Originating from medieval French, Anthony is derived from the Latin 'Antonius,' meaning 'priceless' or 'highly praiseworthy.' It was popular among early Christians due to St. Anthony of Padua, a thirteenth-century Franciscan friar renowned for his eloquent preaching and scholarly pursuits. Anthony entered English usage via Old French during the Middle Ages and has since become one of the most popular given names worldwide.
The name Anthony experienced a notable gap between years of popularity, with a significant drop in usage from 1972 to 1983, and then again from 1986 to 1989. The total number of births registered as Anthony over these four years was 29.