Arthur vs Melvin
Arthur and Melvincompared 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 Melvin #1322 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #47 and Melvin #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #83 and Melvin #135 among boys in Norway.
Arthur and Melvin over time
Arthur and Melvin appear together in 3 published lists, across 71 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Melvin in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Melvin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Arthur in 1. 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Melvin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Melvin #1038 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Melvin #1322.
Norway · Boys29 shared years, 1948–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Melvin in 1.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #74 in 2020, Melvin #119 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #83, Melvin #135.
Republic of Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 1970–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Melvin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Melvin #265 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #47, Melvin #785.
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 | Melvin |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | Norway · Boys #135 (2025) |
| 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); Melvin does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Melvin both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Melvin doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Melvin 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
Melvin
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #336 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1948–2025
Highest recorded position: #119 among boys in Norway, in 2023 (recorded 1948–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #135 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys