Anthony vs Sean
Anthony and Sean compared 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 2007, Anthony was ranked #48 and Sean #85 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #202 and Sean #48 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2005, Anthony was ranked #75 and Sean #57 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Anthony was ranked #135 and Sean #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #152 and Sean #234 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Anthony was ranked #239 and Sean #615 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2019, Anthony was ranked #396 and Sean #478 among boys in Norway.
Anthony and Sean over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Anthony and Sean over time
Anthony and Sean appear together in 6 published lists, across 248 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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, Sean 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 2010, Anthony moved ahead of Sean in England and Wales · Boys — #139 and #132 the year before became #148 and #151.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anthony and Sean changed places 4 times in Norway · Boys between 1965 and 2019, ending at #396 and #478.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 44 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Anthony and Sean averaged 29.6 places apart, ending at #48 and #85.
- Longest-running competitions
Anthony and Sean were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #239 and #615.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Anthony #65 in 1996, Sean #49 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Sean in 38.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #12 in 1964, Sean #1 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #135, Sean #141.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys44 shared years, 1963–2007
Anthony held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Sean in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #8 in 1968, Sean #29 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Anthony #48, Sean #85.
New Zealand · Boys43 shared years, 1963–2005
Anthony held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Sean in 15.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #14 in 1963, Sean #28 in 1995.
The order changed in 1991: Sean moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #30 and #35; by 1991 that had become #39 and #38.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Anthony #75, Sean #57.
Norway · Boys41 shared years, 1965–2019
Anthony held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Sean in 23.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #320 in 2000, Sean #185 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Anthony #396, Sean #478.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Sean in 14.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #65 in 1996, Sean #49 in 1996.
The order changed in 2010: Anthony moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #139 and #132; by 2010 that had become #148 and #151.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #239, Sean #615.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sean in 28.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #70 in 1997, Sean #13 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #202, Sean #48.
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 2025 they were #239 and #2014.
Anthony · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · 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 2025 they were #1153 and #239.
Shane · Anthony · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · 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 2025 they were #239 and #976.
Anthony · Steven · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · 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 2025 they were #716 and #239.
Stephen · Anthony · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Sean
Pairs where Sean shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Sean vs Kenneth
In 1964 they stood at #38 and #41 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #123 and #785.
Sean · Kenneth · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sean vs Henry
In 1996 they stood at #49 and #58 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #615 and #13.
Sean · Henry · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sean vs Edward
In 1996 they stood at #49 and #45 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #615 and #31.
Sean · Edward · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- John vs Sean
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #49 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #174 and #615.
John · Sean · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.
- Christopher vs Paul
Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Leo
Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Luca
Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Amelia vs Sofia
Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Anthony | Sean |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | The Irish form of John, ultimately carrying the meaning 'Yahweh is gracious' via its Hebrew ancestry. |
| Origin | Etruscan (unknown origin) | Irish, Anglicised form of Sean, via Hebrew John |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæn.θə.ni/ | /ʃɔːn/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #141 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Anthony is recorded with a Etruscan (unknown origin) origin, while Sean is recorded with a Irish, Anglicised form of Sean, via Hebrew John origin.
- Anthony has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Sean.
- Anthony's recorded meaning differs from Sean'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 #239 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Sean
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #82 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #615 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys