Arthur vs Neal
Arthur and Nealcompared 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 2025, Arthur was ranked #5 and Neal #4275 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2014, Arthur was ranked #136 and Neal #715 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Arthur and Neal over time
Arthur and Neal appear together in 2 published lists, across 69 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Neal 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.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Neal changed places 14 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2014, ending at #136 and #715.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Neal were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 40 years, from 1964 to 2014, ending at #136 and #715.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys40 shared years, 1964–2014
Arthur held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Neal in 6.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #98 in 1964, Neal #154 in 1976.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Arthur #136, Neal #715.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Neal in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Neal #654 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #5, Neal #4275.
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
- 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
- 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
- Arthur vs Ronald
Arthur and Ronald changed places 15 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2012, ending at #163 and #718.
Arthur · Ronald · 34 shared years, 1964–2012 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Side by side
| Field | Arthur | Neal |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #5 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #4275 (2025) |
| 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); Neal does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Neal.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Neal doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Neal 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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in England and Wales, in 2020 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #5 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Neal
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #204 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2014
Highest recorded position: #154 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1976 (recorded 1964–2014).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4275 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys