Boy · Latin (pet form of Antony) · Christian
Tony
TonySay it TOH-nee
- Meaning today
- Priceless, praiseworthy
- Original meaning
- "pet form of Antony, from Antonius, a Roman family name" Lewis & Short, s.v. Antonius
- Say it
- TOH-nee
- Other spellings
- Toni
Tony
Stays on your phone. A family name is never required.
Tony meaning
Tony is a Christian boy's name of Latin origin (pet form of Antony).
Meaning today
Priceless, praiseworthy
Original Latin (pet form of Antony) meaning
"pet form of Antony, from Antonius, a Roman family name"
Source: Lewis & Short, A Latin Dictionary (1879), s.v. Antonius · entry Antonius · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
Tony is the short form of Antony or Anthony, from Antonius, the name of the Roman family to which Mark Antony belonged. Lewis & Short record Antonius only as a family name and give no meaning for it. Name lists say 'priceless' or 'praiseworthy', and the spelling with h came from a mistaken link with Greek anthos, 'flower'; none of these is proven. Christians took the name from St Antony of Egypt, the first great monk, and St Anthony of Padua, one of the most loved saints in India. In India Tony is also given as a full name in Christian families, not only as a nickname.
References: Lewis & Short, Antonius (alatius.com) · Wikipedia, Anthony of Padua
Famous namesakes
- St Anthony of Padua, Franciscan friar and saint
Popularity abroad
- #784 United States, boys 2025 (up 25 from 809 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Tony · Toni