Antony vs Darren
Antony and Darrencompared 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 1975, Antony was ranked #94 and Darren #31 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1960, Antony was ranked #98 and Darren #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2009, Antony was ranked #390 and Darren #172 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Antony was ranked #779 and Darren #276 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Antony was ranked #968 and Darren #1108 among boys in England and Wales.
Antony and Darren over time
Antony and Darren appear together in 3 published lists, across 50 years of shared records. Darren held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Antony in 0.
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.
Antony reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Darren 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 1965, Darren moved ahead of Antony in New Zealand · Boys — #56 and #85 the year before became #63 and #13.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Antony and Darren changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #968 and #1108.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Antony #158 in 1996, Darren #123 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Antony held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Darren in 19.
Highest recorded here: Antony #158 in 1996, Darren #123 in 1996.
The order changed in 2023: Antony moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #1011 and #993; by 2023 that had become #874 and #1272.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Antony #968, Darren #1108.
New Zealand · Boys12 shared years, 1964–1975
Antony held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Darren in 11.
Highest recorded here: Antony #56 in 1964, Darren #13 in 1965.
The order changed in 1965: Darren moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #56 and #85; by 1965 that had become #63 and #13.
Most recent shared year, 1975: Antony #94, Darren #31.
Republic of Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 1975–2022
Antony held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Darren in 9.
Highest recorded here: Antony #288 in 1980, Darren #26 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Antony #779, Darren #276.
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 | Antony | Darren |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Exact meaning uncertain — may derive from a rare Irish surname, or be a variant of Darrell. Popularized in the late 1950s by actor Darren McGavin and in the 1960s by the character Darrin Stephens from Bewitched. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈdæɹ.ən/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #968 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Darren has a recorded origin (Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell)); Antony does not have one recorded yet.
- Antony has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Darren.
- A meaning is recorded for Darren; Antony doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Antony
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #74 among boys in New Zealand in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1960–1975
Highest recorded position: #56 among boys in New Zealand, in 1964 (recorded 1960–1975).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #968 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Darren
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1960–1989
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1960–1989).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys