Arthur
Boy name · #87 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Arthur? In official American birth records, Arthur has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 3,847 baby boys were named Arthur, placing it at #87 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #292, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 468 boys born in 2025 was named Arthur.
Babies named Arthur per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Arthur first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 1,599 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1921, when 10,527 boys were named Arthur — good for #19 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Arthur against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Arthur in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Arthur is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Arthur is most common
Geography matters for names, and Arthur is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Arthur is most common in VT (12 per 1,000), DC (8.7 per 1,000), ME (7.3 per 1,000), AK (6.6 per 1,000), MT (6.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 2.6 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Arthur is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Nicknames & related forms of Arthur
Arthur carries a whole family of nicknames and spellings — names that will feel like the same name in a classroom.
Counted as one name, the Arthur family went to about 3,881 boys in 2025 — together they'd rank around #85, versus #87 for Arthur alone.
Names like Arthur
Statistically, parents drawn to Arthur tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are George, Walter, Warren, Calvin, and Leon.
GeorgeWalterWarrenCalvinLeonLouisHarveyCharlie
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Arthur | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,847 | #87 |
| 2024 | 3,334 | #105 |
| 2023 | 2,832 | #130 |
| 2022 | 2,691 | #140 |
| 2021 | 2,477 | #154 |
| 2020 | 2,338 | #163 |
| 2019 | 2,193 | #177 |
| 2018 | 1,653 | #229 |
| 2017 | 1,514 | #245 |
| 2016 | 1,345 | #273 |
| 2015 | 1,247 | #292 |
| 2014 | 1,153 | #306 |
| 2013 | 1,034 | #321 |
| 2012 | 865 | #355 |
| 2011 | 893 | #339 |
| 2010 | 730 | #388 |
| 2009 | 812 | #374 |
| 2008 | 862 | #363 |
| 2007 | 819 | #375 |
| 2006 | 793 | #377 |
| 2005 | 830 | #356 |
| 2004 | 792 | #355 |
| 2003 | 795 | #351 |
| 2002 | 844 | #326 |
| 2001 | 881 | #319 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Arthur?
In official American birth records, the name Arthur first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 1,599 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Arthur a popular boy name?
Arthur ranked #87 among boys in 2025 with 3,847 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #292.
When was the name Arthur most popular?
Arthur peaked in 1921, when 10,527 American boys received the name (ranked #19 that year). Since 1921 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Arthur?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 468 newborn American boys was named Arthur. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.