Namewise

Anthony vs Michael

Anthony and Michaelcompared 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 Michael #22 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 2005, Anthony was ranked #75 and Michael #31 among boys in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 2021, Anthony was ranked #99 and Michael #53 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Anthony was ranked #202 and Michael #66 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Anthony was ranked #152 and Michael #66 among boys in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Anthony was ranked #239 and Michael #85 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Anthony was ranked #451 and Michael #195 among boys in Norway.

Anthony and Michael over time

Anthony and Michael appear together in 6 published lists, across 306 years of shared records. Michael held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Anthony in 0.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Anthony reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Michael 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.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 69 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Anthony and Michael averaged 18.5 places apart, ending at #99 and #53.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Anthony and Michael were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #239 and #85.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Anthony #65 in 1996, Michael #22 in 1996.

List by list

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys69 shared years, 1952–2021

    Anthony held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Michael in 69.

    Highest recorded here: Anthony #8 in 1968, Michael #1 in 1974.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2021: Anthony #99, Michael #53.

  • Norway · Boys65 shared years, 1946–2025

    Anthony held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Michael in 65.

    Highest recorded here: Anthony #298 in 1949, Michael #48 in 1990.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #451, Michael #195.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Anthony held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Michael in 62.

    Highest recorded here: Anthony #12 in 1964, Michael #2 in 1966.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #135, Michael #22.

  • New Zealand · Boys52 shared years, 1954–2005

    Anthony held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Michael in 52.

    Highest recorded here: Anthony #11 in 1959, Michael #1 in 1968.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2005: Anthony #75, Michael #31.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Anthony held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Michael in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Anthony #65 in 1996, Michael #22 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #239, Michael #85.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Anthony held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Michael in 28.

    Highest recorded here: Anthony #70 in 1997, Michael #7 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #202, Michael #66.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Anthony

Pairs where Anthony shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Michael

Pairs where Michael shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.

  • Christopher vs Paul

    Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Oliver vs Leo

    Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Oliver vs Luca

    Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Amelia vs Sofia

    Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries

All moved together in several countries→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Anthony, Michael
FieldAnthonyMichael
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningThe 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.Commonly interpreted as a rhetorical question, 'Who is like God?', implying no one compares to God.
OriginEtruscan (unknown origin)Biblical Hebrew
Pronunciation/ˈæn.θə.ni//ˈmaɪkəl/
Syllables32
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #22 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Anthony is recorded with a Etruscan (unknown origin) origin, while Michael is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin.
  • Anthony has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Michael.
  • Anthony's recorded meaning differs from Michael's — see the table above for each.
  • 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–2021

    Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1968 (recorded 1952–2021).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #239 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Michael

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #259 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1952–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1974 (recorded 1952–2025).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #85 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys