Arthur vs Joe
Arthur and Joecompared 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 Joe #785 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Joe #202 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Joe #404 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Joe #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Arthur and Joe over time
Arthur and Joe appear together in 3 published lists, across 85 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Joe in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Joe reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 2010, Arthur moved ahead of Joe in England and Wales · Boys — #93 and #92 the year before became #82 and #108.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Joe changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1985 and 2025, ending at #57 and #152.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 36 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Arthur and Joe averaged 60.0 places apart, ending at #57 and #152.
- Mirrored each other
Over 20 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Arthur rose about as far as Joe fell — from #305 and #125 in 2004 to #16 and #202 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Joe were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 36 years, from 1985 to 2025, ending at #57 and #152.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys36 shared years, 1985–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Joe in 16.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Joe #117 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Joe #152.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Joe in 14.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Joe #48 in 1997.
The order changed in 2010: Arthur moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #93 and #92; by 2010 that had become #82 and #108.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Joe #785.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 2004–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Joe in 10.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Joe #88 in 2017.
The order changed in 2015: Arthur moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #145 and #135; by 2015 that had become #89 and #93.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Joe #202.
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 | Joe |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #152 (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); Joe does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Joe.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Joe doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Joe 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
Joe
Popularity journey
First recorded1985
First recorded at #304 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1985 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #48 among boys in England and Wales, in 1997 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys