Arthur vs Philip
Arthur and Philipcompared 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 Philip #461 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Arthur was ranked #18 and Philip #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Philip #619 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1961, Arthur was ranked #97 and Philip #26 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1960, Arthur was ranked #99 and Philip #39 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Philip #309 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #83 and Philip #91 among boys in Norway.
Arthur and Philip over time
Arthur and Philip appear together in 5 published lists, across 183 years of shared records. Philip held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Arthur in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Philip reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 2002, Arthur moved ahead of Philip in England and Wales · Boys — #182 and #167 the year before became #185 and #189.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Philip changed places 6 times in Norway · Boys between 1948 and 2025, ending at #83 and #91.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Philip were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 66 years, from 1948 to 2025, ending at #83 and #91.
List by list
Norway · Boys66 shared years, 1948–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Philip in 44.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #74 in 2020, Philip #68 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #83, Philip #91.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Philip in 48.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Philip #30 in 1978.
The order changed in 2013: Arthur moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #163 and #141; by 2013 that had become #135 and #147.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Philip #309.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Philip in 6.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Philip #103 in 1996.
The order changed in 2002: Arthur moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #182 and #167; by 2002 that had become #185 and #189.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Philip #461.
Northern Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 2004–2022
Arthur held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Philip in 7.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #18 in 2021, Philip #149 in 2005.
The order changed in 2012: Arthur moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #231 and #218; by 2012 that had become #161 and #217.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Arthur #18, Philip #311.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys8 shared years, 1952–1960
Arthur held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Philip in 8.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #65 in 1953, Philip #29 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1960: Arthur #99, Philip #39.
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 | Philip |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | Norway · Boys #91 (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); Philip does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Philip both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Philip doesn't have one written yet.
- 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 Philip 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
Philip
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #341 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1992
Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New Zealand, in 1963 (recorded 1954–1992).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #91 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys