Arthur vs Leslie
Arthur and Lesliecompared 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 Leslie #2263 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1960, Arthur was ranked #99 and Leslie #62 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1961, Arthur was ranked #97 and Leslie #78 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2003, Arthur was ranked #214 and Leslie #500 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Arthur and Leslie over time
Arthur and Leslie appear together in 3 published lists, across 60 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Leslie 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.
Leslie 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 1982, Arthur moved ahead of Leslie in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #202 and #191 the year before became #188 and #217.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Leslie changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2003, ending at #214 and #500.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Arthur and Leslie averaged 53.6 places apart, ending at #214 and #500.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Arthur #91 in 1965, Leslie #91 in 1964.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #98 and #91 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2003 they were #214 and #500.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys26 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Leslie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Leslie #552 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Leslie #2263.
Republic of Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1964–2003
Arthur held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Leslie in 12.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #91 in 1965, Leslie #91 in 1964.
The order changed in 1982: Arthur moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #202 and #191; by 1982 that had become #188 and #217.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Arthur #214, Leslie #500.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys8 shared years, 1952–1960
Arthur held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leslie in 8.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #65 in 1953, Leslie #37 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1960: Arthur #99, Leslie #62.
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 | Leslie |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2263 (2024) |
| 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); Leslie does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Leslie both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Leslie doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Leslie 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
Leslie
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #37 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 recorded1952–1968
Highest recorded position: #37 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1968).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2263 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys