Arthur vs Theodore
Arthur and Theodorecompared 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #19 and Theodore #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #5 and Theodore #9 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Arthur was ranked #11 and Theodore #6 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Theodore #32 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Theodore #36 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Theodore #44 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Arthur and Theodore over time
Arthur and Theodore appear together in 5 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Theodore in 2.
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.
Arthur reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Theodore 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 took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Theodore moved into the top 50 at #44 in 2025 as Arthur fell out of it to #57, having been #47 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2025, Theodore moved ahead of Arthur in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #47 and #56 the year before became #57 and #44.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Theodore changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #5 and #9.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Arthur and Theodore averaged 19.5 places apart, ending at #5 and #9.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Theodore were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #5 and #9.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Arthur #3 in 2020, Theodore #8 in 2022.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Theodore in 6.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Theodore #8 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #5, Theodore #9.
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1964–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Theodore in 4.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Theodore #44 in 2025.
The order changed in 2025: Theodore moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #47 and #56; by 2025 that had become #57 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Theodore #44.
Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 2005–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Theodore in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Theodore #32 in 2024.
The order changed in 2009: Arthur moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #307 and #307; by 2009 that had become #293 and #390.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Theodore #32.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 2014–2023
Arthur held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Theodore in 10.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #11 in 2023, Theodore #6 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Arthur #11, Theodore #6.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys9 shared years, 2017–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Theodore in 9.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #18 in 2024, Theodore #3 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #19, Theodore #3.
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 | Theodore |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Meaning debated — no single origin is established with confidence. | Gift of God. |
| Origin | Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɑɹθər/ | /ˈθiəˌdɔɹ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Art, Artie | Teddy |
| 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 | England and Wales · Boys #5 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | high |
What the data shows
- Arthur is recorded with a Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman origin, while Theodore is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Arthur has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Theodore.
- Arthur's recorded meaning differs from Theodore's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in England and Wales, in 2020 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #5 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Theodore
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #214 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2015–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2024 (recorded 2015–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #9 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys