Arthur vs Iarla
Arthur and Iarlacompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Iarla #239 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2015, Arthur was ranked #37 and Iarla #4747 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Iarla #149 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Arthur and Iarla over time
Arthur and Iarla appear together in 2 published lists, across 35 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Iarla in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
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.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1981–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Iarla in 1.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Iarla #135 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Iarla #149.
Northern Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 2015–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Iarla in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Iarla #239 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Iarla #239.
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 | Iarla |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Art, Artie | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #149 (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); Iarla does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Iarla both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Iarla doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Iarla 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
Iarla
Popularity journey
First recorded1981
First recorded at #322 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1981 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1981–2025
Highest recorded position: #135 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2021 (recorded 1981–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #149 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys