Arthur
How to say it: AHR-thur · /ˈɑrθər/
Possibly from Celtic 'artos' (bear) + 'viros' (man), or from Latin 'Artorius'. Legendary name of King Arthur of Britain.
Arthur was the 101st most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 3,847 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1880s, its births are up 3.1-fold in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #45 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #101 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 3,847 |
| Share of births | 1 in 861 |
| Peak decade | 1880s |
| Change over 10 years | ×3.1 |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #45 |
| In France, 2025 | #11 among boys’ names, 2,875 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Long ago at its height in the 1880s, Arthur still holds on in solid use far under that level. Renewed growth is likely ahead.
What goes with it
Warm and breathy with soft weight across two syllables, Arthur feels strong and travels well with a literary note. Artie provides a cozy short version and Henry sits in kindred style.
Middle names that flow with Arthur →
Nicknames
- Art
- Artie
Honouring a Arthur in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Arthur is about 1 in 36.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Norwegian, Swedish, Welsh.
In France: #11 for boys in 2025.
England and Wales: #5. Ireland: #57.
Famous people named Arthur
- Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930)British writer and physician
- Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860)German philosopher
- Arthur Rimbaud (1854–1891)French poet
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Keep exploring
About as popular as Arthur
In the same lists
Find names you'll both love, starting with Arthur
The one-minute style quiz.