Anthony vs Jonathan
Anthony and Jonathancompared 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 Jonathan #86 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2016, Anthony was ranked #83 and Jonathan #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Anthony was ranked #451 and Jonathan #93 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Anthony was ranked #135 and Jonathan #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #152 and Jonathan #352 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #202 and Jonathan #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #216 and Jonathan #302 among boys in England and Wales.
Anthony and Jonathan over time
Anthony and Jonathan appear together in 6 published lists, across 276 years of shared records. Jonathan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Anthony in 2.
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 Jonathan 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 2012, Anthony moved ahead of Jonathan in England and Wales · Boys — #153 and #147 the year before became #142 and #170.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anthony and Jonathan changed places 6 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1957 and 2005, ending at #75 and #86.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Anthony and Jonathan averaged 37.8 places apart, ending at #216 and #302.
- Mirrored each other
Over 55 shared years in Norway · Boys, Jonathan rose about as far as Anthony fell — from #298 and #371 in 1949 to #451 and #93 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Anthony and Jonathan were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 54 years, from 1963 to 2016, ending at #83 and #97.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Anthony #65 in 1996, Jonathan #39 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Jonathan in 1.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #12 in 1964, Jonathan #18 in 1981.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #135, Jonathan #223.
Norway · Boys55 shared years, 1949–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Jonathan in 46.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #298 in 1949, Jonathan #32 in 2011.
The order changed in 1979: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #437 and #524; by 1979 that had become #425 and #326.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #451, Jonathan #93.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys54 shared years, 1963–2016
Anthony held the stronger position in 54 of those years, Jonathan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #8 in 1968, Jonathan #41 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Anthony #83, Jonathan #97.
New Zealand · Boys48 shared years, 1957–2005
Anthony held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Jonathan in 27.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #11 in 1959, Jonathan #15 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Anthony #75, Jonathan #86.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Jonathan in 16.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #65 in 1996, Jonathan #39 in 1996.
The order changed in 2012: Anthony moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #153 and #147; by 2012 that had become #142 and #170.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #216, Jonathan #302.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Jonathan in 17.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #70 in 1997, Jonathan #20 in 1998.
The order changed in 2020: Anthony moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #160 and #153; by 2020 that had become #169 and #231.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #202, Jonathan #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 | Jonathan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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) | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Anthony has a recorded origin (Etruscan (unknown origin)); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- Anthony and Jonathan both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anthony; Jonathan 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
Jonathan
Popularity journey
First recorded1949
First recorded at #371 among boys in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1957–2013
Highest recorded position: #15 among boys in New Zealand, in 1982 (recorded 1957–2013).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #93 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys