Anthony vs Paul
Anthony and Paulcompared 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 2024, Anthony was ranked #216 and Paul #586 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
Anthony and Paul appear together in 6 published lists, across 273 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 New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 46 years, from 1952 to 1998, ending at #37 and #86.
- 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 2024 they were #216 and #586.
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 · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 29 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, 2024: Anthony #216, Paul #586.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Anthony | Paul |
|---|---|---|
| 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 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. |
| Origin | Etruscan (unknown origin) | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæn.θə.ni/ | /ˈpɔːl/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| 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 #286 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| 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 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
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
Paul
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys