Arthur vs Paraic
Arthur and Paraiccompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Arthur was ranked #14 and Paraic #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2017, Arthur was ranked #91 and Paraic #418 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Arthur and Paraic over time
Arthur and Paraic appear together in 1 published list, across 47 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Paraic in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Paraic reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Paraic changed places 12 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1969 and 2017, ending at #91 and #418.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Paraic were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 47 years, from 1969 to 2017, ending at #91 and #418.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys47 shared years, 1969–2017
Arthur held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Paraic in 9.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #91 in 2017, Paraic #164 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Arthur #91, Paraic #418.
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 Colin
In 1964 they stood at #98 and #89 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #57 and #348.
Arthur · Colin · 62 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
Side by side
| Field | Arthur | Paraic |
|---|---|---|
| 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-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | Northern Ireland · Boys #395 (2023) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Arthur has a recorded origin (Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman); Paraic does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Paraic both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Paraic doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Paraic 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
Paraic
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #216 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1969–2017
Highest recorded position: #164 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1983 (recorded 1969–2017).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #395 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2023.
Northern Ireland · Boys