アンソニー
Your name
Anthony
in Japanese
The default way to write Anthony in Japanese is アンソニー — a phonetic katakana spelling that captures the sound and signals, instantly to a Japanese reader, that the name comes from elsewhere. But katakana is only one of three answers Japanese gives to a foreign name.
Below, we show all three. First the official katakana. Then a set of meaning kanji chosen to express what Anthony actually means at the root — From the Roman family name Antonius, of uncertain Etruscan origin. Finally a set of ateji, the playful tradition where the kanji match the sound and tell their own small story underneath.
Katakana — Phonetic
How Anthony is most commonly written in Japanese — used on official documents, business cards, and signage.
Meaning Kanji — Etymology
"Anthony" means: From the Roman family name Antonius, of uncertain Etruscan origin. Later folk etymology associated it with Greek 'anthos' meaning 'flower,' giving it the popular meaning of 'priceless one' or 'flourishing flower.'
華貴
Hanataka
華 (hana) = flower/splendor, evoking the 'anthos/flower' association; 貴 (taka) = noble/precious, capturing the 'priceless one' meaning.
尊咲
Takasaki
尊 (taka/son) = revered/priceless, reflecting the Roman noble lineage; 咲 (saki) = to bloom, echoing the flourishing flower imagery.
栄誉
Eiyo
栄 (ei) = flourish/glory, mirroring the 'flourishing' meaning; 誉 (yo) = honor/praise, reflecting the worthiness and esteem of the Antonius name.
Ateji — Sound + Meaning
Where the sound matches and the kanji tell their own small story. The Edo scholars and modern manga authors both played this game.
暗宋仁
Ansonii
A mystical scholar who walks in shadow with a kind heart.
杏想煮
Ansonii
A cute, whimsical reading: 'one who simmers in apricot-blossom dreams.'
安創偉
Ansoui
A cool, heroic combination: 'the peaceful creator of greatness.'
Not sure which form to use?
Katakana, meaning kanji, and ateji each belong to a different part of Japanese life — official paperwork, calligraphy and gifts, signatures and wordplay. Our full guide walks through when to reach for each one.
Read the guide: the three ways to write your name in Japanese →
Seven, drawn