Anthony vs Killian
Anthony and Killiancompared 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 Killian #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #152 and Killian #268 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #202 and Killian #187 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #216 and Killian #638 among boys in England and Wales.
Anthony and Killian over time
Anthony and Killian appear together in 3 published lists, across 118 years of shared records. Anthony held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Killian in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 3 of those lists, and Killian 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 2024, Killian moved ahead of Anthony in Northern Ireland · Boys — #169 and #249 the year before became #202 and #187.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anthony and Killian changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #202 and #187.
- Longest-running competitions
Anthony and Killian were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #135 and #141.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Killian in 13.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #12 in 1964, Killian #55 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #135, Killian #141.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Killian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #65 in 1996, Killian #492 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #216, Killian #638.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Killian in 3.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #70 in 1997, Killian #157 in 2017.
The order changed in 2024: Killian moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #169 and #249; by 2024 that had become #202 and #187.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #202, Killian #187.
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 | Killian |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #141 (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)); Killian does not have one recorded yet.
- Anthony has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Killian.
- A meaning is recorded for Anthony; Killian doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Killian
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #204 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #55 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys