Arthur
Arthur is a boys' name of Celtic origin meaning “bear.” It ranked #87 in the United States in 2025. Arthur has deep roots in Celtic and Arthurian legend as the name of the legendary British king.
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how do you pronounce Arthur?
AR-thur
where does the name Arthur come from?
The origin of Arthur is uncertain. A word for bear is the most often proposed root; other suggestions are a compound of bear and man, or a Latinised Romano-British name comparable with Artorius, which may itself be Etruscan or Illyrian.
After decades of dormancy, it has surged back as part of the vintage name revival, particularly in Europe.
how popular is this name?
Arthur has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 146 years since 1880. It peaked at #14 in 1880, and ranked #87 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #87 |
| 2024 | #105 |
| 2023 | #130 |
| 2022 | #140 |
| 2021 | #154 |
| 2020 | #163 |
| 2019 | #177 |
| 2018 | #229 |
| 2017 | #245 |
| 2016 | #273 |
| 2010 | #388 |
| 2000 | #316 |
| 1990 | #197 |
| 1980 | #147 |
| 1970 | #111 |
| 1960 | #82 |
| 1950 | #46 |
| 1940 | #33 |
| 1930 | #23 |
| 1920 | #18 |
| 1910 | #17 |
| 1900 | #15 |
| 1890 | #14 |
| 1880 | #14 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Arthur fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Arthur
The name's popularity comes from the legendary King Arthur rather than from any documented historical bearer, and the French form has been in use since the Middle Ages.
who are famous people named Arthur?
- King Arthur (legendary British monarch)
- Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes creator)
- Arthur Miller (American playwright)
what are the nicknames and variants of Arthur?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Arthur?
what names go well with Arthur?
Sibling names that share Arthur's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Arthur
What does the name Arthur mean?
Arthur means “bear”.
What is the origin of the name Arthur?
Arthur comes from the Celtic naming tradition. Related forms include Arthur, Artur and Artús.
How popular is the name Arthur?
Arthur ranked #87 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1880, at #14, and it has spent 146 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Arthur a boy or girl name?
Arthur is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Arthur?
Arthur is pronounced AR-thur, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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