Arthur vs William
Arthur and Williamcompared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #83 and William #3 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #4 and William #27 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #19 and William #11 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Arthur was ranked #11 and William #14 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #16 and William #64 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and William #66 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and William #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Arthur and William over time
Arthur and William appear together in 6 published lists, across 221 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Arthur in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
William 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 William in England and Wales · Boys — #19 and #11 the year before became #7 and #14.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and William changed places 7 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #83 and #3.
- Mirrored each other
Over 20 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Arthur rose about as far as William fell — from #305 and #35 in 2004 to #16 and #64 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and William were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 77 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #83 and #3.
List by list
Norway · Boys77 shared years, 1945–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 20 of those years, William in 57.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #74 in 2020, William #1 in 2012.
The order changed in 1980: William moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #348 and #372; by 1980 that had become #491 and #233.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #83, William #3.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 2 of those years, William in 60.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, William #8 in 1964.
The order changed in 2024: Arthur moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #70 and #66; by 2024 that had become #47 and #67.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, William #73.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 7 of those years, William in 22.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, William #7 in 2006.
The order changed in 2018: Arthur moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #19 and #11; by 2018 that had become #7 and #14.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, William #27.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 2004–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 8 of those years, William in 12.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #14 in 2023, William #30 in 2008.
The order changed in 2017: Arthur moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #57 and #40; by 2017 that had become #42 and #50.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #16, William #64.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys17 shared years, 1952–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 17.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #18 in 2024, William #2 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #19, William #11.
New Zealand · Boys16 shared years, 1954–2023
Arthur held the stronger position in 1 of those years, William in 15.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #11 in 2023, William #3 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Arthur #11, William #14.
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 | William |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Meaning debated — no single origin is established with confidence. | Commonly interpreted as 'resolute protector' or 'will helmet', combining the ideas of desire/will and protection. |
| Origin | Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman | Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɑɹθər/ | /ˈwɪljəm/ |
| 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) | Norway · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| 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 William is recorded with a Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm) origin.
- Arthur and William both have 2 syllables.
- Arthur's recorded meaning differs from William'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 William 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
William
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #277 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2009 (recorded 1952–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys