boy's name
Arthur
AR-thur
- Origin Celtic
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 6
- Popularity Top 100 (E&W)
- Births on record 754,876
the United States
#87
2025 births
Arthur is a boy's name of disputed origin. It is variously derived from the Celtic art, meaning bear, from the Roman family name Artorius, and from a compound meaning bear-king. No derivation has been established, and the debate is centuries old.
- Arthur is a name of Celtic origin.
- Peaked in US records in 1921, when 10,579 babies were given the name.
- After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival in US records.
- Today about 1 in 164 babies in England and Wales is given this name.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Arthur over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. Arthur is more popular in England and Wales — see the country table below. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 16,246 |
| 1890s | 16,431 |
| 1900s | 15,505 |
| 1910s | 67,812 |
| 1920s | 97,818 |
| 1930s | 68,275 |
| 1940s | 74,329 |
| 1950s | 66,028 |
| 1960s | 39,910 |
| 1970s | 22,303 |
| 1980s | 16,951 |
| 1990s | 11,822 |
| 2000s | 8,342 |
| 2010s | 12,632 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 17,526 |
What Arthur means
Arthur has no settled meaning. The bear reading, from the Celtic art, is the most commonly given and would make it a warrior name; the Roman Artorius reading would make it a clan name with no recoverable sense.
Where Arthur comes from
Arthur's etymology has been argued over for as long as the legends have been told. The most popular derivation takes the Celtic art, meaning bear, possibly compounded with a word for king or man, giving bear-king — attractive because bears symbolised strength in Celtic culture. A competing and equally serious proposal derives it from the Roman gens name Artorius, which would fit theories placing a historical Arthur among Romano-British commanders of the fifth or sixth century. A third connects it to Arcturus, the bright star whose Greek name means guardian of the bear. Whatever its root, the name's standing rests on the legendary king, whose stories were assembled by Geoffrey of Monmouth in the twelfth century and reshaped repeatedly since.
Arthur in use
Arthur's three candidate origins — Celtic bear, Roman clan name, and a star name — have been debated for over a century without resolution.
How popular is Arthur?
In 2025, Arthur was given to 3,211 babies in England and Wales, ranking #5 that year. It is one of the most popular names in England and Wales.
Where Arthur is used
England and Wales figures withhold any name given to fewer than three babies in a year. The historical chart above uses US records, the only series running back to 1880. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Arthur
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Arthur also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Arthur over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
3 nicknames for Arthur
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Arthur in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Arthur
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Arthur — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Arthur
What does the name Arthur mean?
Its origin is disputed — the most common reading gives "bear" from the Celtic art, but a Roman derivation is equally serious.
Was King Arthur real?
The legends were assembled by Geoffrey of Monmouth in the twelfth century; whether a historical figure lies behind them is unresolved.
What are nicknames for Arthur?
Art and Artie are the most common short forms.
How popular is the name Arthur?
In 2025, Arthur was given to 3,211 babies in England and Wales, ranking #5 that year. It is one of the most popular names in England and Wales.
Is Arthur a girl's or a boy's name?
Arthur is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Arthur?
Arthur has 2 syllables.
When was Arthur most popular?
Arthur peaked in 1921, when 10,579 babies were given the name. After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
Is Arthur a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Arthur currently ranks #5 in the United States. After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.