Arthur
Say it: AR-thur
BoyMythology6 letters2 syllables
#57
in Ireland (2025)
#60 with spellings combined
95
babies in 2025
#50
best rank (2024)
1,955
babies since 1964
Up 63
10-year rank change
Arthur through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 95 | #60 |
| 2024 | 119 | #50 |
| 2023 | 91 | #73 |
| 2022 | 101 | #70 |
| 2021 | 105 | #69 |
| 2020 | 103 | #65 |
| 2019 | 84 | #82 |
| 2018 | 92 | #77 |
| 2017 | 80 | #91 |
| 2016 | 64 | #106 |
| 2015 | 55 | #123 |
| 2014 | 47 | #136 |
| 2013 | 47 | #135 |
| 2012 | 41 | #163 |
| 2011 | 40 | #170 |
| 2010 | 36 | #178 |
| 2009 | 25 | #220 |
| 2008 | 24 | #219 |
| 2007 | 21 | #220 |
| 2006 | 17 | #222 |
| 2005 | 15 | #224 |
| 2004 | 14 | #214 |
| 2003 | 13 | #214 |
| 2002 | 7 | #292 |
| 2001 | 14 | #191 |
| 2000 | 6 | #274 |
| 1999 | 4 | #330 |
| 1998 | 5 | #280 |
| 1997 | 11 | #224 |
| 1996 | 6 | #276 |
| 1995 | 6 | #261 |
| 1994 | 13 | #180 |
| 1993 | 3 | #339 |
| 1992 | 12 | #192 |
| 1991 | 8 | #216 |
| 1990 | 15 | #175 |
| 1989 | 10 | #190 |
| 1988 | 12 | #179 |
| 1987 | 15 | #172 |
| 1986 | 13 | #181 |
| 1985 | 13 | #177 |
| 1984 | 14 | #174 |
| 1983 | 16 | #164 |
| 1982 | 12 | #188 |
| 1981 | 11 | #202 |
| 1980 | 23 | #146 |
| 1979 | 14 | #181 |
| 1978 | 13 | #184 |
| 1977 | 17 | #170 |
| 1976 | 18 | #167 |
| 1975 | 17 | #168 |
| 1974 | 19 | #159 |
| 1973 | 22 | #145 |
| 1972 | 23 | #143 |
| 1971 | 23 | #140 |
| 1970 | 16 | #157 |
| 1969 | 28 | #115 |
| 1968 | 32 | #105 |
| 1967 | 26 | #110 |
| 1966 | 36 | #101 |
| 1965 | 42 | #91 |
| 1964 | 31 | #98 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Arthur mean?
Uncertain, often linked with "bear"
Brittonic Celtic, through medieval Latin Arthurus, probably linked with Welsh arth (bear).
Say it right
ARthur
In Ireland the "th" is often softened towards a "t", so AR-tur is common.
The story of Arthur
Nobody is sure where Arthur comes from. The most common explanation links it with the Welsh word arth, bear, through the medieval Latin form Arthurus. Another idea traces it to the Roman family name Artorius. Either way, the name spread across Europe because of King Arthur, the legendary British ruler of medieval romance.
Ireland has famous Arthurs of its own. Arthur Guinness took over the brewery at St James’s Gate in Dublin in 1759, and Arthur Griffith founded Sinn Féin in 1905.
In the 1960s Arthur sat around the edge of the Irish top 100. It then became rare, with only six boys given the name in 2000, before a strong return in the 2010s. Its best year so far was 2024, when 119 boys were named Arthur and it reached number 47 on the official CSO list. It is more popular still in Northern Ireland, where it was 9th in 2025, its highest place there.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Arthur (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Arthur
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
ArtArtie
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Arthur | 95 | 1,955 |
In Northern Ireland
#9 in 2025 with 101 babies. Best rank #9 (2025); 942 babies since 2004.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.