Antonij – Name Meaning
The name Antonij is of Slavic origin and is derived from the Latin name Antonius. It is a masculine given name that has been popular in many countries throughout Europe, especially in the Slavic nations. The meaning of the name is “priceless” or “invaluable”, which makes it a great choice for parents looking for a meaningful name for their son.
History and Origin
The name Antonij has its roots in the Latin language, where it was originally spelled Antonius. This was a common Roman family name, derived from the Greek word “anthos”, which means flower. It was also used as a title of honor for Roman generals and emperors. In the Middle Ages, it became popular among Christians as a given name due to its association with Saint Anthony of Padua.
In Slavic countries, the spelling of the name changed slightly to Antonij. This version of the name has become very popular in Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and other Slavic nations. It is also used in some parts of Central and Eastern Europe.
Popularity
The popularity of the name Antonij varies greatly depending on which country you are looking at. In Russia, it is one of the top 10 most popular names for boys born between 2000 and 2019. In Ukraine, it is also quite popular and ranks within the top 20 names for boys born during this same time period. In Serbia and Croatia, it is less popular but still ranks within the top 100 names.
In other parts of Europe such as Germany and France, Antonij is not as widely used but still ranks within the top 500 names for boys born between 2000 and 2019.
Famous People Named Antonij
There are several famous people who have been given the name Antonij over the years. These include Russian actor Anton Gorodetsky; Ukrainian footballer Andriy Shevchenko; Slovenian basketball player Jure Zdovc; Croatian tennis player Ivan Ljubicic; Serbian footballer Nemanja Vidic; and Slovenian ski jumper Primoz Peterka.
Variations of the Name
The name Antonij can be shortened to Anto or Tony in English-speaking countries. Other variations include Antun (Croatia), Ante (Slovenia), Antti (Finland), Antonio (Spain) and Antoine (France).
