lithuanian)
• Antal (Hungarian)
• Ante (Sami, Swedish)
• Antek (Polish)
• Anthon (Danish)
• Antin (Ukrainian)
• Antoine (French)
• Antoinette (Female, French)
• Antonia (Female, Italian, Spanish)
• Antonín (Czech)
• Antonijs (Latvian)
• Antoni (Polish)
• Antonio (Filipino, Italian, Spanish)
• Antônio (Portuguese)
• Ēnthanī (Hindi)
• Tone (Slovenian)
• Toni (Catalan, German, Swahili)
• Toni Jo (Female, American)
• Toon (Dutch)

Nicknames for Anthony

There are so many variations for the name Anthony, so it’s no surprise there is a hearty list of nicknames.

• Ant
• Ant-Man
• Anton
• Antun
• Andy
• Anth
• Nat
• Nino
• Tee
• Thanos
• Ton
• Tone
• Tones
• Toni
• Tonito
• Tony
• Twan

Similar Names to Anthony

Several names are similar to Anthony when it comes to tradition or those that have been inspired solely by the name ‘Anthony.’

• Antar
• Antel
• Anteus
• Anthor
• Antwain
• Antwon
• Armando
• Daniel
• Edward
• Erik
• Jeffrey
• Joaquín
• Jonathan
• Lincoln
• Mark
• Matthew
• Michael
• Nicolas
• Robert
• William

Middle Names for Anthony

The middle names for Anthony favor strong biblical names and names that relate to high worth and praise.

• Brian
• Christian
• Daniel
• Elias
• Henry
• Juan
• Kevin
• Lee
• Marcus
• Michael
• Nicolas
• Quinn
• Richard
• Steven
• Thomas

Sibling Names for Anthony

Anthony’s sibling names can be traditional, classic, or new-aged since Anthony is a timeless name.

Boys:

• Aidan
• Christopher
• Hector
• Jackson
• Leland
• Oliver
• Peter
• Sean

Girls:

• Arden
• Breen
• Eden
• Elizabeth
• Mary
• Ruth

Gender-neutral:

• Alex
• Bobby or Bobbi
• Francis
• Taylor
• Tristin

Famous People Named Anthony

Since the name Anthony has been a popular name that’s been around for centuries, plenty of famous people have the name or its shortened version, Tony.

• Anthony Anderson: American actor, comedian, and game show Host.
• Anthony Michael Bourdain: Famous celebrity chef, author, and TV personality.
• Sir Anthony Hopkins: Born Phillip Anthony Hopkins, he is a Welsh actor, director, and producer. His most recognized role was Hannibal Lecter.
• Anthony Kiedis: American singer and song writer who is the lead singer for Red Hot Chili Peppers.
• Anthony Perkins: American actor whose most famous role was Norman Bates in Psycho.
• Anthony Toney: A former American Football Player.
• Tony Blair: Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007.
• Tony Robbins: An American author, coach, and influential speaker.
• Tony Stewart: Professional stock car racing driver for NASCAR. He is nicknamed Smoke.

Anthony in Popular Culture

The name Anthony was made more famous by Shakespeare in his play Antony and Cleopatra. Other Anthonys have touched pop culture over the years.

• Anthony Bridgerton: From the Netflix series “Bridgerton,” Anthony is the eldest of the Bridgerton family.
• Anthony Wiggle: The blue Wiggle and founder of the Wiggles singing group.
• Tony the Tiger: The mascot for Frosted Flakes cereal.
• Tony Stark: Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
• Tony Soprano: The fictional mob boss who seeks therapy in “The Sopranos” TV show.

Anthony FAQs