Anthony is a moderately popular boys' name in England & Wales, ranking #144 in 2015 with 388 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 1996 with 1,045 births ranking #65. Since 1996, the popularity has decreased by 62.9%. In 2015, approximately 1 in every 859 boys born was named Anthony. FALLING Recent data shows the name is currently falling.
Anthony comes from the ancient Roman family name Antonius. Its exact meaning is uncertain, but the name's long history and familiar sound have kept it popular for centuries.
The name spread widely through Christian tradition, especially because of Saint Anthony of Egypt and Saint Anthony of Padua. It later became a regular classic across English, Italian, Spanish, and many other languages.