Arthur vs Norman
Arthur and Normancompared 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 Norman #2443 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1956, Arthur was ranked #92 and Norman #80 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1960, Arthur was ranked #99 and Norman #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2014, Arthur was ranked #145 and Norman #398 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1992, Arthur was ranked #192 and Norman #298 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Arthur and Norman over time
Arthur and Norman appear together in 3 published lists, across 59 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Norman in 1.
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 Norman changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 1992, ending at #192 and #298.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Arthur and Norman averaged 49.6 places apart, ending at #192 and #298.
- Mirrored each other
Over 24 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Arthur rose about as far as Norman fell — from #234 and #1337 in 1996 to #4 and #2443 in 2024.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1964–1992
Arthur held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Norman in 5.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #91 in 1965, Norman #117 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Arthur #192, Norman #298.
England and Wales · Boys24 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Norman in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Norman #1337 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Norman #2443.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys8 shared years, 1952–1960
Arthur held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Norman in 8.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #65 in 1953, Norman #62 in 1953.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1960: Arthur #99, Norman #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 | Norman |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2443 (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); Norman does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Norman both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Norman doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Norman 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
Norman
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #63 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 recorded1952–1962
Highest recorded position: #62 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1953 (recorded 1952–1962).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2443 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys