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 enduring popularity in the United States, as reflected in these annual birth statistics from 1880 to 2023.
In the late 19th century, the name Anthony saw steady growth, with an average of around 150 births per year between 1880 and 1890. The turn of the century brought a significant increase in popularity, with over 200 Anthonys being born each year from 1900 onwards.
The name reached its peak popularity in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s, with over 20,000 newborn Anthonys each year between 1965 and 1978. This period also coincides with a general trend of American parents preferring traditional, classic names for their children.
However, since the late 1970s, the name Anthony has seen a decline in popularity. By the early 2000s, fewer than 10,000 newborn Anthonys were being born each year. This trend continued into the 2010s and 2020s, with recent years seeing around 6,000 to 7,000 newborn Anthonys annually.
Despite this decline in popularity, Anthony remains a strong and enduring name choice for American parents. Over the course of 143 years, from 1880 to 2023, a total of 1,475,541 newborn boys were named Anthony in the United States. This demonstrates the lasting appeal of this classic name, which is derived from the Latin word 'Antonius,' meaning "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy."