Arthur

Arthur: name meaning, origin & popularity

Meaning
“meaning uncertain”
Origin
Celtic
Say it
AR-thər · 2 syllables
Used for
Boys

Probably from a Celtic name, though its exact origin is disputed; proposals include a connection with Welsh arth 'bear'. Strongly associated with the legendary King Arthur. The origin of this name is not settled among etymologists.

How popular is Arthur?

2024999 per million US babies
1880192019602000
Drag the line or the slider to read any year. Values are per million US births recorded by Social Security. Records before about 1937 undercount births, so early peaks can look taller than they were.

Babies named Arthur in 20243,325

2024 rank#105 boys

Peak year1881

Total US babies since 1880548,057

Arthur is rising: use over the last five years is 3.2× what it was a decade earlier.

Names like Arthur

Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.

  • Arturobear · Spanish
  • Artbear man · English
  • GaelGaelic person · Celtic
  • Alanuncertain; possibly little rock or handsome · Celtic
  • Tristantumult; outcry · Celtic
  • Bryanhigh, noble · Celtic
  • Brycespeckled · Celtic
  • Kanewarrior · Celtic

Arthur questions

What does the name Arthur mean?

Arthur means "meaning uncertain". It comes from Celtic. Probably from a Celtic name, though its exact origin is disputed; proposals include a connection with Welsh arth 'bear'. Strongly associated with the legendary King Arthur.

Is Arthur a boy or girl name?

Arthur is mainly a boy's name in US records (99% of uses since 1880).

How popular is Arthur?

3,325 US babies were named Arthur in 2024. Its peak year was 1881.

How do you pronounce Arthur?

Arthur is usually pronounced AR-thər.

Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.