Arthur
Arthur is a boys' name of Celtic origin meaning “bear, noble, courageous.” 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.
how do you pronounce Arthur?
AR-thur
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Arthur mean?
The name Arthur means “bear, noble, courageous.” It comes from the Celtic language tradition.
Arthur has deep roots in Celtic and Arthurian legend as the name of the legendary British king. After decades of dormancy, it has surged back as part of the vintage name revival, particularly in Europe.
where does the name Arthur come from?
Genuinely uncertain, and the sources say so. Wiktionary gives a word for bear as the probable root, while listing alternatives: a compound of bear and man, or a Latinised Romano-British name compared with Artorius, which may itself be Etruscan or Illyrian in origin. Wikipedia states plainly that the etymology is uncertain. The noble and courageous glosses often attached to the name are not supported by any of these.
the history of Arthur
Wikipedia is direct about why the name endured: its popularity derives from the legendary King Arthur rather than from any documented historical bearer. The French form has been in use since the Middle Ages.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #87 |
| 2024 | #105 |
| 2023 | #130 |
| 2022 | #140 |
| 2021 | #155 |
| 2020 | #163 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
what are the nicknames and variants of Arthur?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Arthur?
- King Arthur (legendary British monarch)
- Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes creator)
- Arthur Miller (American playwright)
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.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
love Arthur? get 10 more names curated for your family.
Popularity rankings and meanings are just the starting point. Our AI consultant finds names that match your heritage, style, and what matters most to you.
Completely free. No credit card required.
start free consultation