Anthony

Anthony, versatile and perennially popular, is comfortable anywhere, from the streets of Little Italy to mainline Philadelphia, and is still one of the Top 15 names in the country, given to more than 13,000 boy babies last year. The name of the patron saint of Italy and of the poor, one of the best-loved saints of the Catholic church, Anthony still retains some of its Latinate charm, as does its nickname Tony. Anthony also has Shakespearean cred via "Anthony and Cleopatra" and several other plays--often in the Italian Antonio form.

In England, whether it's spelled Anthony or Antony, the name is often pronounced without the "h"--just as it can be heard on the sidewalks of New York.

Well-known bearers of the name include classic actors Anthony Hopkins, Anthony Quinn, and Antonio Banderas; singers Tony Bennett and Anthony Kiedis; chef/author Anthony Bourdain, former British prime minister Tony Blair; and skateboarder Tony Hawk.

Anthony's feminine form Antonia has more style value now.