Arthur

Arthur - A unique male name

Arthur appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #17. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Arthur and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Arthur? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Arthur. The baby boy name Arthur was given to 3,847 baby boys in 2025, ranking #87 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 381 baby boys were given this name - making this a unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Arthur peaked in popularity 114 years ago in 1912 on position 15.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Arthur, 1-5?

Arthur is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Arthur is currently topping the baby name charts in Vermont at position #21 - and is the least popular in Mississippi at position #189.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Arthur is where you live.

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Arthur origin and meaning

Celtic and Roman — origin disputed

Uncertain — proposed roots include Celtic artos, "bear", the Roman family name Artorius, and a Welsh combination meaning "bear hero"; none is proven

Arthur belongs first to legend: the king of Camelot, whose stories were written down in medieval Britain and France. Behind the legend the name's root is honestly unknown. It was a top American name into the 1920s, faded for decades, and is now reviving fast.

Origin uncertain

Arthur is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Arthur, pop culture references for the name Arthur and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Arthur

We've found the following names that sound similar to Arthur, sorted by popularity.

Arturo / Arther / Artur / Arthuro / Arthor / Aurther /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Arthur

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Arthur a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Arthur?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

AR-ther · /ˈɑːrθər/

Around the world

• Arturo (Spanish and Italian) — The Spanish and Italian form.
• Arthur (French) — Used as-is in French, pronounced ar-TUUR.
• Artur (Portuguese) — The Portuguese form.

Spellings and nicknames

• Arturo — The Spanish/Italian form, also used in America.

Nicknames: ArtArtie

Famous bearers

• King Arthur — Legendary British king of Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table (Legendary) Fictional
• Arthur Conan Doyle — Creator of Sherlock Holmes (1859–1930) Historical
• Arthur Ashe — Tennis champion and the first Black man to win Wimbledon (1943–1993) Historical

Style

ClassicLiteraryRoyalVintage revival

Why parents choose it

Parents are bringing Arthur back for its storybook gravity and gentle, grandfatherly warmth — from #162 in 2020 to #87 in 2025, the revival is well under way.

Worth knowing

• The 'bear' and 'king' meanings in name books go beyond the evidence — the honest answer is that Arthur's origin is unknown.