Namewise

Anthony vs Richard

Anthony and Richardcompared 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 1997, Anthony was ranked #41 and Richard #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1999, Anthony was ranked #60 and Richard #81 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Anthony was ranked #135 and Richard #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2022, Anthony was ranked #147 and Richard #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Anthony was ranked #152 and Richard #619 among boys in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Anthony was ranked #239 and Richard #431 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2023, Anthony was ranked #406 and Richard #481 among boys in Norway.

Anthony and Richard over time

Anthony and Richard appear together in 6 published lists, across 272 years of shared records. Anthony held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Richard 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, Richard 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 1997, Anthony moved ahead of Richard in England and Wales · Boys — #65 and #62 the year before became #68 and #71.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Anthony and Richard changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2022, ending at #147 and #311.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 46 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Anthony and Richard averaged 19.6 places apart, ending at #41 and #98.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Anthony and Richard were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #239 and #431.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Anthony #65 in 1996, Richard #62 in 1996.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys64 shared years, 1946–2023

    Anthony held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Richard in 60.

    Highest recorded here: Anthony #298 in 1949, Richard #80 in 1979.

    The order changed in 2023: Anthony moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #421 and #382; by 2023 that had become #406 and #481.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Anthony #406, Richard #481.

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

    Anthony held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Richard in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Anthony #12 in 1964, Richard #20 in 1986.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #135, Richard #232.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys46 shared years, 1952–1997

    Anthony held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Richard in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Anthony #8 in 1968, Richard #16 in 1960.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1997: Anthony #41, Richard #98.

  • New Zealand · Boys46 shared years, 1954–1999

    Anthony held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Richard in 38.

    Highest recorded here: Anthony #11 in 1959, Richard #9 in 1965.

    The order changed in 1994: Anthony moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #42 and #41; by 1994 that had become #44 and #50.

    Most recent shared year, 1999: Anthony #60, Richard #81.

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

    Anthony held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Richard in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Anthony #65 in 1996, Richard #62 in 1996.

    The order changed in 1997: Anthony moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #65 and #62; by 1997 that had become #68 and #71.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #239, Richard #431.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022

    Anthony held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Richard in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Anthony #70 in 1997, Richard #77 in 1999.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Anthony #147, Richard #311.

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 Richard

Pairs where Richard 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 — closest over the longest run.

All closest over the longest run→

Other pairs from New Zealand lists

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

New Zealand overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1990s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1990 and 1999.

The 1990s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Anthony, Richard
FieldAnthonyRichard
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 Old German elements 'rih' (ruler, king) and 'hart' (hard, firm, brave, hardy) — 'brave ruler'. Introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century.
OriginEtruscan (unknown origin)Germanic
Pronunciation/ˈæn.θə.ni//ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/
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 #232 (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 Richard is recorded with a Germanic origin.
  • Anthony has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Richard.
  • Anthony's recorded meaning differs from Richard'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

Richard

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #219 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 recorded1954–1999

    Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #431 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys