Laurence vs Tony
Laurence and Tonycompared 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 1956, Laurence was ranked #98 and Tony #69 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Laurence was ranked #582 and Tony #302 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2014, Laurence was ranked #346 and Tony #398 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Laurence was ranked #401 and Tony #1466 among boys in England and Wales.
Laurence and Tony over time
Laurence and Tony appear together in 2 published lists, across 86 years of shared records. Laurence held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Tony 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Laurence and Tony changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #401 and #1466.
- Longest-running competitions
Laurence and Tony were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #401 and #1466.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Laurence #161 in 1997, Tony #167 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys56 shared years, 1967–2024
Laurence held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Tony in 26.
Highest recorded here: Laurence #58 in 1967, Tony #150 in 1987.
The order changed in 2015: Tony moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #347 and #403; by 2015 that had become #554 and #280.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Laurence #582, Tony #302.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Laurence held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Tony in 4.
Highest recorded here: Laurence #161 in 1997, Tony #167 in 1996.
The order changed in 2007: Laurence moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #377 and #310; by 2007 that had become #386 and #416.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Laurence #401, Tony #1466.
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 Tony
Pairs where Tony shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Tony vs Brent
Tony and Brent changed places 13 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1987, ending at #58 and #97.
Tony · Brent · 34 shared years, 1954–1987 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Gregory vs Tony
Gregory and Tony changed places 13 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1988, ending at #76 and #71.
Gregory · Tony · 35 shared years, 1954–1988 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Jason vs Tony
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Jason #1 in 1971, Tony #55 in 1969.
Jason · Tony · 22 shared years, 1964–1987 · Peaked in the same years
- Dean vs Tony
Across 36 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Dean and Tony averaged 10.8 places apart, ending at #92 and #90.
Dean · Tony · 36 shared years, 1956–1991 · Closest over the longest run
Side by side
| Field | Laurence | Tony |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #401 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #372 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Laurence has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Tony.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Laurence
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #86 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 recorded1964–2024
Highest recorded position: #47 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1968 (recorded 1964–2024).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #401 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Tony
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #96 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 recorded1954–1991
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in New Zealand, in 1967 (recorded 1954–1991).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1466 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys