Arthur vs Kai
Arthur and Kaicompared 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 Kai #72 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Kai #69 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #19 and Kai #23 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Kai #56 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Kai #34 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #83 and Kai #282 among boys in Norway.
Arthur and Kai over time
Arthur and Kai appear together in 5 published lists, across 163 years of shared records. Kai held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Arthur in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Kai 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 2012, Arthur moved ahead of Kai in England and Wales · Boys — #68 and #56 the year before became #52 and #63.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Kai changed places 7 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #83 and #282.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Arthur and Kai averaged 37.1 places apart, ending at #57 and #34.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Kai were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 77 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #83 and #282.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Arthur #14 in 2023, Kai #52 in 2021.
List by list
Norway · Boys77 shared years, 1945–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Kai in 52.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #74 in 2020, Kai #59 in 1965.
The order changed in 2011: Arthur moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #268 and #243; by 2011 that had become #239 and #279.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #83, Kai #282.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Kai in 16.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Kai #56 in 2003.
The order changed in 2012: Arthur moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #68 and #56; by 2012 that had become #52 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Kai #72.
Republic of Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Kai in 24.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Kai #30 in 2024.
The order changed in 2019: Kai moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #73 and #84; by 2019 that had become #80 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Kai #34.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 2004–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Kai in 11.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Kai #52 in 2021.
The order changed in 2016: Arthur moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #89 and #77; by 2016 that had become #57 and #83.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Kai #69.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys9 shared years, 2017–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Kai in 4.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #18 in 2024, Kai #20 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #19, Kai #23.
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 | Kai |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #23 (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); Kai does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Kai.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Kai doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Kai 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
Kai
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #76 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded2002–2025
Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2002–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys