Namewise

Arthur vs Sebastian

Arthur and Sebastiancompared 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 Sebastian #47 among boys in England and Wales.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 2023, Arthur was ranked #11 and Sebastian #52 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Sebastian #154 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 2025, Arthur was ranked #19 and Sebastian #31 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Sebastian #116 among boys in Scotland.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Arthur was ranked #83 and Sebastian #53 among boys in Norway.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Sebastian #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Arthur and Sebastian over time

Arthur and Sebastian appear together in 6 published lists, across 163 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.

The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Sebastian reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 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.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 2016, Arthur moved ahead of Sebastian in England and Wales · Boys — #37 and #35 the year before became #30 and #36.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Arthur and Sebastian changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1970 and 2025, ending at #57 and #125.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Arthur and Sebastian averaged 43.8 places apart, ending at #5 and #47.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Arthur and Sebastian were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #5 and #47.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Arthur #3 in 2020, Sebastian #28 in 2018.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys54 shared years, 1968–2025

    Arthur held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Sebastian in 52.

    Highest recorded here: Arthur #74 in 2020, Sebastian #6 in 2006.

    The order changed in 1970: Sebastian moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #281 and #586; by 1970 that had become #485 and #436.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #83, Sebastian #53.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys40 shared years, 1970–2025

    Arthur held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Sebastian in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Sebastian #80 in 2017.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Sebastian #125.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Arthur held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Sebastian in 20.

    Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Sebastian #28 in 2018.

    The order changed in 2016: Arthur moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #37 and #35; by 2016 that had become #30 and #36.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #5, Sebastian #47.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 2004–2024

    Arthur held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Sebastian in 7.

    Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Sebastian #102 in 2015.

    The order changed in 2015: Arthur moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #145 and #128; by 2015 that had become #89 and #102.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Sebastian #154.

  • New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 2014–2023

    Arthur held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Sebastian in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Arthur #11 in 2023, Sebastian #52 in 2018.

    The order changed in 2019: Arthur moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #64 and #52; by 2019 that had become #35 and #72.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Arthur #11, Sebastian #52.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys9 shared years, 2017–2025

    Arthur held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Sebastian in 6.

    Highest recorded here: Arthur #18 in 2024, Sebastian #20 in 2022.

    The order changed in 2024: Arthur moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #32 and #27; by 2024 that had become #18 and #22.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #19, Sebastian #31.

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.

Other comparisons involving Sebastian

Pairs where Sebastian shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

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

All 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.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Arthur, Sebastian
FieldArthurSebastian
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningMeaning debated — no single origin is established with confidence.Traditionally interpreted as 'venerable' or 'revered' — from Latin Sebastianus, 'from Sebaste' (a city in Asia Minor), whose own name derives from a Greek word used to translate the Roman imperial title Augustus.
OriginDisputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly RomanLatin, from Greek
Pronunciation/ˈɑɹθər//səˈbæstʃən/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesArt, ArtieNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Boys #5 (2025)New South Wales, Australia · Boys #31 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10065/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10070/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Arthur is recorded with a Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman origin, while Sebastian is recorded with a Latin, from Greek origin.
  • Arthur has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Sebastian.
  • Arthur's recorded meaning differs from Sebastian'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 Sebastian 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in England and Wales, in 2020 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #5 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Sebastian

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1968

    First recorded at #415 among boys in Norway in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1968–2025

    Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Norway, in 2006 (recorded 1968–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #47 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys