Arthur vs Hugo
Arthur and Hugocompared 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 Hugo #46 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Arthur was ranked #11 and Hugo #23 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Hugo #81 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #19 and Hugo #18 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Hugo #135 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Hugo #42 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #83 and Hugo #101 among boys in Norway.
Arthur and Hugo over time
Arthur and Hugo appear together in 6 published lists, across 190 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Hugo in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Arthur reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Hugo 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 took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Hugo moved into the top 50 at #42 in 2025 as Arthur fell out of it to #57, having been #47 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2003, Arthur moved ahead of Hugo in England and Wales · Boys — #185 and #177 the year before became #168 and #175.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Hugo changed places 14 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #83 and #101.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Arthur and Hugo averaged 33.4 places apart, ending at #4 and #46.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Hugo were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 75 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #83 and #101.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Arthur #3 in 2020, Hugo #45 in 2021.
List by list
Norway · Boys75 shared years, 1945–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Hugo in 36.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #74 in 2020, Hugo #101 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #83, Hugo #101.
Republic of Ireland · Boys49 shared years, 1969–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Hugo in 23.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Hugo #42 in 2025.
The order changed in 2025: Hugo moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #47 and #60; by 2025 that had become #57 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Hugo #42.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Hugo in 5.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Hugo #45 in 2021.
The order changed in 2003: Arthur moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #185 and #177; by 2003 that had become #168 and #175.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Hugo #46.
Northern Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 2007–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Hugo in 2.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Hugo #67 in 2023.
The order changed in 2009: Arthur moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #378 and #291; by 2009 that had become #293 and #390.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Hugo #81.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 2014–2023
Arthur held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Hugo in 6.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #11 in 2023, Hugo #23 in 2023.
The order changed in 2021: Arthur moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #31 and #26; by 2021 that had become #20 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Arthur #11, Hugo #23.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys9 shared years, 2017–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Hugo in 7.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #18 in 2024, Hugo #18 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #19, Hugo #18.
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 | Hugo |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #18 (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); Hugo does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Hugo both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Hugo 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 Hugo 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
Hugo
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #186 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded2009–2025
Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025 (recorded 2009–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #18 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys