Arthur vs Ferdinand
Arthur and Ferdinandcompared 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 Ferdinand #1951 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #83 and Ferdinand #224 among boys in Norway.
Arthur and Ferdinand over time
Arthur and Ferdinand appear together in 2 published lists, across 65 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Ferdinand in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Ferdinand reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Ferdinand changed places 12 times in Norway · Boys between 1987 and 2025, ending at #83 and #224.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Ferdinand were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 37 years, from 1987 to 2025, ending at #83 and #224.
List by list
Norway · Boys37 shared years, 1987–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Ferdinand in 13.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #74 in 2020, Ferdinand #167 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #83, Ferdinand #224.
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Ferdinand in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Ferdinand #1048 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Ferdinand #1951.
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 | Ferdinand |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Art, Artie | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | Norway · Boys #224 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Arthur has a recorded origin (Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman); Ferdinand does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Ferdinand.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Ferdinand doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Ferdinand 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
Ferdinand
Popularity journey
First recorded1987
First recorded at #527 among boys in Norway in 1987 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1987–2025
Highest recorded position: #167 among boys in Norway, in 2010 (recorded 1987–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #224 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys