Anthony vs Phillip
Anthony and Phillipcompared 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 1994, Anthony was ranked #33 and Phillip #90 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1995, Anthony was ranked #58 and Phillip #100 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #102 and Phillip #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Anthony was ranked #120 and Phillip #403 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #216 and Phillip #1460 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Anthony was ranked #451 and Phillip #268 among boys in Norway.
Anthony and Phillip over time
Anthony and Phillip appear together in 6 published lists, across 201 years of shared records. Anthony held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Phillip in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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, Phillip in 1. 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 1953, Anthony moved ahead of Phillip in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #18 and #14 the year before became #14 and #17.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 43 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Anthony and Phillip averaged 23.0 places apart, ending at #33 and #90.
- Longest-running competitions
Anthony and Phillip were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 43 years, from 1952 to 1994, ending at #33 and #90.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Anthony #65 in 1996, Phillip #180 in 1996.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys43 shared years, 1952–1994
Anthony held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Phillip in 1.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #8 in 1968, Phillip #14 in 1952.
The order changed in 1953: Anthony moved ahead. In 1952 they stood at #18 and #14; by 1953 that had become #14 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Anthony #33, Phillip #90.
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1964–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Phillip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #12 in 1964, Phillip #122 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #102, Phillip #785.
New Zealand · Boys42 shared years, 1954–1995
Anthony held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Phillip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #11 in 1959, Phillip #35 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Anthony #58, Phillip #100.
Norway · Boys35 shared years, 1972–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Phillip in 28.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #320 in 2000, Phillip #116 in 2013.
The order changed in 1996: Phillip moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #443 and #554; by 1996 that had become #502 and #307.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #451, Phillip #268.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Phillip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #65 in 1996, Phillip #180 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #216, Phillip #1460.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 1997–2012
Anthony held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Phillip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #70 in 1997, Phillip #189 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Anthony #120, Phillip #403.
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 | Phillip |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025) | Norway · Boys #268 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Anthony has a recorded origin (Etruscan (unknown origin)); Phillip does not have one recorded yet.
- Anthony has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Phillip.
- A meaning is recorded for Anthony; Phillip doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Phillip
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #14 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1994
Highest recorded position: #14 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1994).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #268 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys