Arthur vs Blake
Arthur and Blakecompared 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 Blake #104 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Arthur was ranked #11 and Blake #58 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Blake #144 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Blake #41 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Blake #156 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Arthur and Blake over time
Arthur and Blake appear together in 4 published lists, across 95 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Blake 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.
Blake reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Arthur moved into the top 50 at #35 in 2019 as Blake fell out of it to #55, having been #40 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2009, Arthur moved ahead of Blake in England and Wales · Boys — #101 and #91 the year before became #93 and #101.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Blake changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #4 and #104.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Arthur and Blake averaged 34.7 places apart, ending at #4 and #104.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Blake were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 37 years, from 1983 to 2025, ending at #57 and #156.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Arthur #47 in 2024, Blake #94 in 2022.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys37 shared years, 1983–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Blake in 14.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Blake #94 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Blake #156.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Blake in 9.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Blake #56 in 2013.
The order changed in 2009: Arthur moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #101 and #91; by 2009 that had become #93 and #101.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Blake #104.
Northern Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 2004–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Blake in 10.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Blake #62 in 2013.
The order changed in 2016: Arthur moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #89 and #86; by 2016 that had become #57 and #100.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Blake #144.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 2014–2023
Arthur held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Blake in 5.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #11 in 2023, Blake #20 in 2016.
The order changed in 2019: Arthur moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #64 and #40; by 2019 that had become #35 and #55.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Arthur #11, Blake #58.
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 | Blake |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 #156 (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); Blake does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Blake both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Blake 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 Blake 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
Blake
Popularity journey
First recorded1982
First recorded at #82 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1982 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1993–2023
Highest recorded position: #14 among boys in New Zealand, in 2012 (recorded 1993–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls