Arthur vs Syed
Arthur and Syedcompared 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 Syed #136 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Syed #268 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Syed #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #83 and Syed #346 among boys in Norway.
Arthur and Syed over time
Arthur and Syed appear together in 3 published lists, across 118 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Syed 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.
Syed reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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 2005, Arthur moved ahead of Syed in England and Wales · Boys — #151 and #150 the year before became #135 and #163.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Syed changed places 10 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #83 and #346.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Syed were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 59 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #83 and #346.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Boys within 2 years — Arthur #74 in 2020, Syed #252 in 2021.
List by list
Norway · Boys59 shared years, 1945–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Syed in 14.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #74 in 2020, Syed #252 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #83, Syed #346.
Republic of Ireland · Boys30 shared years, 1994–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Syed in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Syed #261 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Syed #829.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Syed in 9.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Syed #136 in 1999.
The order changed in 2005: Arthur moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #151 and #150; by 2005 that had become #135 and #163.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Syed #136.
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.
- Arthur vs Keith
In 1964 they stood at #98 and #96 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #57 and #577.
Arthur · Keith · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Arthur vs Colin
In 1964 they stood at #98 and #89 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #57 and #348.
Arthur · Colin · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Arthur vs Alfred
Arthur and Alfred changed places 18 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #83 and #26.
Arthur · Alfred · 72 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Arthur vs Gustav
Arthur and Gustav changed places 15 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #83 and #19.
Arthur · Gustav · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Side by side
| Field | Arthur | Syed |
|---|---|---|
| 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-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | Norway · Boys #346 (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); Syed does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Syed.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Syed doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Syed 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
Syed
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #311 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: #136 among boys in England and Wales, in 1999 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #346 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys