Arthur vs Keith
Arthur and Keithcompared 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 Keith #3688 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1961, Arthur was ranked #97 and Keith #45 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Keith #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1960, Arthur was ranked #99 and Keith #58 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2010, Arthur was ranked #248 and Keith #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Arthur and Keith over time
Arthur and Keith appear together in 3 published lists, across 96 years of shared records. Keith held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Arthur 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.
Keith reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 2010, Arthur moved ahead of Keith in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #220 and #185 the year before became #178 and #241.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Keith were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 59 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #57 and #577.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #98 and #96 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #57 and #577.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys59 shared years, 1964–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Keith in 46.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Keith #17 in 1975.
The order changed in 2010: Arthur moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #220 and #185; by 2010 that had become #178 and #241.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Keith #577.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Keith in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Keith #379 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Keith #3688.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys8 shared years, 1952–1960
Arthur held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Keith in 8.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #65 in 1953, Keith #40 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1960: Arthur #99, Keith #58.
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 | Keith |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #577 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| 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); Keith does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Keith.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Keith doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Keith 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
Keith
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #40 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys