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Anthony vs Paul

Anthony and Paul compared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1998, Anthony was ranked #37 and Paul #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1998, Anthony was ranked #60 and Paul #86 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Anthony was ranked #135 and Paul #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Anthony was ranked #152 and Paul #290 among boys in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Anthony was ranked #202 and Paul #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Anthony was ranked #239 and Paul #602 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2023, Anthony was ranked #406 and Paul #478 among boys in Norway.

Anthony and Paul over time

Norway · Boys
#100#30019462023Anthony #406Paul #4781946: Anthony #355, Paul #671947: Anthony #312, Paul #721949: Anthony #298, Paul #721952: Anthony #382, Paul #791954: Anthony #318, Paul #871955: Anthony #323, Paul #811959: Anthony #324, Paul #881960: Anthony #320, Paul #941961: Anthony #419, Paul #801962: Anthony #372, Paul #851963: Anthony #502, Paul #971964: Anthony #472, Paul #821965: Anthony #434, Paul #961966: Anthony #490, Paul #1041967: Anthony #355, Paul #961968: Anthony #379, Paul #931969: Anthony #370, Paul #971970: Anthony #520, Paul #961971: Anthony #375, Paul #1051972: Anthony #507, Paul #1291973: Anthony #339, Paul #1041974: Anthony #449, Paul #1051975: Anthony #594, Paul #1201976: Anthony #474, Paul #1281977: Anthony #442, Paul #1181978: Anthony #437, Paul #1291979: Anthony #425, Paul #1191980: Anthony #489, Paul #1391982: Anthony #524, Paul #1241983: Anthony #487, Paul #1191984: Anthony #400, Paul #1421985: Anthony #364, Paul #1531986: Anthony #451, Paul #1751987: Anthony #424, Paul #1451988: Anthony #359, Paul #1541989: Anthony #400, Paul #1591990: Anthony #558, Paul #1721991: Anthony #559, Paul #2081992: Anthony #485, Paul #1871993: Anthony #530, Paul #1711994: Anthony #440, Paul #1851995: Anthony #443, Paul #1881996: Anthony #502, Paul #2021997: Anthony #426, Paul #1751999: Anthony #495, Paul #2202000: Anthony #320, Paul #1852001: Anthony #353, Paul #2162002: Anthony #461, Paul #1862003: Anthony #522, Paul #2152004: Anthony #370, Paul #2092006: Anthony #328, Paul #2262007: Anthony #360, Paul #2302008: Anthony #397, Paul #3122009: Anthony #359, Paul #2242010: Anthony #492, Paul #2772011: Anthony #355, Paul #2442012: Anthony #463, Paul #2882013: Anthony #367, Paul #2812014: Anthony #332, Paul #3722017: Anthony #418, Paul #3232018: Anthony #389, Paul #3352019: Anthony #396, Paul #3122021: Anthony #421, Paul #2622023: Anthony #406, Paul #478

Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.

Republic of Ireland · Boys
#3#10#30#10019642025Anthony #135Paul #2861964: Anthony #12, Paul #41965: Anthony #12, Paul #61966: Anthony #12, Paul #51967: Anthony #13, Paul #51968: Anthony #14, Paul #71969: Anthony #13, Paul #71970: Anthony #14, Paul #71971: Anthony #15, Paul #71972: Anthony #14, Paul #61973: Anthony #15, Paul #51974: Anthony #14, Paul #51975: Anthony #15, Paul #51976: Anthony #14, Paul #51977: Anthony #12, Paul #51978: Anthony #15, Paul #31979: Anthony #15, Paul #31980: Anthony #18, Paul #41981: Anthony #17, Paul #51982: Anthony #16, Paul #41983: Anthony #20, Paul #71984: Anthony #19, Paul #71985: Anthony #20, Paul #71986: Anthony #22, Paul #81987: Anthony #22, Paul #71988: Anthony #23, Paul #91989: Anthony #27, Paul #81990: Anthony #26, Paul #111991: Anthony #29, Paul #131992: Anthony #26, Paul #131993: Anthony #37, Paul #131994: Anthony #39, Paul #161995: Anthony #47, Paul #211996: Anthony #43, Paul #281997: Anthony #50, Paul #261998: Anthony #54, Paul #341999: Anthony #52, Paul #392000: Anthony #58, Paul #402001: Anthony #56, Paul #432002: Anthony #64, Paul #452003: Anthony #68, Paul #482004: Anthony #80, Paul #432005: Anthony #75, Paul #542006: Anthony #70, Paul #622007: Anthony #71, Paul #722008: Anthony #80, Paul #762009: Anthony #80, Paul #782010: Anthony #86, Paul #902011: Anthony #83, Paul #972012: Anthony #99, Paul #1032013: Anthony #79, Paul #1242014: Anthony #89, Paul #1262015: Anthony #83, Paul #1292016: Anthony #86, Paul #1682017: Anthony #81, Paul #1692018: Anthony #98, Paul #1442019: Anthony #94, Paul #1612020: Anthony #93, Paul #1652021: Anthony #121, Paul #1572022: Anthony #90, Paul #2052023: Anthony #103, Paul #2192024: Anthony #102, Paul #2222025: Anthony #135, Paul #286

Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.

Anthony and Paul over time

Anthony and Paul appear together in 6 published lists, across 274 years of shared records. Paul held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Anthony in 1.

The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.

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 1987, Anthony moved ahead of Paul in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #26 and #25 the year before became #24 and #30.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Anthony and Paul changed places 7 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #202 and #278.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 46 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Anthony and Paul averaged 10.7 places apart, ending at #37 and #86.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Anthony and Paul were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #239 and #602.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Anthony #65 in 1996, Paul #72 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1996 they stood at #65 and #72 in England and Wales · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #239 and #602.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys64 shared years, 1946–2023

    Anthony held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Paul in 62.

    Highest recorded here: Anthony #298 in 1949, Paul #67 in 1946.

    The order changed in 2023: Anthony moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #421 and #262; by 2023 that had become #406 and #478.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Anthony #406, Paul #478.

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

    Anthony held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Paul in 45.

    Highest recorded here: Anthony #12 in 1964, Paul #3 in 1978.

    The order changed in 2010: Anthony moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #80 and #78; by 2010 that had become #86 and #90.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #135, Paul #286.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys46 shared years, 1952–1998

    Anthony held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Paul in 35.

    Highest recorded here: Anthony #8 in 1968, Paul #4 in 1966.

    The order changed in 1987: Anthony moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #26 and #25; by 1987 that had become #24 and #30.

    Most recent shared year, 1998: Anthony #37, Paul #86.

  • New Zealand · Boys44 shared years, 1954–1998

    Anthony held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Paul in 35.

    Highest recorded here: Anthony #11 in 1959, Paul #3 in 1965.

    The order changed in 1989: Anthony moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #36 and #32; by 1989 that had become #33 and #35.

    Most recent shared year, 1998: Anthony #60, Paul #86.

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

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

    Highest recorded here: Anthony #65 in 1996, Paul #72 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #239, Paul #602.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Anthony held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Paul in 17.

    Highest recorded here: Anthony #70 in 1997, Paul #27 in 1997.

    The order changed in 2018: Anthony moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #194 and #171; by 2018 that had become #121 and #151.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #202, Paul #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.

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 Paul

Pairs where Paul 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 — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart →

Other pairs from England and Wales lists

Pairs measured inside England and Wales's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

England and Wales overview →

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, Paul
FieldAnthonyPaul
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.From the Roman name Paulus, meaning 'small' in Latin. Saint Paul, originally named Saul, converted to Christianity and became a key missionary figure, authoring several New Testament epistles.
OriginEtruscan (unknown origin)Latin
Pronunciation/ˈæn.θə.ni//ˈpɔːl/
Syllables31
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageNew South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New ZealandNew South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #286 (2025)
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Anthony is recorded with a Etruscan (unknown origin) origin, while Paul is recorded with a Latin origin.
  • Anthony has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Paul.
  • Anthony's recorded meaning differs from Paul'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

Paul

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #73 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 recorded1954–1998

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1998).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #602 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys