Arthur vs Colin
Arthur and Colincompared 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 Colin #1000 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Arthur was ranked #18 and Colin #433 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1960, Arthur was ranked #99 and Colin #27 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1961, Arthur was ranked #97 and Colin #33 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Colin #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #83 and Colin #119 among boys in Norway.
Arthur and Colin over time
Arthur and Colin appear together in 5 published lists, across 154 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Colin in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Colin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2012, Arthur moved ahead of Colin in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #170 and #165 the year before became #163 and #169.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Colin changed places 4 times in Norway · Boys between 1946 and 2025, ending at #83 and #119.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Colin were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 42 years, from 1946 to 2025, ending at #83 and #119.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #98 and #89 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #57 and #348.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Colin in 48.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Colin #38 in 1985.
The order changed in 2012: Arthur moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #170 and #165; by 2012 that had become #163 and #169.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Colin #348.
Norway · Boys42 shared years, 1946–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Colin in 2.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #74 in 2020, Colin #119 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #83, Colin #119.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Colin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Colin #311 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Colin #1000.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 2004–2021
Arthur held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Colin in 5.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #18 in 2021, Colin #189 in 2007.
The order changed in 2011: Arthur moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #248 and #248; by 2011 that had become #231 and #245.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Arthur #18, Colin #433.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys8 shared years, 1952–1960
Arthur held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Colin in 8.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #65 in 1953, Colin #22 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1960: Arthur #99, Colin #27.
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 | Colin |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | Norway · Boys #119 (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); Colin does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Colin both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Colin doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Colin 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
Colin
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #326 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1983
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1983).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #119 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys