Anthony vs Joel
Anthony and Joelcompared 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 Joel #40 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2010, Anthony was ranked #67 and Joel #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Anthony was ranked #135 and Joel #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #152 and Joel #278 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #202 and Joel #154 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Anthony was ranked #451 and Joel #178 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #216 and Joel #209 among boys in England and Wales.
Anthony and Joel over time
Anthony and Joel appear together in 6 published lists, across 196 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 6 of those lists, and Joel 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 2023, Joel moved ahead of Anthony in England and Wales · Boys — #180 and #214 the year before became #184 and #170.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anthony and Joel changed places 11 times in Norway · Boys between 1969 and 2025, ending at #451 and #178.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Anthony and Joel averaged 29.0 places apart, ending at #216 and #209.
- Longest-running competitions
Anthony and Joel were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 35 years, from 1976 to 2010, ending at #67 and #100.
List by list
Norway · Boys43 shared years, 1969–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Joel in 32.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #320 in 2000, Joel #148 in 2021.
The order changed in 1996: Joel moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #443 and #596; by 1996 that had become #502 and #415.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #451, Joel #178.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys35 shared years, 1976–2010
Anthony held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Joel in 1.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #16 in 1976, Joel #27 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Anthony #67, Joel #100.
Republic of Ireland · Boys35 shared years, 1973–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Joel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #15 in 1973, Joel #185 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #135, Joel #509.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Joel in 24.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #65 in 1996, Joel #62 in 2001.
The order changed in 2023: Joel moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #180 and #214; by 2023 that had become #184 and #170.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #216, Joel #209.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Joel in 27.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #70 in 1997, Joel #38 in 2003.
The order changed in 1998: Joel moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #70 and #84; by 1998 that had become #88 and #87.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #202, Joel #154.
New Zealand · Boys26 shared years, 1980–2005
Anthony held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Joel in 7.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #30 in 1990, Joel #40 in 2005.
The order changed in 2000: Joel moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #60 and #64; by 2000 that had become #68 and #61.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Anthony #75, Joel #40.
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 | Joel |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025) | Norway · Boys #178 (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)); Joel does not have one recorded yet.
- Anthony has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Joel.
- A meaning is recorded for Anthony; Joel 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
Joel
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #523 among boys in Norway in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1976–2010
Highest recorded position: #27 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1987 (recorded 1976–2010).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #178 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys