Arthur vs John
Arthur and John compared 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 2025, Arthur was ranked #5 and John #174 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and John #67 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2021, Arthur was ranked #20 and John #86 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and John #78 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and John #29 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2019, Arthur was ranked #51 and John #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #83 and John #161 among boys in Norway.
Arthur and John over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Arthur and John over time
Arthur and John appear together in 6 published lists, across 213 years of shared records. John held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Arthur in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
John reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Arthur moved into the top 50 at #21 in 2018 as John fell out of it to #60, having been #32 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2010, Arthur moved ahead of John in England and Wales · Boys — #93 and #83 the year before became #82 and #94.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and John were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #5 and #174.
List by list
Norway · Boys77 shared years, 1945–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 9 of those years, John in 68.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #74 in 2020, John #12 in 1955.
The order changed in 2017: Arthur moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #165 and #138; by 2017 that had become #125 and #133.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #83, John #161.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 0 of those years, John in 62.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, John #1 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, John #29.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 16 of those years, John in 14.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, John #46 in 1996.
The order changed in 2010: Arthur moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #93 and #83; by 2010 that had become #82 and #94.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #5, John #174.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 2004–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 7 of those years, John in 13.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, John #21 in 2004.
The order changed in 2018: Arthur moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #42 and #32; by 2018 that had become #21 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, John #67.
New Zealand · Boys14 shared years, 1954–2021
Arthur held the stronger position in 6 of those years, John in 8.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #20 in 2021, John #1 in 1954.
The order changed in 2016: Arthur moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #96 and #78; by 2016 that had become #84 and #87.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Arthur #20, John #86.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys10 shared years, 1952–2019
Arthur held the stronger position in 1 of those years, John in 9.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #51 in 2019, John #1 in 1952.
The order changed in 2019: Arthur moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #88 and #83; by 2019 that had become #51 and #97.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Arthur #51, John #97.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Arthur
Pairs where Arthur shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Arthur vs Keith
In 1964 they stood at #98 and #96 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #57 and #577.
Arthur · Keith · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Arthur vs Alfred
Arthur and Alfred changed places 18 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #83 and #26.
Arthur · Alfred · 72 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Arthur vs Gustav
Arthur and Gustav changed places 15 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #83 and #19.
Arthur · Gustav · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Arthur vs Ronald
Arthur and Ronald changed places 15 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2012, ending at #163 and #718.
Arthur · Ronald · 34 shared years, 1964–2012 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other comparisons involving John
Pairs where John shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- John vs Scott
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #48 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #174 and #845.
John · Scott · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- John vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #174 and #716.
John · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- John vs Sean
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #49 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #174 and #615.
John · Sean · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- John vs Aksel
John and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #161 and #25.
John · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.
- Sean vs Adam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Adam moved into the top 50 at #9 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Adam · 61 shared years, 1965–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Charlie vs Oisin
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Oisin fell out of it to #247, having been #11 the year before.
Charlie · Oisin · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Charlie
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Charlie · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Liam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Liam moved into the top 50 at #11 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Liam · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Charlotte vs Jodie
In 1997 they stood at #72 and #77 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2021 they were #13 and #446.
Charlotte · Jodie · 23 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Rachael
In 1997 they stood at #32 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2017 they were #1 and #432.
Emily · Rachael · 19 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Fiona
In 1997 they stood at #57 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2017 they were #2 and #432.
Grace · Fiona · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Arthur | John |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Meaning debated — no single origin is established with confidence. | From Hebrew Yochanan, 'Yahweh is gracious', via Greek Ioannes and Latin Iohannes. One of the most widespread names in Christian Europe, associated with both John the Baptist and the apostle John. |
| Origin | Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɑɹθər/ | /ˈjɔn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Art, Artie | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #5 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #29 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Arthur is recorded with a Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman origin, while John is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin.
- Arthur has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for John.
- Arthur's recorded meaning differs from John's — see the table above for each.
- 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 John 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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in England and Wales, in 2020 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #5 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
John
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #20 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2019
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2019).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #174 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys