Arthur vs Evan
Arthur and Evancompared 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 Evan #178 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Evan #125 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Evan #181 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Evan #80 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #83 and Evan #350 among boys in Norway.
Arthur and Evan over time
Arthur and Evan appear together in 3 published lists, across 106 years of shared records. Evan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Arthur in 0.
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.
Evan 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 2011, Arthur moved ahead of Evan in England and Wales · Boys — #82 and #76 the year before became #68 and #82.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Evan changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1969 and 2025, ending at #57 and #80.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Evan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 57 years, from 1969 to 2025, ending at #57 and #80.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1969–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Evan in 46.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Evan #23 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Evan #80.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Evan in 15.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Evan #70 in 2009.
The order changed in 2011: Arthur moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #82 and #76; by 2011 that had become #68 and #82.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Evan #178.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 2004–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Evan in 10.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Evan #79 in 2010.
The order changed in 2015: Arthur moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #145 and #132; by 2015 that had become #89 and #117.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Evan #125.
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 | Evan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #80 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| 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); Evan does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Evan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Evan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Evan 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
Evan
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #291 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1969–2025
Highest recorded position: #23 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2007 (recorded 1969–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #350 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys