Arthur vs Spencer
Arthur and Spencercompared 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 Spencer #210 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Arthur was ranked #11 and Spencer #71 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Spencer #256 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #19 and Spencer #47 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Spencer #160 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Spencer #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Arthur and Spencer over time
Arthur and Spencer appear together in 3 published lists, across 65 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Spencer in 0.
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.
Spencer 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Spencer changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #4 and #210.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Spencer in 5.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Spencer #90 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Spencer #210.
Republic of Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1970–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Spencer in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Spencer #280 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Spencer #432.
Northern Ireland · Boys16 shared years, 2004–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Spencer in 1.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Spencer #160 in 2019.
The order changed in 2009: Arthur moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #305 and #219; by 2009 that had become #293 and #329.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Spencer #256.
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 | Spencer |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #47 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| 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); Spencer does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Spencer both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Spencer doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Spencer 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
Spencer
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #305 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2016–2025
Highest recorded position: #47 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025 (recorded 2016–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #47 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys