Arthur vs Julian
Arthur and Juliancompared 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 Julian #280 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Arthur was ranked #14 and Julian #348 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #18 and Julian #87 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Julian #234 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #83 and Julian #54 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Julian #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Arthur and Julian over time
Arthur and Julian appear together in 3 published lists, across 140 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Julian in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Julian reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Julian changed places 10 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #57 and #348.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Julian were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 52 years, from 1967 to 2025, ending at #83 and #54.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Arthur #3 in 2020, Julian #267 in 2022.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys59 shared years, 1964–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Julian in 5.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Julian #129 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Julian #348.
Norway · Boys52 shared years, 1967–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Julian in 45.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #74 in 2020, Julian #26 in 2011.
The order changed in 1981: Julian moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #491 and #579; by 1981 that had become #628 and #499.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #83, Julian #54.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Julian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Julian #267 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Julian #280.
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 | Julian |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | Norway · Boys #54 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| 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); Julian does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Julian both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Julian 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 Julian 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
Julian
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #191 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1967–2025
Highest recorded position: #26 among boys in Norway, in 2011 (recorded 1967–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #54 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys