Arthur vs Oscar
Arthur and Oscarcompared 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 Oscar #8 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Arthur was ranked #11 and Oscar #20 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Oscar #34 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #19 and Oscar #17 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Oscar #22 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Oscar #31 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #83 and Oscar #51 among boys in Norway.
Arthur and Oscar over time
Arthur and Oscar appear together in 6 published lists, across 179 years of shared records. Oscar held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Arthur in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Oscar reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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.
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 2023, Arthur moved ahead of Oscar in New Zealand · Boys — #12 and #11 the year before became #11 and #20.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Oscar changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1969 and 2025, ending at #57 and #31.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Arthur and Oscar averaged 54.1 places apart, ending at #5 and #8.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Oscar were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #5 and #8.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Arthur #11 in 2023, Oscar #11 in 2022.
List by list
Norway · Boys72 shared years, 1945–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Oscar in 48.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #74 in 2020, Oscar #35 in 2013.
The order changed in 1983: Oscar moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #429 and #546; by 1983 that had become #434 and #367.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #83, Oscar #51.
Republic of Ireland · Boys38 shared years, 1969–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Oscar in 31.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Oscar #30 in 2021.
The order changed in 1998: Oscar moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #224 and #261; by 1998 that had become #280 and #150.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Oscar #31.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Oscar in 22.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Oscar #7 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #5, Oscar #8.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 2004–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Oscar in 13.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Oscar #24 in 2014.
The order changed in 2018: Arthur moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #42 and #36; by 2018 that had become #21 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Oscar #34.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 2014–2023
Arthur held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Oscar in 8.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #11 in 2023, Oscar #11 in 2022.
The order changed in 2023: Arthur moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #12 and #11; by 2023 that had become #11 and #20.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Arthur #11, Oscar #20.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys9 shared years, 2017–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Oscar in 8.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #18 in 2024, Oscar #17 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #19, Oscar #17.
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
Other comparisons involving Oscar
Pairs where Oscar shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Oscar vs Taylor
In 1996 they stood at #128 and #121 in England and Wales · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #8 and #507.
Oscar · Taylor · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oscar vs Hayden
In 1996 they stood at #128 and #124 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #8 and #314.
Oscar · Hayden · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Morten vs Oscar
Over 75 shared years in Norway · Boys, Oscar rose about as far as Morten fell — from #107 and #263 in 1945 to #214 and #51 in 2025.
Morten · Oscar · 75 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Peter vs Oscar
Over 75 shared years in Norway · Boys, Oscar rose about as far as Peter fell — from #106 and #263 in 1945 to #174 and #51 in 2025.
Peter · Oscar · 75 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.
- Christopher vs Paul
Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Leo
Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Luca
Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Amelia vs Sofia
Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Arthur | Oscar |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Meaning debated — no single origin is established with confidence. | Possibly 'deer friend' (Irish), or possibly derived from an Old English/Old Norse name meaning 'god spear' — the origin is genuinely disputed. |
| Origin | Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman | Disputed — possibly Irish, possibly Old English/Old Norse |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɑɹθər/ | /ˈɑskər/ |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #5 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #8 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Arthur is recorded with a Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman origin, while Oscar is recorded with a Disputed — possibly Irish, possibly Old English/Old Norse origin.
- Arthur and Oscar both have 2 syllables.
- Arthur's recorded meaning differs from Oscar's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Oscar 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
Oscar
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #263 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: #7 among boys in England and Wales, in 2013 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #8 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys