Arthur vs Harley
Arthur and Harleycompared 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 Harley #148 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Arthur was ranked #11 and Harley #91 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Harley #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Harley #352 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Harley #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2017, Arthur was ranked #88 and Harley #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Arthur and Harley over time
Arthur and Harley appear together in 4 published lists, across 78 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Harley 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.
Harley reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 2013, Arthur moved ahead of Harley in England and Wales · Boys — #52 and #46 the year before became #43 and #49.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Arthur and Harley averaged 47.3 places apart, ending at #4 and #148.
- Mirrored each other
Over 21 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Arthur rose about as far as Harley fell — from #175 and #323 in 1990 to #57 and #509 in 2025.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Harley in 16.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Harley #45 in 2014.
The order changed in 2013: Arthur moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #52 and #46; by 2013 that had become #43 and #49.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Harley #148.
Republic of Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1990–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Harley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Harley #181 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Harley #509.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 2004–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Harley in 10.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Harley #90 in 2017.
The order changed in 2015: Arthur moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #145 and #105; by 2015 that had become #89 and #121.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Harley #278.
New Zealand · Boys8 shared years, 2014–2023
Arthur held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Harley in 2.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #11 in 2023, Harley #89 in 2020.
The order changed in 2016: Arthur moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #96 and #91; by 2016 that had become #84 and #100.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Arthur #11, Harley #91.
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 | Harley |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | Used for both boys and girls |
| 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 | 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (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); Harley does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Harley both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Harley doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Harley 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
Harley
Popularity journey
First recorded1986
First recorded at #94 among boys in New Zealand in 1986 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #45 among boys in England and Wales, in 2014 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls