Arthur vs Damian
Arthur and Damiancompared 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 Damian #271 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2020, Arthur was ranked #21 and Damian #304 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Damian #432 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Damian #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #83 and Damian #339 among boys in Norway.
Arthur and Damian over time
Arthur and Damian appear together in 4 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Damian in 1.
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.
Damian reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 2013, Arthur moved ahead of Damian in Northern Ireland · Boys — #231 and #231 the year before became #132 and #271.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Damian changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #57 and #223.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Damian were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 48 years, from 1968 to 2025, ending at #83 and #339.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Damian in 37.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Damian #46 in 1969.
The order changed in 2010: Arthur moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #220 and #201; by 2010 that had become #178 and #284.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Damian #223.
Norway · Boys48 shared years, 1968–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Damian in 21.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #74 in 2020, Damian #149 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #83, Damian #339.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Damian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Damian #253 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Damian #271.
Northern Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 2004–2020
Arthur held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Damian in 3.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #19 in 2019, Damian #231 in 2011.
The order changed in 2013: Arthur moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #231 and #231; by 2013 that had become #132 and #271.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Arthur #21, Damian #304.
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 | Damian |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #223 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| 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); Damian does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Damian both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Damian doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Damian 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
Damian
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #46 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1969 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #339 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys