Arthur vs Caleb
Arthur and Calebcompared 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 Caleb #75 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Arthur was ranked #11 and Caleb #45 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Caleb #26 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #18 and Caleb #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Caleb #42 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Caleb #108 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Arthur and Caleb over time
Arthur and Caleb appear together in 4 published lists, across 93 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Caleb 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 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 2008, Arthur moved ahead of Caleb in England and Wales · Boys — #135 and #121 the year before became #101 and #109.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Caleb changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1983 and 2025, ending at #57 and #108.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Arthur and Caleb averaged 41.3 places apart, ending at #4 and #75.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Caleb were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 34 years, from 1983 to 2025, ending at #57 and #108.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Arthur #14 in 2023, Caleb #20 in 2023.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1983–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Caleb in 14.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Caleb #91 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Caleb #108.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Caleb in 11.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Caleb #72 in 2023.
The order changed in 2008: Arthur moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #135 and #121; by 2008 that had become #101 and #109.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Caleb #75.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 2004–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Caleb in 13.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Caleb #20 in 2023.
The order changed in 2018: Arthur moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #42 and #21; by 2018 that had become #21 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Caleb #26.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 2014–2023
Arthur held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Caleb in 4.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #11 in 2023, Caleb #42 in 2020.
The order changed in 2018: Arthur moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #72 and #50; by 2018 that had become #64 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Arthur #11, Caleb #45.
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 | Caleb |
|---|---|---|
| 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 #108 (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); Caleb does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Caleb both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Caleb 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 Caleb 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
Caleb
Popularity journey
First recorded1982
First recorded at #98 among boys in New Zealand in 1982 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1982–2023
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1999 (recorded 1982–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #108 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys