Anthony vs Leighton
Anthony and Leightoncompared 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 Leighton #309 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #152 and Leighton #307 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #202 and Leighton #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #216 and Leighton #464 among boys in England and Wales.
Anthony and Leighton over time
Anthony and Leighton appear together in 3 published lists, across 68 years of shared records. Anthony held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Leighton in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Anthony reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Leighton 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Leighton in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #65 in 1996, Leighton #150 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #216, Leighton #464.
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1974–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Leighton in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #14 in 1974, Leighton #164 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #135, Leighton #309.
Northern Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 2002–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Leighton in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #90 in 2002, Leighton #222 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #202, Leighton #278.
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 | Leighton |
|---|---|---|
| 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 #309 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 61/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Anthony has a recorded origin (Etruscan (unknown origin)); Leighton does not have one recorded yet.
- Anthony has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Leighton.
- A meaning is recorded for Anthony; Leighton 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
Leighton
Popularity journey
First recorded1974
First recorded at #321 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1974 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #150 among boys in England and Wales, in 2013 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #309 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys