Anthony vs Ross
Anthony and Rosscompared 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 1983, Anthony was ranked #24 and Ross #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1985, Anthony was ranked #34 and Ross #96 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Anthony was ranked #135 and Ross #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #152 and Ross #307 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Anthony was ranked #169 and Ross #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #216 and Ross #3254 among boys in England and Wales.
Anthony and Ross over time
Anthony and Ross appear together in 5 published lists, across 175 years of shared records. Anthony held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Ross in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 2012, Anthony moved ahead of Ross in Northern Ireland · Boys — #118 and #115 the year before became #120 and #156.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anthony and Ross changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #135 and #329.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Anthony and Ross averaged 49.3 places apart, ending at #24 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Anthony and Ross were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 30 years, from 1954 to 1985, ending at #34 and #96.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Anthony #65 in 1996, Ross #60 in 1997.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #65 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #216 and #3254.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Ross in 7.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #12 in 1964, Ross #39 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #135, Ross #329.
New Zealand · Boys30 shared years, 1954–1985
Anthony held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Ross in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #11 in 1959, Ross #25 in 1957.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Anthony #34, Ross #96.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Ross in 4.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #65 in 1996, Ross #60 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #216, Ross #3254.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1952–1983
Anthony held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Ross in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #8 in 1968, Ross #34 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Anthony #24, Ross #86.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2023
Anthony held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Ross in 15.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #70 in 1997, Ross #30 in 1997.
The order changed in 2012: Anthony moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #118 and #115; by 2012 that had become #120 and #156.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Anthony #169, Ross #395.
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 | Ross |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| 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 has a recorded origin (Etruscan (unknown origin)); Ross does not have one recorded yet.
- Anthony has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Ross.
- A meaning is recorded for Anthony; Ross doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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
Ross
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #36 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 recorded1954–1985
Highest recorded position: #25 among boys in New Zealand, in 1957 (recorded 1954–1985).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys