Anthony vs Nicholas
Anthony and Nicholascompared 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 Nicholas #52 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2021, Anthony was ranked #99 and Nicholas #81 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Anthony was ranked #135 and Nicholas #198 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #152 and Nicholas #191 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #202 and Nicholas #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #216 and Nicholas #211 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Anthony was ranked #451 and Nicholas #325 among boys in Norway.
Anthony and Nicholas over time
Anthony and Nicholas appear together in 6 published lists, across 292 years of shared records. Nicholas 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 4 of those lists, and Nicholas 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 1981, Nicholas moved ahead of Anthony in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #19 and #22 the year before became #22 and #20.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anthony and Nicholas changed places 10 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #216 and #211.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Anthony and Nicholas averaged 10.5 places apart, ending at #216 and #211.
- Longest-running competitions
Anthony and Nicholas were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 66 years, from 1955 to 2021, ending at #99 and #81.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Anthony #65 in 1996, Nicholas #52 in 1996.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys66 shared years, 1955–2021
Anthony held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Nicholas in 40.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #8 in 1968, Nicholas #6 in 2002.
The order changed in 1981: Nicholas moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #19 and #22; by 1981 that had become #22 and #20.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Anthony #99, Nicholas #81.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Nicholas in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #12 in 1964, Nicholas #58 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #135, Nicholas #198.
Norway · Boys55 shared years, 1955–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Nicholas in 46.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #320 in 2000, Nicholas #126 in 2004.
The order changed in 1982: Nicholas moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #489 and #591; by 1982 that had become #524 and #339.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #451, Nicholas #325.
New Zealand · Boys52 shared years, 1954–2005
Anthony held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Nicholas in 33.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #11 in 1959, Nicholas #8 in 1983.
The order changed in 1973: Nicholas moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #21 and #23; by 1973 that had become #23 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Anthony #75, Nicholas #52.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Nicholas in 24.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #65 in 1996, Nicholas #52 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #216, Nicholas #211.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Nicholas in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #70 in 1997, Nicholas #104 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #202, Nicholas #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 | Nicholas |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | From Greek Nikolaos, combining 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people) — 'victory of the people'. Associated with Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop and the inspiration for Santa Claus. |
| Origin | Etruscan (unknown origin) | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæn.θə.ni/ | /ˈnɪk.ə.ləs/ |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #198 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| 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 is recorded with a Etruscan (unknown origin) origin, while Nicholas is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Anthony and Nicholas both have 3 syllables.
- Anthony's recorded meaning differs from Nicholas'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
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
Nicholas
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #384 among boys in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1955–2024
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2002 (recorded 1955–2024).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #325 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys