Arthur vs Bartholomew
Arthur and Bartholomewcompared 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, Arthur was ranked #4 and Bartholomew #2671 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1995, Arthur was ranked #261 and Bartholomew #281 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Arthur and Bartholomew over time
Arthur and Bartholomew appear together in 2 published lists, across 59 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Bartholomew in 0.
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.
Bartholomew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Arthur in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
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 1994, Arthur moved ahead of Bartholomew in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #339 and #339 the year before became #180 and #299.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Bartholomew changed places 15 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 1995, ending at #261 and #281.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Arthur and Bartholomew averaged 28.1 places apart, ending at #261 and #281.
- Mirrored each other
Over 28 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Arthur rose about as far as Bartholomew fell — from #234 and #1104 in 1996 to #4 and #2671 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Bartholomew were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 31 years, from 1964 to 1995, ending at #261 and #281.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Arthur #91 in 1965, Bartholomew #81 in 1964.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys31 shared years, 1964–1995
Arthur held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Bartholomew in 8.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #91 in 1965, Bartholomew #81 in 1964.
The order changed in 1994: Arthur moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #339 and #339; by 1994 that had become #180 and #299.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Arthur #261, Bartholomew #281.
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Bartholomew in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Bartholomew #1052 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Bartholomew #2671.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Arthur
Pairs where Arthur shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Arthur vs Keith
In 1964 they stood at #98 and #96 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #57 and #577.
Arthur · Keith · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Arthur vs Colin
In 1964 they stood at #98 and #89 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #57 and #348.
Arthur · Colin · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Arthur vs Alfred
Arthur and Alfred changed places 18 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #83 and #26.
Arthur · Alfred · 72 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Arthur vs Gustav
Arthur and Gustav changed places 15 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #83 and #19.
Arthur · Gustav · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Side by side
| Field | Arthur | Bartholomew |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Meaning debated — no single origin is established with confidence. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɑɹθər/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 4 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Art, Artie | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2671 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 58/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Arthur has a recorded origin (Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman); Bartholomew does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Bartholomew.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Bartholomew doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Bartholomew a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
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
Bartholomew
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #81 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–1995
Highest recorded position: #81 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–1995).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2671 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys