Tony

A familiar name in the Anthony family

Tony is best known as a short form of Anthony, which comes from the Roman family name Antonius. The older name's meaning is unknown, although it is usually described as Etruscan in origin. Tony gives that ancient family a compact, two-syllable everyday form.

It can be used independently as a given name or as a nickname for Anthony. Tony also has a separate Albanian history as a familiar form of Dritan, Driton, or Arton. These longer names have their own origins, bringing more than one naming tradition into the same short spelling.

Pronunciation and related names

English Tony is normally TOH-nee, with the stress on the first syllable. Anthony and Antonio are especially recognizable full-name relatives in the Antonius family. Toni is another familiar spelling used in several languages, while Tonny and Tonni also occur.

The short form preserves the latter part of Anthony rather than its opening syllable.

Tony Bennett and the American songbook

Singer Tony Bennett gives the name a lasting connection with popular song and jazz. He recorded I Left My Heart in San Francisco in 1962, and the performance received the Record of the Year Grammy at the 1963 awards. It became a defining recording of his career.

His later work brought him together with other performers. Duets II received the 2012 Grammy for traditional pop vocal album, placing his voice in a series of musical partnerships. These recordings connect Tony with both midcentury popular music and a career that continued across later generations of listeners.

Tony Hawk on the ramp and in games

Skateboarder Tony Hawk supplies a different association. At the 1999 X Games, he became the first skateboarder to land a 900, a maneuver involving two and a half rotations in the air. The achievement became one of the most recognizable moments in the sport's history.

The same year brought the launch of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater with Activision. The game series carried his full professional name into homes around the world, extending its recognition beyond people who followed competitive skateboarding.

A fictional Tony

Marvel's Iron Man is Tony Stark, another widely recognized bearer. The character first appeared in Tales of Suspense number 39 in 1963. His familiar first name sits alongside a much more spectacular superhero identity, giving Tony a continuing role in comic-book culture.

Popularity in the United States

Tony's largest American count for boys came in 1961, with 8,306 births. Its best rank followed in 1965 at number 48. It ranked number 500 in 2015, number 630 in 2020, and number 784 in 2025, when 325 boys received the name.

How popular is Tony?

In 2025, Tony ranked #784 among boys in the United States, with 325 recorded uses. The U.S. birth records first list this spelling for boys in 1880; its largest annual count was 8,306 in 1961. Rankings count each spelling separately. They describe national use, so local familiarity can differ. The popularity chart shows whether the name has remained common, returned after a quieter period, or risen recently.