Anthony is a male given name of Latin origin, derived from the Roman family name Antonius. The name Antonius itself comes from the Latin word 'antius', which means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy." It is believed to have been used as an agnomen, a nickname given to someone who had performed an outstanding deed.
The name Anthony first appeared in the Roman Empire during the 1st century AD. It was borne by several early Christian martyrs and saints, most notably Saint Anthony of Padua (1195-1231), a Portuguese priest and Franciscan friar who is now venerated as the patron saint of lost items and lost people. His reputation for learning and eloquence led to his being named the patron saint of sailors, travelers, and scholars.
The name Anthony became popular in Europe during the Middle Ages due to the influence of these saints. It was also brought to England by the Normans after the Norman Conquest in 1066. In English-speaking countries, Anthony has been a consistently popular name for boys since the late 19th century. Today, it remains one of the most widely used male names in many parts of the world.
Variations of the name Anthony include Antony, Antonio, Antoine, and Anton. Each of these variations maintains the original Latin meaning and pronunciation of the name. Some famous people with the name Anthony include the American actor Anthony Hopkins, the Italian-American mobster Anthony "Tony" Soprano (as portrayed in The Sopranos), and the Australian cricketer Shane Warne, whose middle name is Anthony.
In summary, Anthony is a male given name of Latin origin that means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy." It has been used since ancient Roman times and became popular in Europe during the Middle Ages due to its association with several early Christian saints. Today, Anthony remains one of the most widely used male names worldwide.
The name Anthony has a rich history and popularity in the United States, as evidenced by its annual birth statistics over the past century and a half.
In the late 19th century, the number of babies named Anthony was relatively low but steadily increased. Between 1880 and 1890, there were between 128 and 219 births each year with the name Anthony. However, by 1900, this number had more than doubled to 406 births.
The early 20th century saw a significant rise in the popularity of the name Anthony. Between 1900 and 1950, there were over 1 million babies named Anthony, with the highest years being 1952 (11,182 births) and 1954 (13,124 births). This trend continued into the late 1960s and early 1970s, with over 20,000 babies named Anthony each year between 1967 and 1972.
However, from the mid-1970s onwards, there was a decline in the popularity of the name Anthony. Between 1980 and 2023, the number of births with the name Anthony ranged from a high of 25,085 in 1990 to a low of 6,237 in 2023.
Despite this decline, Anthony remains one of the most popular names for boys in the United States. Between 1880 and 2023, there have been a total of 1,475,541 births with the name Anthony, demonstrating its enduring appeal over generations.