Arthur vs Ultan
Arthur and Ultancompared 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 2021, Arthur was ranked #4 and Ultan #4789 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and Ultan #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Ultan #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Arthur and Ultan over time
Arthur and Ultan appear together in 2 published lists, across 78 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Ultan 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.
Ultan 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Ultan changed places 12 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #57 and #829.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Ultan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 61 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #57 and #829.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Arthur #14 in 2023, Ultan #249 in 2021.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Ultan in 8.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Ultan #146 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Ultan #829.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 2004–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Ultan in 2.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, Ultan #249 in 2021.
The order changed in 2009: Arthur moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #378 and #291; by 2009 that had become #293 and #329.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, Ultan #339.
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 | Ultan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (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); Ultan does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Ultan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Ultan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Ultan 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
Ultan
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #181 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #146 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1969 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys