Arthur vs Thomas
Arthur and Thomascompared 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 Thomas #26 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Arthur was ranked #11 and Thomas #18 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Thomas #11 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #19 and Thomas #13 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Thomas #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Thomas #20 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #83 and Thomas #106 among boys in Norway.
Arthur and Thomas over time
Arthur and Thomas appear together in 6 published lists, across 221 years of shared records. Thomas held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Arthur in 0.
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.
Thomas 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 2018, Arthur moved ahead of Thomas in England and Wales · Boys — #19 and #13 the year before became #7 and #12.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Thomas changed places 4 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #83 and #106.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Thomas were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 77 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #83 and #106.
List by list
Norway · Boys77 shared years, 1945–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Thomas in 66.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #74 in 2020, Thomas #1 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #83, Thomas #106.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Thomas in 62.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Thomas #5 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Thomas #16.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Thomas in 22.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Thomas #2 in 1998.
The order changed in 2018: Arthur moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #19 and #13; by 2018 that had become #7 and #12.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Thomas #26.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 2004–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Thomas in 20.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Thomas #6 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Thomas #11.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys17 shared years, 1952–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Thomas in 17.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #18 in 2024, Thomas #6 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #19, Thomas #13.
New Zealand · Boys16 shared years, 1954–2023
Arthur held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Thomas in 14.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #11 in 2023, Thomas #8 in 2020.
The order changed in 2022: Arthur moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #20 and #15; by 2022 that had become #12 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Arthur #11, Thomas #18.
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 | Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Meaning debated — no single origin is established with confidence. | The Greek form of the Aramaic name meaning 'twin'. |
| Origin | Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman | Aramaic, via Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɑɹθər/ | /ˈtɑməs/ |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #13 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Arthur is recorded with a Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman origin, while Thomas is recorded with a Aramaic, via Greek origin.
- Arthur and Thomas both have 2 syllables.
- Arthur's recorded meaning differs from Thomas'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 Thomas 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
Thomas
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #177 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Norway, in 1974 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #13 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys