Anthony: Name Meaning, Origin, & Popularity

Boy name origins & meanings

What does Anthony mean and stand for?

Meaning:

Latin: Priceless one, highly praiseworthy
Greek: Flourishing, highly praiseworthy

Gender: Male

Syllables: 3

Pronunciation: The name Anthony is pronounced an-thuh-nee

The name Anthony, originating from the Roman family name Antonius, has been widely used in the English-speaking world since the early Christian era. It garnered significant popularity through Saint Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of lost items, and Saint Anthony the Great, an Egyptian Christian monk who is considered the founder of Christian monasticism.

Boy name variations

Family name origins & meanings

English: from the personal name Anthony, Latin Antonius. See also Anton. This, with its variants, cognates, and derivatives, is one of the commonest European personal names. Many of the European forms have been absorbed into this spelling as American family names; for the forms, see Hanks and Hodges 1988. Spellings with -h-, which first appear in English in the 16th century and in French (as Anthoine) at about the same time, are due to the erroneous belief that the name derives from Greek anthos "flower." The popularity of the personal name in Christendom is largely due to the cult of the Egyptian hermit St. Anthony (ad 251–356), who in his old age gathered a community of hermits around him, and for that reason is regarded by some as the founder of monasticism. It was further increased by the fame of St. Anthony of Padua (1195–1231), who long enjoyed a great popular cult and who is believed to help people find lost things.

John Anthony of Hampstead, Middlesex, England (now part of north London) migrated to Boston, MA, in 1634. By 1640 he had moved to Providence, RI, where his descendants are still established with the family name Anthony.

South Indian: this is only a given name in India, but has come to be used as a family name among Christians from South India in the U.S.

Famous people with this first name

Anthony Edwards

Famous people with this last name

Marc Anthony

Anthony in Pop Culture

Do you know these fictional characters that share this first name?

Anthony DiNozzo from NCIS - A witty and charming former senior field agent who works for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
Anthony Edward Stark from Marvel Comics - Better known as Tony Stark or Iron Man, a genius inventor and billionaire industrialist who dons a powered exoskeleton.
Anthony Soprano from The Sopranos - The complex and conflicted mob boss of the DiMeo crime family, struggling with his personal and criminal life.
Anthony Bridgerton from Bridgerton - The eldest of the Bridgerton siblings, known for his sense of duty and strong moral compass amidst the social season in Regency London.
Anthony Fremont from The Twilight Zone ("It's a Good Life") - A young boy with godlike powers, including mind-reading and manipulating reality according to his whims.

Popularity of the Name Anthony

According to Social Security Administration data, the name Anthony has been a stalwart in terms of popularity, consistently ranking within the top 100 names in the United States for decades. Its timeless appeal and classical roots make it a perennial favorite among parents when naming their sons.

Historically, Anthony is a name with deep roots, derived from the Roman family name Antonius, and has been borne by many significant figures over the centuries. Notably, Saint Anthony the Great, recognized as the Father of All Monks, and Saint Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of lost items, are two prominent religious figures bearing the name.

In the realm of entertainment and literature, the name Anthony has been well represented. Celebrated British writer Anthony Burgess is best known for his novel A Clockwork Orange. In film, actors like Anthony Hopkins, renowned for his role in The Silence of the Lambs, and Anthony Mackie, known for his portrayal of Falcon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, have kept the name in the spotlight. Fictional characters named Anthony have also graced various media, contributing to the name's ongoing popularity.