Arthur vs Freddie
Arthur and Freddiecompared 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 Freddie #13 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Arthur was ranked #11 and Freddie #90 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Freddie #17 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Freddie #25 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Freddie #52 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Arthur and Freddie over time
Arthur and Freddie appear together in 3 published lists, across 70 years of shared records. Freddie held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Arthur in 1.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 2025, Freddie moved ahead of Arthur in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #47 and #51 the year before became #57 and #52.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Freddie changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 2003 and 2025, ending at #57 and #52.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Arthur and Freddie averaged 32.1 places apart, ending at #4 and #13.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Arthur #3 in 2020, Freddie #10 in 2022.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Freddie in 17.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Freddie #10 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Freddie #13.
Republic of Ireland · Boys22 shared years, 2003–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Freddie in 4.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Freddie #51 in 2024.
The order changed in 2025: Freddie moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #47 and #51; by 2025 that had become #57 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Freddie #52.
Northern Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 2005–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Freddie in 13.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Freddie #15 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Freddie #17.
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 | Freddie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Meaning debated — no single origin is established with confidence. | Peaceful ruler. |
| Origin | Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman | Germanic, via Frederick |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɑɹθər/ | /ˈfɹɛdi/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Art, Artie | Freddy, Frederick |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #52 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | high |
What the data shows
- Arthur is recorded with a Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman origin, while Freddie is recorded with a Germanic, via Frederick origin.
- Arthur and Freddie both have 2 syllables.
- Arthur's recorded meaning differs from Freddie's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
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
Freddie
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #2350 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in England and Wales, in 2022 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #52 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys