Arthur vs Clifford
Arthur and Cliffordcompared 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 2025, Arthur was ranked #5 and Clifford #3684 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1992, Arthur was ranked #192 and Clifford #337 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Arthur and Clifford over time
Arthur and Clifford appear together in 2 published lists, across 52 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Clifford in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1996–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Clifford in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Clifford #976 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #5, Clifford #3684.
Republic of Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 1966–1992
Arthur held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Clifford in 3.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #101 in 1966, Clifford #142 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Arthur #192, Clifford #337.
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 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
- Arthur vs Ronald
Arthur and Ronald changed places 15 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2012, ending at #163 and #718.
Arthur · Ronald · 34 shared years, 1964–2012 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Side by side
| Field | Arthur | Clifford |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #5 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #3684 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 76/100 |
| 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); Clifford does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Clifford both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Clifford 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 Clifford 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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in England and Wales, in 2020 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #5 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Clifford
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #199 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1966–1992
Highest recorded position: #142 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1980 (recorded 1966–1992).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3684 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys