Arthur
Bear king · Celtic origin
What does Arthur mean?
Arthur is a male name of Celtic origin, meaning “Bear king”.
How popular is Arthur?
In England & Wales, Arthur ranked #4 among boys' names in 2024, with 3,368 babies given the name — up from #41 in 2014. Its strongest year in the England & Wales series is 2020, when it reached #3.
In the United States, Arthur was the #163 boys' name in the 2020 data, after peaking at #14 in 1880.
Arthur is a sharply British choice: #4 in England & Wales against #163 in the US.
| Year | E&W rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | #234 | 129 |
| 2000 | #201 | 161 |
| 2005 | #135 | 375 |
| 2010 | #82 | 786 |
| 2015 | #37 | 1,966 |
| 2020 | #3 | 4,052 |
| 2024 | #4 | 3,368 |
Who are famous people named Arthur?
- Bertrand Russell · British philosopher and logician (1872–1970)
- Arthur Conan Doyle · British writer and physician (1859–1930)
- Charles III · King of the United Kingdom since 2022 (born 1948)
What names go well with Arthur?
More on Arthur
Celtic roots, a fearsome meaning and top-ten status in five countries. Arthur is having a very regal moment.
Arthur: the bear king is back on the throne — Arthur as our Name of the Day.
Henry: the home ruler with a nickname for every mood — Arthur gets a mention.
Clara: bright, clear and quietly brilliant — Arthur gets a mention.
Leon: the lion-hearted name with a Leo inside — Arthur gets a mention.
George: the name that keeps its feet on the ground — Arthur gets a mention.
Eva: three letters that mean life itself — Arthur gets a mention.
Alice: the quiet classic that went global — Arthur gets a mention.
Swipe & match on Arthur in Settle