Anthony vs Cal
Anthony and Calcompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Anthony was ranked #135 and Cal #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #202 and Cal #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #216 and Cal #2263 among boys in England and Wales.
Anthony and Cal over time
Anthony and Cal appear together in 3 published lists, across 68 years of shared records. Anthony held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Cal in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Anthony reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Cal 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1996–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Cal in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #65 in 1996, Cal #1188 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #216, Cal #2263.
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1987–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Cal in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #22 in 1987, Cal #261 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #135, Cal #509.
Northern Ireland · Boys14 shared years, 1997–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Cal in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #70 in 1997, Cal #244 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #202, Cal #305.
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 | Cal |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Anthony has a recorded origin (Etruscan (unknown origin)); Cal does not have one recorded yet.
- Anthony has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Cal.
- A meaning is recorded for Anthony; Cal doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
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
Cal
Popularity journey
First recorded1987
First recorded at #303 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1987 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #244 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2000 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys