Arthur vs Shay
Arthur and Shaycompared 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 Shay #389 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Shay #177 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Shay #155 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Shay #52 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Arthur and Shay over time
Arthur and Shay appear together in 3 published lists, across 88 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Shay in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Shay reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 2015, Arthur moved ahead of Shay in Northern Ireland · Boys — #145 and #135 the year before became #89 and #201.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Shay changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1972 and 2025, ending at #57 and #52.
- Mirrored each other
Over 20 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Arthur rose about as far as Shay fell — from #305 and #103 in 2004 to #16 and #177 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Shay were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 39 years, from 1972 to 2025, ending at #57 and #52.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Arthur #47 in 2024, Shay #39 in 2022.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys39 shared years, 1972–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Shay in 26.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Shay #39 in 2022.
The order changed in 2025: Shay moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #47 and #50; by 2025 that had become #57 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Shay #52.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Shay in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Shay #156 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Shay #389.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 2004–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Shay in 9.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Shay #93 in 2009.
The order changed in 2015: Arthur moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #145 and #135; by 2015 that had become #89 and #201.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Shay #177.
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 | Shay |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Art, Artie | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #52 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| 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); Shay does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Shay.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Shay doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Shay 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
Shay
Popularity journey
First recorded1972
First recorded at #279 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1972 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1972–2025
Highest recorded position: #39 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 1972–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #52 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys