Anthony vs Francis
Anthony and Franciscompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1961, Anthony was ranked #10 and Francis #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1964, Anthony was ranked #14 and Francis #93 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Anthony was ranked #135 and Francis #309 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #152 and Francis #352 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #216 and Francis #193 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #202 and Francis #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Anthony was ranked #451 and Francis #316 among boys in Norway.
Anthony and Francis over time
Anthony and Francis appear together in 5 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Anthony held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Francis in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 2024, Francis moved ahead of Anthony in England and Wales · Boys — #184 and #231 the year before became #216 and #193.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anthony and Francis changed places 5 times in Norway · Boys between 1960 and 2025, ending at #451 and #316.
- Longest-running competitions
Anthony and Francis were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #135 and #309.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Anthony #65 in 1996, Francis #188 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Francis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #12 in 1964, Francis #16 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #135, Francis #309.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Francis in 1.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #65 in 1996, Francis #188 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Francis moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #184 and #231; by 2024 that had become #216 and #193.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #216, Francis #193.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Francis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #70 in 1997, Francis #100 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #202, Francis #278.
Norway · Boys22 shared years, 1960–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Francis in 3.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #320 in 1960, Francis #316 in 2025.
The order changed in 2025: Francis moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #367 and #493; by 2025 that had become #451 and #316.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #451, Francis #316.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys10 shared years, 1952–1961
Anthony held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Francis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #10 in 1957, Francis #71 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1961: Anthony #10, Francis #93.
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 | Francis |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #309 (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)); Francis does not have one recorded yet.
- Anthony has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Francis.
- A meaning is recorded for Anthony; Francis doesn't have one written yet.
- 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
Francis
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #74 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #316 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys