Arthur vs Mac

Arthur and Maccompared 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 Mac #1025 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Arthur was ranked #18 and Mac #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Mac #139 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #47 and Mac #520 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Arthur and Mac over time

Arthur and Mac appear together in 2 published lists, across 45 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Mac in 0.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.

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.

List by list

England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Mac in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Mac #754 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Mac #1025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys16 shared years, 1969–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Mac in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Mac #230 in 1972.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #47, Mac #520.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Arthur

Pairs where Arthur shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Arthur vs Keith
In 1964 they stood at #98 and #96 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #57 and #577.
Arthur · Keith · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking
Arthur vs Colin
In 1964 they stood at #98 and #89 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #57 and #348.
Arthur · Colin · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking
Arthur vs Alfred
Arthur and Alfred changed places 18 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #83 and #26.
Arthur · Alfred · 72 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
See the 2025 Norway ranking
Arthur vs Gustav
Arthur and Gustav changed places 15 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #83 and #19.
Arthur · Gustav · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
See the 2025 Norway ranking

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Arthur, Mac
Field	Arthur	Mac
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	GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE
Most recent popularity observation	New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025)	Scotland · Boys #139 (2024)
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); Mac does not have one recorded yet.
Arthur has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Mac.
A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Mac doesn't have one written yet.
Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Mac 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

Mac

Popularity journey

First recorded1969
First recorded at #270 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1025 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys