Anthony vs Toby
Anthony and Tobycompared 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 Zealand · Boys
In 2005, Anthony was ranked #75 and Toby #74 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2018, Anthony was ranked #86 and Toby #79 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #216 and Toby #86 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #202 and Toby #125 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Anthony was ranked #135 and Toby #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #152 and Toby #234 among boys in Scotland.
Anthony and Toby over time
Anthony and Toby appear together in 4 published lists, across 99 years of shared records. Anthony held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Toby in 1.
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, and Toby 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 1999, Toby moved ahead of Anthony in England and Wales · Boys — #74 and #77 the year before became #81 and #77.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anthony and Toby changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #202 and #125.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Anthony and Toby averaged 48.4 places apart, ending at #202 and #125.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Anthony #43 in 2005, Toby #52 in 2006.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Toby in 26.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #65 in 1996, Toby #42 in 2014.
The order changed in 1999: Toby moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #74 and #77; by 1999 that had become #81 and #77.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #216, Toby #86.
Republic of Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1971–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Toby in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #12 in 1977, Toby #173 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #135, Toby #329.
Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1997–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Toby in 13.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #70 in 1997, Toby #90 in 2017.
The order changed in 2015: Toby moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #118 and #132; by 2015 that had become #142 and #133.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #202, Toby #125.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys16 shared years, 2003–2018
Anthony held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Toby in 7.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #43 in 2005, Toby #52 in 2006.
The order changed in 2017: Toby moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #83 and #88; by 2017 that had become #89 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Anthony #86, Toby #79.
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 | Toby |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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)); Toby does not have one recorded yet.
- Anthony has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Toby.
- A meaning is recorded for Anthony; Toby 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
Toby
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #304 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2002–2023
Highest recorded position: #41 among boys in New Zealand, in 2008 (recorded 2002–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys