Anthony

Anthony is a Latin name derived from the Roman family name Antonius, whose ultimate origin is uncertain but may trace back to an Etruscan or Greek root, possibly connected to the Greek anthos, meaning flower. The name gained widespread use throughout the Roman world and was borne by the celebrated general and triumvir Mark Antony, as well as by Saint Anthony of Padua and the Egyptian hermit Saint Anthony the Great, whose veneration helped cement the name's enduring popularity in Christian Europe. The English spelling with an intrusive h, which appeared in the 16th century under the mistaken belief that the name derived from the Greek anthos, distinguishes it from the more classically faithful Antony. Related forms include Antonio, Antoine, Anton, and Antonius.