Arthur vs Denis
Arthur and Deniscompared 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 Denis #434 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Denis #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Denis #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1954, Arthur was ranked #80 and Denis #82 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #81 and Denis #423 among boys in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1955, Arthur was ranked #83 and Denis #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Arthur and Denis over time
Arthur and Denis appear together in 4 published lists, across 154 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Denis 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.
Denis reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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.
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 Denis in Northern Ireland · Boys — #231 and #231 the year before became #161 and #403.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Denis changed places 10 times in Norway · Boys between 1970 and 2024, ending at #81 and #423.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Denis were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 49 years, from 1970 to 2024, ending at #81 and #423.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Arthur #3 in 2020, Denis #262 in 2020.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Denis in 47.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Denis #21 in 1964.
The order changed in 2012: Arthur moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #170 and #165; by 2012 that had become #163 and #188.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Denis #232.
Norway · Boys49 shared years, 1970–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Denis in 11.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #81 in 2022, Denis #249 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #81, Denis #423.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Denis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Denis #262 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Denis #434.
Northern Ireland · Boys14 shared years, 2004–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Denis in 3.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Denis #231 in 2011.
The order changed in 2012: Arthur moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #231 and #231; by 2012 that had become #161 and #403.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Denis #305.
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 | Denis |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (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); Denis does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Denis both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Denis 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 Denis 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
Denis
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #65 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #21 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys