Arthur vs Cael
Arthur and Caelcompared 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 2018, Arthur was ranked #7 and Cael #3011 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Cael #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2016, Arthur was ranked #106 and Cael #601 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Arthur and Cael over time
Arthur and Cael appear together in 2 published lists, across 32 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Cael in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Cael 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2018
Arthur held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Cael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #7 in 2018, Cael #1506 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Arthur #7, Cael #3011.
Republic of Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 2001–2016
Arthur held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Cael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #106 in 2016, Cael #317 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Arthur #106, Cael #601.
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 | Cael |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Art, Artie | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | Northern Ireland · Boys #339 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| 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); Cael does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Cael.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Cael doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Cael 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
Cael
Popularity journey
First recorded1997
First recorded at #2337 among boys in England and Wales in 1997 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2011–2024
Highest recorded position: #311 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2011 (recorded 2011–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #339 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2024.
Northern Ireland · Boys