Arthur vs Joel
Arthur and Joelcompared 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 Joel #209 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Joel #154 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Joel #278 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Joel #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #83 and Joel #178 among boys in Norway.
Arthur and Joel over time
Arthur and Joel appear together in 4 published lists, across 133 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Joel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Arthur in 1. 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 2011, Arthur moved ahead of Joel in England and Wales · Boys — #82 and #81 the year before became #68 and #88.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Joel changed places 16 times in Norway · Boys between 1969 and 2025, ending at #83 and #178.
- Mirrored each other
Over 35 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Arthur rose about as far as Joel fell — from #145 and #268 in 1973 to #57 and #509 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Joel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 49 years, from 1969 to 2025, ending at #83 and #178.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Boys within 2 years — Arthur #74 in 2020, Joel #148 in 2021.
List by list
Norway · Boys49 shared years, 1969–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Joel in 19.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #74 in 2020, Joel #148 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #83, Joel #178.
Republic of Ireland · Boys35 shared years, 1973–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Joel in 5.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Joel #185 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Joel #509.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Joel in 15.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Joel #62 in 2001.
The order changed in 2011: Arthur moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #82 and #81; by 2011 that had become #68 and #88.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Joel #209.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 2004–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Joel in 11.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Joel #50 in 2010.
The order changed in 2016: Arthur moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #89 and #84; by 2016 that had become #57 and #93.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Joel #154.
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 | Joel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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) | Norway · Boys #178 (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); Joel does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Joel.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Joel 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 Joel 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
Joel
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #523 among boys in Norway in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1976–2010
Highest recorded position: #27 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1987 (recorded 1976–2010).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #178 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys