Arthur

Meaning: Uncertain; possibly bear
Origin: Welsh — From the name of the legendary King Arthur

Nicknames: Art, Artie, Arty

Boy's name · #87 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Popularity over time

Arthur holds its lane: charted since 1880 and rarely far from where it stands today (#87 in 2025). About 549,000 boys have carried it along the way. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Arthur is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 51 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

Arthur is especially popular in Belgium, England & Wales, and France.

#2 in Belgium (2025) · #5 in England & Wales (2025) · #7 in Brazil (2025, through 23 Dec 2025, girls and boys combined) · #7 in France (2025) · #9 in N. Ireland (2025) · #11 in Australia (QLD) (2025) · #11 in New Zealand (2025) · #12 in Denmark (2025) · #14 in Canada (2025) · #19 in Australia (NSW) (2025) · #19 in Scotland (2025) · #22 in Australia (VIC) (2025) and 11 more.

Famous Arthurs

Arthur Conan Doyle — British writer and physician (1859–1930)
Arthur Schopenhauer — German philosopher (1788–1860)
Arthur Rimbaud — French poet (1854–1891)
Arthur C. Clarke — British science fiction writer, inventor, and futurist (1917–2008)
Arthur Miller — American playwright and essayist (1915–2005)
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington — British Army officer and statesman (1769–1852)
Arthur Ashe — American tennis player (1943–1993)
Arthur Antunes Coimbra — Brazilian footballer and manager (born 1953)
Arthur Guinness — Irish brewer and the founder of the Guinness brewery business and family (1725–1803)
Arthur Balfour — Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1902 to 1905 (1848–1930)

In stories & tradition

King Arthur — Legendary king of the Britons
Arthur (Aquaman) — DC Comics superhero
Arthur Weasley — Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)

What Arthurs become

Among 10,320 notable people named Arthur:

Military figures appear 2.23× more often than among typical names — e.g. Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, British Army officer and statesman (1769–1852).

Similar names: Arturo · Oscar · Harvey · Warren · Clyde · Roy

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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