Arthur vs Billy
Arthur and Billycompared 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 Billy #127 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Arthur was ranked #11 and Billy #86 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Billy #256 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #19 and Billy #44 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Billy #234 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Billy #39 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Arthur and Billy over time
Arthur and Billy appear together in 3 published lists, across 94 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Billy in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Billy reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Arthur in 1. 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 took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Billy moved into the top 50 at #39 in 2025 as Arthur fell out of it to #57, having been #47 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2009, Arthur moved ahead of Billy in England and Wales · Boys — #101 and #98 the year before became #93 and #103.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Billy changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1970 and 2025, ending at #57 and #39.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Arthur rose about as far as Billy fell — from #234 and #71 in 1996 to #4 and #127 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Billy were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 45 years, from 1970 to 2025, ending at #57 and #39.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Arthur #47 in 2024, Billy #39 in 2025.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys45 shared years, 1970–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Billy in 29.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Billy #39 in 2025.
The order changed in 2025: Billy moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #47 and #56; by 2025 that had become #57 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Billy #39.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Billy in 13.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Billy #68 in 1998.
The order changed in 2009: Arthur moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #101 and #98; by 2009 that had become #93 and #103.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Billy #127.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 2004–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Billy in 5.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Billy #169 in 2015.
The order changed in 2010: Arthur moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #293 and #224; by 2010 that had become #248 and #267.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Billy #256.
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 | Arthur | Billy |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Art, Artie | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #39 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Arthur has a recorded origin (Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman); Billy does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Billy both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Billy doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Billy 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
Billy
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #305 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1970–2025
Highest recorded position: #39 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025 (recorded 1970–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #44 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys