Arthur vs Jonathan
Arthur and Jonathancompared 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 Jonathan #302 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Jonathan #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Jonathan #352 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Jonathan #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1961, Arthur was ranked #97 and Jonathan #82 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #83 and Jonathan #93 among boys in Norway.
Arthur and Jonathan over time
Arthur and Jonathan appear together in 4 published lists, across 171 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.
Jonathan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 2008, Arthur moved ahead of Jonathan in England and Wales · Boys — #135 and #102 the year before became #101 and #113.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Jonathan changed places 6 times in Norway · Boys between 1949 and 2025, ending at #83 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Jonathan were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 60 years, from 1949 to 2025, ending at #83 and #93.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Jonathan in 45.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Jonathan #18 in 1981.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Jonathan #223.
Norway · Boys60 shared years, 1949–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Jonathan in 47.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #74 in 2020, Jonathan #32 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #83, Jonathan #93.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Jonathan in 12.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Jonathan #39 in 1996.
The order changed in 2008: Arthur moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #135 and #102; by 2008 that had become #101 and #113.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Jonathan #302.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 2004–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Jonathan in 7.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Jonathan #42 in 2004.
The order changed in 2012: Arthur moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #231 and #101; by 2012 that had become #161 and #174.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Jonathan #305.
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 | Jonathan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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 #93 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 76/100 |
| 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); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Jonathan.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Jonathan 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 Jonathan 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
Jonathan
Popularity journey
First recorded1949
First recorded at #371 among boys in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1957–2013
Highest recorded position: #15 among boys in New Zealand, in 1982 (recorded 1957–2013).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #93 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys