Arthur vs Tommy
Arthur and Tommycompared 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 Tommy #39 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Arthur was ranked #11 and Tommy #68 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Tommy #20 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #19 and Tommy #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Tommy #20 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Tommy #27 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #81 and Tommy #503 among boys in Norway.
Arthur and Tommy over time
Arthur and Tommy appear together in 4 published lists, across 168 years of shared records. Tommy held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Arthur 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.
Tommy reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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 2012, Arthur moved ahead of Tommy in England and Wales · Boys — #68 and #65 the year before became #52 and #55.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Tommy changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 2004 and 2024, ending at #16 and #20.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Arthur and Tommy averaged 38.1 places apart, ending at #4 and #39.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Tommy were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 76 years, from 1945 to 2024, ending at #81 and #503.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Arthur #3 in 2020, Tommy #22 in 2020.
List by list
Norway · Boys76 shared years, 1945–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Tommy in 54.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #74 in 2020, Tommy #12 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #81, Tommy #503.
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1980–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Tommy in 29.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Tommy #21 in 2023.
The order changed in 2002: Tommy moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #191 and #215; by 2002 that had become #292 and #212.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Tommy #27.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Tommy in 11.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Tommy #22 in 2020.
The order changed in 2012: Arthur moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #68 and #65; by 2012 that had become #52 and #55.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Tommy #39.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 2004–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Tommy in 10.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Tommy #11 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Tommy #20.
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 | Tommy |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #27 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| 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); Tommy does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Tommy both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Tommy doesn't have one written yet.
- 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 Tommy 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
Tommy
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #268 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1999–2024
Highest recorded position: #11 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2023 (recorded 1999–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys