Tony
Say it: TOH-nee
BoyMeans a short form of Anthony4 letters2 syllables
#372
in Ireland (2025)
#360 with spellings combined
10
babies in 2025
#150
best rank (1987)
797
babies since 1967
Down 80
10-year rank change
Tony through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | #360 |
| 2024 | 13 | #293 |
| 2023 | 19 | #230 |
| 2022 | 12 | #338 |
| 2021 | 13 | #315 |
| 2020 | 12 | #332 |
| 2019 | 11 | #341 |
| 2018 | 16 | #280 |
| 2017 | 16 | #281 |
| 2016 | 13 | #329 |
| 2015 | 16 | #280 |
| 2014 | 9 | #403 |
| 2013 | 11 | #352 |
| 2012 | 25 | #227 |
| 2011 | 15 | #302 |
| 2010 | 25 | #220 |
| 2009 | 16 | #283 |
| 2008 | 19 | #247 |
| 2007 | 18 | #234 |
| 2006 | 9 | #315 |
| 2005 | 19 | #196 |
| 2004 | 25 | #159 |
| 2003 | 13 | #214 |
| 2002 | 25 | #152 |
| 2001 | 13 | #201 |
| 2000 | 11 | #206 |
| 1999 | 16 | #177 |
| 1998 | 15 | #168 |
| 1997 | 17 | #174 |
| 1996 | 19 | #160 |
| 1995 | 16 | #168 |
| 1994 | 15 | #167 |
| 1993 | 11 | #199 |
| 1992 | 13 | #188 |
| 1991 | 14 | #175 |
| 1990 | 19 | #161 |
| 1989 | 16 | #165 |
| 1988 | 13 | #175 |
| 1987 | 21 | #150 |
| 1986 | 20 | #152 |
| 1985 | 15 | #166 |
| 1984 | 14 | #174 |
| 1983 | 16 | #164 |
| 1982 | 19 | #161 |
| 1981 | 11 | #202 |
| 1980 | 14 | #191 |
| 1979 | 10 | #211 |
| 1978 | 11 | #198 |
| 1977 | 6 | #253 |
| 1976 | 8 | #222 |
| 1975 | 7 | #236 |
| 1974 | 4 | #288 |
| 1973 | 8 | #227 |
| 1972 | 9 | #207 |
| 1971 | 7 | #233 |
| 1970 | 6 | #235 |
| 1967 | 3 | #265 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Tony mean?
A short form of Anthony
English, a short form of Anthony, from the Roman family name Antonius.
Say it right
TOHnee
The story of Tony
Tony is a short form of Anthony, which goes back to Antonius, the family name of a Roman clan. The meaning of Antonius is not known. In Italy and Spain the same short form grew from Antonio, and in some Nordic countries Tony is also used for girls called Antonia.
Most Tonys in Ireland are Anthonys to their friends, but the short form has been registered as a full name for decades. The Tony Awards for theatre are named after Antoinette Perry, who was known as Tony.
Tony first appears in the CSO records in 1967. Its best rank was number 150 in 1987, and it had the most babies in 2002, with 25. It is still given to around a dozen boys a year. The CSO counts Tony and Anthony as separate names, and Anthony is far more common. In Northern Ireland Tony reached number 144 in 1998.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Tony (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Tony (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Tony | 10 | 797 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #144 (1998); 154 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.