Arthur vs Maxwell
Arthur and Maxwellcompared 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 Maxwell #184 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Arthur was ranked #18 and Maxwell #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Maxwell #169 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2021, Arthur was ranked #27 and Maxwell #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Maxwell #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Arthur and Maxwell over time
Arthur and Maxwell appear together in 4 published lists, across 79 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Maxwell in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Maxwell 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 2003, Arthur moved ahead of Maxwell in England and Wales · Boys — #185 and #168 the year before became #168 and #169.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Maxwell in 7.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Maxwell #114 in 2013.
The order changed in 2003: Arthur moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #185 and #168; by 2003 that had become #168 and #169.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Maxwell #184.
Republic of Ireland · Boys29 shared years, 1975–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Maxwell in 1.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Maxwell #266 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Maxwell #829.
Northern Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 2005–2022
Arthur held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Maxwell in 1.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #18 in 2022, Maxwell #219 in 2013.
The order changed in 2009: Arthur moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #378 and #266; by 2009 that had become #293 and #329.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Arthur #18, Maxwell #414.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys9 shared years, 1952–2021
Arthur held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Maxwell in 4.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #27 in 2021, Maxwell #71 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Arthur #27, Maxwell #97.
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 | Maxwell |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| 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); Maxwell does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Maxwell both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Maxwell doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Maxwell 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
Maxwell
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #71 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 recorded1952–2021
Highest recorded position: #71 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2021).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys