Arthur vs Frank
Arthur and Frankcompared 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 Frank #194 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Frank #256 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Frank #478 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Frank #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1955, Arthur was ranked #76 and Frank #100 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1960, Arthur was ranked #99 and Frank #79 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #83 and Frank #459 among boys in Norway.
Arthur and Frank over time
Arthur and Frank appear together in 5 published lists, across 193 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Frank in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Frank reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Arthur in 1. 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 Frank changed places 18 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #57 and #286.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Frank were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 76 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #83 and #459.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Arthur #3 in 2020, Frank #155 in 2018.
List by list
Norway · Boys76 shared years, 1945–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Frank in 52.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #74 in 2020, Frank #22 in 1968.
The order changed in 2002: Arthur moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #290 and #272; by 2002 that had become #307 and #308.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #83, Frank #459.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Frank in 19.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Frank #139 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Frank #286.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Frank in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Frank #155 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Frank #194.
Northern Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 2004–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Frank in 3.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Frank #185 in 2019.
The order changed in 2011: Arthur moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #293 and #293; by 2011 that had become #231 and #375.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Frank #256.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys8 shared years, 1952–1960
Arthur held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Frank in 3.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #65 in 1953, Frank #74 in 1959.
The order changed in 1958: Frank moved ahead. In 1957 they stood at #82 and #86; by 1958 that had become #93 and #81.
Most recent shared year, 1960: Arthur #99, Frank #79.
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 | Frank |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #286 (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); Frank does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Frank.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Frank 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 Frank 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
Frank
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #61 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in Norway, in 1968 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #459 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys