Fun Facts About the Name Tony
- More than 254 thousand babies named Tony: U.S. records list 254,483 babies given the name Tony from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,889 girls received the name Tony - about 1 girl for every 87 boys.
What Does the Name Tony Mean?
Tony is an English short form of Anthony (also spelled Antony), which comes from the Roman family name Antonius. The Antonii were a Roman clan (the gens Antonia), and their name is generally thought to be of Etruscan origin. Its meaning is not securely known. The popular link to Greek anthos, "flower," is a later reinterpretation of the name rather than its actual source.
Tony also serves as the familiar form of other names built on the same Roman root, such as Italian and Spanish Antonio, Portuguese António, and the feminine Antonia and French Antoinette. In each case the meaning Tony carries is the meaning of the longer name it shortens, which is uncertain.
Tony Name History & Origins
The Roman name Antonius spread with the empire and is best known from Marcus Antonius, the Roman general and politician. It entered medieval European use through Latin and its Romance descendants, including French Antoine and Italian Antonio. In English the name was long written Antony; the spelling Anthony with the h became standard later, apparently through association with the Greek word for flower.
Christian devotion helped the name spread in Europe. Saint Anthony of Egypt, a fourth-century hermit, and Saint Anthony of Padua, a thirteenth-century Franciscan preacher, were both widely venerated, and churches and towns were named for them. English speakers commonly shortened longer given names by dropping syllables and adding -y or -ie, and Tony fits that pattern as a familiar form of Anthony and its Romance equivalents.
During the twentieth century Tony also came into use as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname, in Britain, the United States, and other English-speaking countries. It appears in that independent role in fiction and popular entertainment as well as in everyday use.
How Popular is the Name Tony?
Tony recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1961. Tony entered the top 100 U.S. boy names in 1955.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | #17,755 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2018 | #17,928 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #19,620 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #20,252 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #11,559 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2006 | #16,994 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #14,414 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #12,692 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #9,015 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2001 | #10,061 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2000 | #13,059 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #16,758 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #9,233 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1997 | #8,984 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #7,546 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1995 | #8,045 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1994 | #5,011 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1993 | #4,382 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1992 | #5,466 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1991 | #4,642 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1990 | #4,114 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1989 | #4,519 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1988 | #4,301 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1987 | #2,488 | 42 | 0.0024% |
| 1986 | #3,050 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 1985 | #3,002 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 1984 | #2,621 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 1983 | #2,133 | 47 | 0.0028% |
| 1982 | #2,762 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 1981 | #2,719 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 1980 | #2,532 | 38 | 0.0023% |
| 1979 | #2,246 | 44 | 0.0027% |
| 1978 | #1,726 | 61 | 0.0040% |
| 1977 | #1,972 | 50 | 0.0033% |
| 1976 | #1,549 | 66 | 0.0045% |
| 1975 | #1,754 | 54 | 0.0037% |
| 1974 | #1,531 | 64 | 0.0044% |
| 1973 | #1,567 | 60 | 0.0041% |
| 1972 | #1,722 | 52 | 0.0034% |
| 1971 | #1,465 | 71 | 0.0043% |
| 1970 | #1,353 | 78 | 0.0045% |
| 1969 | #1,369 | 71 | 0.0042% |
| 1968 | #1,346 | 69 | 0.0042% |
| 1967 | #1,359 | 66 | 0.0040% |
| 1966 | #1,446 | 59 | 0.0035% |
| 1965 | #1,349 | 67 | 0.0038% |
| 1964 | #1,589 | 52 | 0.0027% |
| 1963 | #1,545 | 54 | 0.0028% |
| 1962 | #1,670 | 47 | 0.0024% |
| 1961 | #1,426 | 62 | 0.0031% |
| 1960 | #1,443 | 59 | 0.0029% |
| 1959 | #1,313 | 67 | 0.0033% |
| 1958 | #1,577 | 47 | 0.0023% |
| 1957 | #1,489 | 52 | 0.0025% |
| 1956 | #2,318 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1955 | #1,730 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 1954 | #1,870 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1953 | #2,171 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1952 | #2,496 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1951 | #2,800 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1950 | #2,247 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1949 | #2,064 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1948 | #2,181 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1947 | #1,984 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1946 | #2,147 | 20 | 0.0013% |
| 1945 | #1,791 | 23 | 0.0018% |
| 1944 | #2,022 | 19 | 0.0014% |
| 1943 | #1,831 | 23 | 0.0016% |
| 1942 | #1,975 | 20 | 0.0015% |
| 1941 | #1,535 | 27 | 0.0022% |
| 1940 | #2,099 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1939 | #1,633 | 23 | 0.0021% |
| 1938 | #2,917 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1937 | #1,906 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1936 | #1,501 | 25 | 0.0024% |
| 1935 | #1,414 | 28 | 0.0027% |
| 1934 | #1,830 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1933 | #2,146 | 15 | 0.0015% |
| 1932 | #1,871 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1931 | #2,198 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1930 | #1,495 | 28 | 0.0025% |
| 1929 | #1,639 | 24 | 0.0021% |
| 1928 | #1,464 | 30 | 0.0026% |
| 1927 | #1,402 | 34 | 0.0029% |
| 1926 | #1,876 | 22 | 0.0019% |
| 1925 | #1,698 | 26 | 0.0021% |
| 1924 | #1,764 | 25 | 0.0020% |
| 1923 | #1,553 | 29 | 0.0024% |
| 1922 | #1,893 | 22 | 0.0018% |
| 1921 | #1,918 | 22 | 0.0018% |
| 1920 | #1,809 | 23 | 0.0019% |
| 1919 | #3,201 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1918 | #3,824 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1917 | #2,541 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1916 | #2,234 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1915 | #3,764 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1914 | #3,571 | 6 | 0.0008% |
| 1913 | #3,656 | 5 | 0.0008% |
| 1912 | #2,943 | 6 | 0.0011% |
| 1907 | #1,628 | 8 | 0.0025% |
| 1903 | #1,772 | 6 | 0.0023% |
| 1898 | #1,950 | 5 | 0.0019% |
| 1890 | #1,515 | 5 | 0.0026% |
| 1889 | #1,264 | 6 | 0.0034% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #784 | 325 | 0.0190% |
| 2024 | #803 | 313 | 0.0182% |
| 2023 | #844 | 289 | 0.0169% |
| 2022 | #698 | 378 | 0.0217% |
| 2021 | #679 | 392 | 0.0224% |
| 2020 | #630 | 427 | 0.0248% |
| 2019 | #593 | 467 | 0.0260% |
| 2018 | #583 | 471 | 0.0259% |
| 2017 | #543 | 520 | 0.0281% |
| 2016 | #522 | 566 | 0.0298% |
| 2015 | #500 | 581 | 0.0303% |
| 2014 | #448 | 666 | 0.0347% |
| 2013 | #435 | 664 | 0.0351% |
| 2012 | #428 | 653 | 0.0344% |
| 2011 | #409 | 691 | 0.0364% |
| 2010 | #383 | 751 | 0.0391% |
| 2009 | #378 | 805 | 0.0406% |
| 2008 | #354 | 886 | 0.0434% |
| 2007 | #320 | 1,002 | 0.0483% |
| 2006 | #328 | 985 | 0.0479% |
| 2005 | #318 | 1,030 | 0.0516% |
| 2004 | #321 | 958 | 0.0483% |
| 2003 | #302 | 1,000 | 0.0506% |
| 2002 | #281 | 1,072 | 0.0552% |
| 2001 | #291 | 1,025 | 0.0528% |
| 2000 | #283 | 1,086 | 0.0553% |
| 1999 | #266 | 1,133 | 0.0590% |
| 1998 | #255 | 1,177 | 0.0616% |
| 1997 | #242 | 1,248 | 0.0662% |
| 1996 | #229 | 1,315 | 0.0694% |
| 1995 | #196 | 1,555 | 0.0817% |
| 1994 | #190 | 1,627 | 0.0842% |
| 1993 | #171 | 1,872 | 0.0954% |
| 1992 | #163 | 1,927 | 0.0965% |
| 1991 | #155 | 2,102 | 0.1040% |
| 1990 | #147 | 2,183 | 0.1063% |
| 1989 | #132 | 2,301 | 0.1150% |
| 1988 | #133 | 2,243 | 0.1172% |
| 1987 | #123 | 2,291 | 0.1227% |
| 1986 | #120 | 2,362 | 0.1283% |
| 1985 | #114 | 2,525 | 0.1366% |
| 1984 | #112 | 2,440 | 0.1352% |
| 1983 | #119 | 2,350 | 0.1311% |
| 1982 | #112 | 2,610 | 0.1438% |
| 1981 | #111 | 2,650 | 0.1479% |
| 1980 | #108 | 2,728 | 0.1529% |
| 1979 | #104 | 2,644 | 0.1536% |
| 1978 | #97 | 2,772 | 0.1688% |
| 1977 | #92 | 2,939 | 0.1788% |
| 1976 | #86 | 3,067 | 0.1955% |
| 1975 | #80 | 3,323 | 0.2128% |
| 1974 | #81 | 3,216 | 0.2045% |
| 1973 | #78 | 3,348 | 0.2148% |
| 1972 | #68 | 4,001 | 0.2467% |
| 1971 | #62 | 4,889 | 0.2764% |
| 1970 | #57 | 5,480 | 0.2949% |
| 1969 | #54 | 5,517 | 0.3085% |
| 1968 | #52 | 5,875 | 0.3380% |
| 1967 | #50 | 6,221 | 0.3567% |
| 1966 | #49 | 6,570 | 0.3684% |
| 1965 | #48 | 6,818 | 0.3665% |
| 1964 | #50 | 7,196 | 0.3611% |
| 1963 | #52 | 7,879 | 0.3880% |
| 1962 | #52 | 8,199 | 0.3963% |
| 1961 | #53 | 8,301 | 0.3908% |
| 1960 | #52 | 7,999 | 0.3752% |
| 1959 | #53 | 7,565 | 0.3544% |
| 1958 | #57 | 6,948 | 0.3274% |
| 1957 | #71 | 5,858 | 0.2715% |
| 1956 | #85 | 4,669 | 0.2207% |
| 1955 | #93 | 3,752 | 0.1822% |
| 1954 | #105 | 3,350 | 0.1643% |
| 1953 | #117 | 2,771 | 0.1405% |
| 1952 | #134 | 2,185 | 0.1124% |
| 1951 | #141 | 1,930 | 0.1025% |
| 1950 | #149 | 1,758 | 0.0982% |
| 1949 | #139 | 1,985 | 0.1119% |
| 1948 | #125 | 2,269 | 0.1293% |
| 1947 | #126 | 2,280 | 0.1246% |
| 1946 | #129 | 1,972 | 0.1214% |
| 1945 | #129 | 1,639 | 0.1218% |
| 1944 | #143 | 1,494 | 0.1096% |
| 1943 | #145 | 1,455 | 0.1019% |
| 1942 | #145 | 1,408 | 0.1019% |
| 1941 | #145 | 1,225 | 0.0997% |
| 1940 | #142 | 1,233 | 0.1064% |
| 1939 | #140 | 1,175 | 0.1062% |
| 1938 | #153 | 1,058 | 0.0954% |
| 1937 | #160 | 923 | 0.0865% |
| 1936 | #160 | 892 | 0.0860% |
| 1935 | #162 | 882 | 0.0847% |
| 1934 | #168 | 841 | 0.0814% |
| 1933 | #171 | 810 | 0.0817% |
| 1932 | #170 | 856 | 0.0820% |
| 1931 | #170 | 814 | 0.0783% |
| 1930 | #163 | 912 | 0.0831% |
| 1929 | #165 | 874 | 0.0813% |
| 1928 | #160 | 955 | 0.0862% |
| 1927 | #153 | 1,033 | 0.0917% |
| 1926 | #157 | 1,011 | 0.0910% |
| 1925 | #158 | 977 | 0.0876% |
| 1924 | #156 | 1,034 | 0.0913% |
| 1923 | #150 | 1,026 | 0.0936% |
| 1922 | #137 | 1,146 | 0.1053% |
| 1921 | #134 | 1,196 | 0.1086% |
| 1920 | #136 | 1,146 | 0.1077% |
| 1919 | #136 | 1,097 | 0.1119% |
| 1918 | #135 | 1,163 | 0.1148% |
| 1917 | #131 | 1,111 | 0.1200% |
| 1916 | #132 | 1,054 | 0.1184% |
| 1915 | #130 | 1,016 | 0.1197% |
| 1914 | #138 | 733 | 0.1119% |
| 1913 | #147 | 508 | 0.0991% |
| 1912 | #153 | 394 | 0.0916% |
| 1911 | #162 | 207 | 0.0916% |
| 1910 | #151 | 212 | 0.1092% |
| 1909 | #160 | 155 | 0.0945% |
| 1908 | #163 | 142 | 0.0920% |
| 1907 | #160 | 139 | 0.0947% |
| 1906 | #189 | 96 | 0.0721% |
| 1905 | #204 | 86 | 0.0650% |
| 1904 | #200 | 87 | 0.0679% |
| 1903 | #200 | 78 | 0.0654% |
| 1902 | #208 | 74 | 0.0603% |
| 1901 | #221 | 62 | 0.0582% |
| 1900 | #194 | 101 | 0.0671% |
| 1899 | #265 | 42 | 0.0395% |
| 1898 | #247 | 51 | 0.0416% |
| 1897 | #237 | 54 | 0.0479% |
| 1896 | #245 | 56 | 0.0468% |
| 1895 | #271 | 43 | 0.0366% |
| 1894 | #252 | 48 | 0.0415% |
| 1893 | #271 | 42 | 0.0374% |
| 1892 | #264 | 47 | 0.0385% |
| 1891 | #222 | 53 | 0.0524% |
| 1890 | #278 | 39 | 0.0351% |
| 1889 | #243 | 45 | 0.0407% |
| 1888 | #233 | 57 | 0.0472% |
| 1887 | #253 | 40 | 0.0394% |
| 1886 | #319 | 29 | 0.0262% |
| 1885 | #295 | 33 | 0.0306% |
| 1884 | #268 | 41 | 0.0358% |
| 1883 | #293 | 32 | 0.0306% |
| 1882 | #255 | 46 | 0.0405% |
| 1881 | #267 | 36 | 0.0357% |
| 1880 | #261 | 42 | 0.0380% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
