Anthony vs Brendan
Anthony and Brendancompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1991, Anthony was ranked #39 and Brendan #94 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2004, Anthony was ranked #47 and Brendan #92 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Anthony was ranked #135 and Brendan #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #152 and Brendan #619 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #202 and Brendan #404 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #216 and Brendan #1402 among boys in England and Wales.
Anthony and Brendan over time
Anthony and Brendan appear together in 5 published lists, across 185 years of shared records. Anthony held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Brendan in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Anthony reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Brendan in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anthony and Brendan changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #202 and #404.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 40 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Anthony and Brendan averaged 30.8 places apart, ending at #47 and #92.
- Longest-running competitions
Anthony and Brendan were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 40 years, from 1965 to 2004, ending at #47 and #92.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Anthony #65 in 1996, Brendan #157 in 1998.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #70 and #73 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #202 and #404.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Brendan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #12 in 1964, Brendan #16 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #135, Brendan #402.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys40 shared years, 1965–2004
Anthony held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Brendan in 1.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #8 in 1968, Brendan #25 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Anthony #47, Brendan #92.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Brendan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #65 in 1996, Brendan #157 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #216, Brendan #1402.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Brendan in 1.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #70 in 1997, Brendan #73 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #202, Brendan #404.
New Zealand · Boys26 shared years, 1966–1991
Anthony held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Brendan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #16 in 1969, Brendan #53 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Anthony #39, Brendan #94.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Anthony | Brendan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | The English form of the Roman family name Antonius, of unknown Etruscan origin. Later incorrectly associated with Greek 'anthos' ('flower'), which led to the addition of the 'h' to this spelling in the 17th century. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Etruscan (unknown origin) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæn.θə.ni/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Anthony has a recorded origin (Etruscan (unknown origin)); Brendan does not have one recorded yet.
- Anthony has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Brendan.
- A meaning is recorded for Anthony; Brendan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Anthony
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #355 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2021
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1968 (recorded 1952–2021).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #451 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Brendan
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys