Arthur vs Dexter
Arthur and Dextercompared 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 Dexter #143 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2020, Arthur was ranked #21 and Dexter #304 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Dexter #404 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #47 and Dexter #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Arthur and Dexter over time
Arthur and Dexter appear together in 3 published lists, across 58 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Dexter in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Dexter 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Dexter in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Dexter #63 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Dexter #143.
Republic of Ireland · Boys16 shared years, 2009–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Dexter in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Dexter #286 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #47, Dexter #785.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 2008–2020
Arthur held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Dexter in 1.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #19 in 2019, Dexter #228 in 2014.
The order changed in 2009: Arthur moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #378 and #291; by 2009 that had become #293 and #329.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Arthur #21, Dexter #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 | Dexter |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #143 (2024) |
| 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); Dexter does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Dexter both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Dexter doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Dexter 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
Dexter
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #406 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #63 among boys in England and Wales, in 2013 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #143 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys