Variant spelling of Anthony, from an ancient Roman family name of uncertain original meaning.
Anthoni is a variant spelling of the venerable Roman name Anthony, derived from the ancient gens Antonia — one of the most distinguished patrician families of the Roman Republic. The name's ultimate origin is likely Etruscan, though its exact pre-Latin roots remain uncertain. Interestingly, the 'h' that appears in many English spellings of Anthony has no ancient basis: it was inserted during the Renaissance by scholars who mistakenly believed the name derived from the Greek anthos, meaning 'flower.'
The error stuck, enriching the name with a botanical association it never originally possessed. The name's most dramatic ancient bearer was Marcus Antonius — Mark Antony — the Roman general and statesman whose passionate alliance with Cleopatra and rivalry with Octavian became one of history's great tragic narratives, immortalized by Shakespeare in Antony and Cleopatra. Saint Anthony of Padua (1195–1231), the Franciscan friar renowned for his eloquence and miracles, gave the name its powerful Catholic resonance; he remains one of the most popular saints in the world, patron of lost things and the poor.
Saint Anthony the Great, the Desert Father of early Christianity, added yet another layer of spiritual heritage. The spelling Anthoni, replacing the traditional 'y' ending, reflects the ongoing creative adaptation of classical names in contemporary naming culture. Variant spellings allow families to honor deep historical lineages while giving a name a slightly individualized character.
The form is particularly common in Scandinavian countries, where Antoni and Anthoni have long been natural adaptations. Whether in boardrooms or baptismal records, Anthoni retains the authority and warmth of its two-thousand-year history.