Anthony vs Christopher
Anthony and Christophercompared 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 2005, Anthony was ranked #75 and Christopher #68 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2014, Anthony was ranked #88 and Christopher #94 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Anthony was ranked #135 and Christopher #121 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #152 and Christopher #127 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #202 and Christopher #239 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #216 and Christopher #204 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Anthony was ranked #451 and Christopher #311 among boys in Norway.
Anthony and Christopher over time
Anthony and Christopher appear together in 6 published lists, across 299 years of shared records. Christopher held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Anthony in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Anthony reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Christopher 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2004, Anthony moved ahead of Christopher in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #45 and #43 the year before became #47 and #50.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anthony and Christopher changed places 8 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #216 and #204.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Anthony and Christopher averaged 27.3 places apart, ending at #216 and #204.
- Longest-running competitions
Anthony and Christopher were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 63 years, from 1952 to 2014, ending at #88 and #94.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Anthony #65 in 1996, Christopher #25 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys65 shared years, 1946–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Christopher in 63.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #298 in 1949, Christopher #54 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #451, Christopher #311.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys63 shared years, 1952–2014
Anthony held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Christopher in 35.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #8 in 1968, Christopher #2 in 1985.
The order changed in 2004: Anthony moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #45 and #43; by 2004 that had become #47 and #50.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Anthony #88, Christopher #94.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Christopher in 35.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #12 in 1964, Christopher #13 in 1990.
The order changed in 2025: Christopher moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #102 and #112; by 2025 that had become #135 and #121.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #135, Christopher #121.
New Zealand · Boys52 shared years, 1954–2005
Anthony held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Christopher in 52.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #11 in 1959, Christopher #4 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Anthony #75, Christopher #68.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Christopher in 23.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #65 in 1996, Christopher #25 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #216, Christopher #204.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Christopher in 24.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #70 in 1997, Christopher #10 in 1998.
The order changed in 2024: Anthony moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #169 and #153; by 2024 that had become #202 and #239.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #202, Christopher #239.
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 | Christopher |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | From Late Greek Christophoros, combining 'Christos' (Christ) with 'phero' ('to bear') — 'bearing Christ'. Associated with the legend of Saint Christopher carrying the young Jesus across a river. |
| Origin | Etruscan (unknown origin) | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæn.θə.ni/ | /ˈkɹɪs.tə.fəɹ/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #121 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 65/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 58/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Anthony is recorded with a Etruscan (unknown origin) origin, while Christopher is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Anthony and Christopher both have 3 syllables.
- Anthony's recorded meaning differs from Christopher's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, 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
Christopher
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #306 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2014
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1952–2014).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #311 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys