Arthur vs Edward
Arthur and Edwardcompared 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 Edward #31 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Arthur was ranked #11 and Edward #73 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Edward #177 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #19 and Edward #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Edward #181 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Edward #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #83 and Edward #189 among boys in Norway.
Arthur and Edward over time
Arthur and Edward appear together in 6 published lists, across 213 years of shared records. Edward held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Arthur in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Edward reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 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 2017, Arthur moved ahead of Edward in England and Wales · Boys — #30 and #23 the year before became #19 and #23.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Edward changed places 24 times in Norway · Boys between 1950 and 2025, ending at #83 and #189.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Edward were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 69 years, from 1950 to 2025, ending at #83 and #189.
List by list
Norway · Boys69 shared years, 1950–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Edward in 20.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #74 in 2020, Edward #168 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #83, Edward #189.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Edward in 53.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Edward #17 in 1965.
The order changed in 2017: Arthur moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #106 and #90; by 2017 that had become #91 and #101.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Edward #125.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Edward in 21.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Edward #23 in 2016.
The order changed in 2017: Arthur moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #30 and #23; by 2017 that had become #19 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Edward #31.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 2004–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Edward in 10.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Edward #107 in 2019.
The order changed in 2015: Arthur moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #145 and #118; by 2015 that had become #89 and #129.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Edward #177.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys17 shared years, 1952–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Edward in 12.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #18 in 2024, Edward #42 in 2020.
The order changed in 2021: Arthur moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #44 and #42; by 2021 that had become #27 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #19, Edward #75.
New Zealand · Boys16 shared years, 1954–2023
Arthur held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Edward in 11.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #11 in 2023, Edward #51 in 1955.
The order changed in 2019: Arthur moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #64 and #63; by 2019 that had become #35 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Arthur #11, Edward #73.
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 | Edward |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #75 (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); Edward does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Edward both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Edward 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 Edward 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
Edward
Popularity journey
First recorded1950
First recorded at #324 among boys in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys