Anthony vs Ruadhan
Anthony and Ruadhancompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #202 and Ruadhan #81 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Anthony was ranked #135 and Ruadhan #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #152 and Ruadhan #535 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #216 and Ruadhan #4270 among boys in England and Wales.
Anthony and Ruadhan over time
Anthony and Ruadhan appear together in 3 published lists, across 55 years of shared records. Anthony held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ruadhan in 0.
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.
Anthony reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Ruadhan in none. 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 2023, Ruadhan moved ahead of Anthony in Northern Ireland · Boys — #147 and #192 the year before became #169 and #113.
- Longest-running competitions
Anthony and Ruadhan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 30 years, from 1973 to 2025, ending at #135 and #676.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys30 shared years, 1973–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Ruadhan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #15 in 1973, Ruadhan #169 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #135, Ruadhan #676.
Northern Ireland · Boys16 shared years, 2004–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Ruadhan in 2.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #108 in 2004, Ruadhan #81 in 2024.
The order changed in 2023: Ruadhan moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #147 and #192; by 2023 that had become #169 and #113.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #202, Ruadhan #81.
England and Wales · Boys9 shared years, 2005–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Ruadhan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #109 in 2006, Ruadhan #2512 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #216, Ruadhan #4270.
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.
- Anthony vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #65 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #216 and #3254.
Anthony · Ross · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Shane vs Anthony
In 1996 they stood at #74 and #65 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #857 and #216.
Shane · Anthony · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anthony vs Steven
In 1996 they stood at #65 and #73 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #216 and #800.
Anthony · Steven · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Stephen vs Anthony
In 1996 they stood at #60 and #65 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #651 and #216.
Stephen · Anthony · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Anthony | Ruadhan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (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)); Ruadhan does not have one recorded yet.
- Anthony has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Ruadhan.
- A meaning is recorded for Anthony; Ruadhan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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
Ruadhan
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #320 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2004–2024
Highest recorded position: #81 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 2004–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys