Anthon is a name of Greek origin, derived from the name Antony, which means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy." It is believed to have been derived from the Latin word "Antonius," which was likely an adjectival form of "Antiochus," meaning "unconquered" or "against" in ancient Greek.
The name Anthon has a long and storied history, with notable figures throughout history bearing this name. One of the most famous is Saint Anthony of Padua (1195-1231), a Portuguese Catholic priest and Franciscan friar who is considered one of the Church's most powerful preachers. He was canonized just over a month after his death, making him one of the fastest canonized saints in history.
Another notable figure with the name Anthon is Anthonie Palamedes (1559-1640), a Dutch mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the fields of astronomy, geometry, and trigonometry. He is also known for his work on the construction of regular polygons and polyhedra.
In literature, Anthon appears as a character in Charles Dickens' novel "Dombey and Son," published in 1848. The character's full name is Captain Anthony Grose, and he plays a significant role in the story as a friend and mentor to the protagonist, Paul Dombey.
Today, Anthon remains a relatively uncommon name but continues to be used by families around the world who appreciate its unique sound and rich history. It is often associated with strength, intelligence, and spirituality due to its association with notable historical figures such as Saint Anthony of Padua and Anthonie Palamedes.
Based on the statistics provided, it's clear that the name Anthon has seen fluctuations in popularity over the years in the United States.
The name first appeared in the top 1000 names list in 1916 with just five births recorded. The following year saw a slight increase to six births. However, this trend did not continue as there were only five births again in 1918. It wasn't until 1923 that we started seeing more consistency with eight births, followed by nine births the next year.
There was then a significant gap before Anthon appeared again on the list, with six births each in 1942 and 1944. This pattern of inconsistency continued throughout the decades, with no clear upward or downward trend.
The name Anthon peaked in popularity between 1973 and 1987, during which time there were more than ten births recorded annually. The highest number of births occurred in 1973 with fourteen babies named Anthon. However, this peak was short-lived as the number of births dropped significantly afterwards.
The early 2000s saw another brief resurgence for Anthon, with nine births recorded in both 2002 and 2003. But since then, the name has not featured prominently on the list, with five or fewer births annually.
Overall, it appears that Anthon has never been among the most popular names in the United States. Its popularity has ebbed and flowed over the years but remains relatively uncommon compared to other names.