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 experienced a significant increase in popularity from the late 19th century onwards. Between 1880 and 1900, there were fewer than 250 births per year on average. However, starting around 1900, the number of babies named Anthony began to rise dramatically, reaching over 400 births in 1906.
The peak popularity of the name Anthony was reached in the late 1950s and early 1960s, with over 20,000 births per year recorded between 1958 and 1967. This period saw an average of approximately 23,000 births each year.
After reaching its peak, the popularity of the name Anthony began to decline steadily. By the early 1970s, there were fewer than 20,000 births per year on average, and this downward trend continued throughout the following decades.
In recent years, the name Anthony has seen a resurgence in popularity, with over 8,000 births recorded annually between 2015 and 2022. However, it remains far from its peak popularity during the mid-20th century.