The first name Anthony
A boy’s name from Latin meaning “flower”.
Pronounced /ˈænθəni/ 3 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Latin origin
Anthony means “flower” in Latin.
From Latin Antōnius, name of a Roman gens (with excrescent -h- suggested by an unetymological association with Ancient Greek ἄνθος (ánthos, “flower”)). The Roman clan name is of uncertain etymology, but is not Greek or Hebrew; most likely of Etruscan origin, possibly derived from Ani, the Etruscan god of the sky. Doublet of Antoine.
More names that mean flower.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 206 boys were named Anthony, making it the 239th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 1,045 births (#65).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Anthony with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Anthony at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 5,967 boys born in the United States were named Anthony, the 46th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1990, when 25,088 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Anthony in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Anthony
660 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Anthony EdenBritish soldier, diplomat and politician (1897–1977)
- Anthony BourdainAmerican chef and television personality (1956-2018)
- Anthony Albanese31st prime minister of Australia, born 1963
- Anthony van DyckFlemish Baroque artist (1599–1641)
- Anthony James LeggettBritish physicist (1938–2026)
- Anthony PerkinsAmerican actor (1932–1992)
- Anthony Giddens, Baron GiddensBritish sociologist (born 1938)
- Anthony Fauci5th Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases from 1984 to 202
- Anthony KiedisAmerican musician, born 1962
- Anthony MartialFrench footballer (born 1995)
- Anthony TrollopeEnglish novelist of the Victorian period (1815-1882)
- Anthony MinghellaBritish film director, playwright and screenwriter (1954-2008)
More Latin boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Anthony mean?
- Anthony means “flower” in Latin.
- What is the origin of the name Anthony?
- From Latin Antōnius, name of a Roman gens (with excrescent -h- suggested by an unetymological association with Ancient Greek ἄνθος (ánthos, “flower”)). The Roman clan name is of uncertain etymology, but is not Greek or Hebrew; most likely of Etruscan origin, possibly derived from Ani, the Etruscan…
- How popular is the name Anthony?
- In 2025, 206 boys born in England and Wales were named Anthony, ranking 239th. Its peak was 1996, with 1,045 births.
- What are nicknames for Anthony?
- Common nicknames for Anthony include Tony, Ant, Tone.
- Is Anthony a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 1,495,156 US babies named Anthony since 1880 were boys.
- When was Anthony most popular?
- 1990 in the United States, when 25,088 babies were named Anthony, its highest rank at 15th.
- How do you pronounce Anthony?
- Anthony is /ˈænθəni/, 3 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Anthony?
- Antony.
- Is Anthony also a surname?
- Yes. Anthony is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.