Arthur vs Ronald
Arthur and Ronaldcompared 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 Ronald #796 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Ronald #619 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1960, Arthur was ranked #99 and Ronald #40 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1961, Arthur was ranked #97 and Ronald #61 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Arthur was ranked #163 and Ronald #718 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2000, Arthur was ranked #228 and Ronald #569 among boys in Norway.
Arthur and Ronald over time
Arthur and Ronald appear together in 4 published lists, across 113 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Ronald reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Ronald changed places 6 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2000, ending at #228 and #569.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Ronald were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 42 years, from 1945 to 2000, ending at #228 and #569.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Arthur #3 in 2020, Ronald #564 in 2018.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #98 and #89 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2012 they were #163 and #718.
List by list
Norway · Boys42 shared years, 1945–2000
Arthur held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Ronald in 30.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #122 in 1946, Ronald #134 in 1947.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Arthur #228, Ronald #569.
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1964–2012
Arthur held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Ronald in 12.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #91 in 1965, Ronald #89 in 1964.
The order changed in 1996: Arthur moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #339 and #339; by 1996 that had become #276 and #369.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Arthur #163, Ronald #718.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Ronald in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Ronald #564 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Ronald #796.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys8 shared years, 1952–1960
Arthur held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ronald in 8.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #65 in 1953, Ronald #24 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1960: Arthur #99, Ronald #40.
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 | Ronald |
|---|---|---|
| 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-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #619 (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); Ronald does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Ronald both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Ronald doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Ronald 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
Ronald
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #202 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1972
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1972).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #796 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys