Anthony vs Robert
Anthony and Robertcompared 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 2003, Anthony was ranked #45 and Robert #95 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2005, Anthony was ranked #75 and Robert #95 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #152 and Robert #80 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #202 and Robert #93 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Anthony was ranked #135 and Robert #104 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #216 and Robert #151 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Anthony was ranked #451 and Robert #363 among boys in Norway.
Anthony and Robert over time
Anthony and Robert appear together in 6 published lists, across 288 years of shared records. Robert held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Anthony in 0.
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.
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 1991, Anthony moved ahead of Robert in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #29 and #21 the year before became #24 and #31.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anthony and Robert changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 2003, ending at #45 and #95.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Anthony and Robert averaged 43.3 places apart, ending at #216 and #151.
- Longest-running competitions
Anthony and Robert were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 52 years, from 1952 to 2003, ending at #45 and #95.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Anthony #65 in 1996, Robert #30 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys65 shared years, 1946–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Robert in 64.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #298 in 1949, Robert #25 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #451, Robert #363.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Robert in 48.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #12 in 1964, Robert #12 in 1978.
The order changed in 1978: Robert moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #12 and #16; by 1978 that had become #15 and #12.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #135, Robert #104.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys52 shared years, 1952–2003
Anthony held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Robert in 37.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #8 in 1968, Robert #3 in 1952.
The order changed in 1991: Anthony moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #29 and #21; by 1991 that had become #24 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Anthony #45, Robert #95.
New Zealand · Boys52 shared years, 1954–2005
Anthony held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Robert in 46.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #11 in 1959, Robert #5 in 1954.
The order changed in 2002: Anthony moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #79 and #65; by 2002 that had become #78 and #90.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Anthony #75, Robert #95.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 29.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #65 in 1996, Robert #30 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #216, Robert #151.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 28.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #70 in 1997, Robert #35 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #202, Robert #93.
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 | Robert |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Germanic Hrodebert, combining 'hruod' (fame) with 'beraht' (bright) — 'bright fame'. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, later borne by Robert the Bruce. |
| Origin | Etruscan (unknown origin) | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæn.θə.ni/ | /ˈɹɑb.əɹt/ |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #104 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| 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 Robert is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Anthony has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Robert.
- Anthony's recorded meaning differs from Robert'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
Robert
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #126 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #363 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys