Alfred vs Arthur
Alfred and Arthurcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alfred was ranked #81 and Arthur #4 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alfred was ranked #272 and Arthur #14 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alfred was ranked #278 and Arthur #24 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alfred was ranked #26 and Arthur #83 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alfred was ranked #286 and Arthur #57 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alfred and Arthur over time
Alfred and Arthur appear together in 4 published lists, across 159 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alfred in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2004, Arthur moved ahead of Alfred in England and Wales · Boys — #125 and #168 the year before became #171 and #151.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alfred and Arthur changed places 18 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #26 and #83.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Alfred and Arthur averaged 59.2 places apart, ending at #81 and #4.
- Longest-running competitions
Alfred and Arthur were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 72 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #26 and #83.
List by list
Norway · Boys72 shared years, 1945–2025
Alfred held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Arthur in 23.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #18 in 2023, Arthur #74 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfred #26, Arthur #83.
Republic of Ireland · Boys45 shared years, 1964–2025
Alfred held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Arthur in 45.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #134 in 1964, Arthur #47 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfred #286, Arthur #57.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alfred held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Arthur in 21.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #76 in 2023, Arthur #3 in 2020.
The order changed in 2004: Arthur moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #125 and #168; by 2004 that had become #171 and #151.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alfred #81, Arthur #4.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 2008–2023
Alfred held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Arthur in 11.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #262 in 2009, Arthur #14 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alfred #272, Arthur #14.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Alfred | Arthur |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Meaning debated — no single origin is established with confidence. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɑɹθər/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Art, Artie |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #26 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Arthur has a recorded origin (Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman); Alfred does not have one recorded yet.
- Alfred and Arthur both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Alfred doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Alfred a "medium" Data Confidence level and Arthur a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Alfred
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #127 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in Norway, in 2023 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #26 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Arthur
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #153 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in England and Wales, in 2020 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #19 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys