Arthur first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Arthur has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Arthur

A masculine given name of Celtic origin meaning "bear".

Popularity of Arthur by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Arthur is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Arthur being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 2,823 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Arthur.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 2,823 0
2022 2,674 0
2021 2,473 0
2020 2,333 0
2019 2,190 0
2018 1,650 0
2017 1,513 0
2016 1,344 5
2015 1,246 0
2014 1,151 0
2013 1,030 0
2012 865 0
2011 893 0
2010 728 0
2009 811 0
2008 862 0
2007 819 0
2006 792 0
2005 830 0
2004 792 0
2003 795 0
2002 844 0
2001 881 0
2000 914 0
1999 874 0
1998 983 0
1997 973 0
1996 1,008 0
1995 1,113 0
1994 1,160 6
1993 1,240 5
1992 1,412 7
1991 1,477 12
1990 1,541 8
1989 1,533 8
1988 1,553 13
1987 1,557 15
1986 1,571 16
1985 1,716 17
1984 1,701 15
1983 1,747 22
1982 1,794 18
1981 1,803 16
1980 1,821 18
1979 1,863 17
1978 1,875 18
1977 1,969 9
1976 1,904 19
1975 2,022 22
1974 2,075 19

The history of the first name Arthur

The name Arthur originates from the Celtic British sources and is derived from the Celtic compound name Artur, which means "bear" and "man" or "bear man." It is believed to have emerged in the 6th century AD among the ancient Britons, who were of Celtic descent and inhabited the regions of Great Britain.

The name gained significant popularity due to its association with the legendary King Arthur, a British leader who is said to have defended Britain against the Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries. The tales of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table have been widely celebrated in literature, art, and folklore throughout the centuries, contributing to the enduring fame of the name.

The earliest recorded use of the name Arthur dates back to the 6th century, when it appeared in the Welsh genealogies and historical accounts. One of the earliest known individuals with the name was Arthur, a 6th-century British king who led the defense against the Anglo-Saxons, as depicted in the legendary tales.

Over the course of history, several notable figures have borne the name Arthur. One of the most famous was Arthur I, Duke of Brittany (1187-1203), who was a medieval Breton ruler and one of the few indisputably historical figures to bear the name during the Middle Ages. Another prominent Arthur was Arthur Tudor (1486-1502), the eldest son of King Henry VII of England and heir to the throne before his untimely death.

During the 19th century, the name gained renewed popularity due to the Romantic movement's fascination with Arthurian legends. Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), was a notable British military leader and statesman who defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930), the celebrated Scottish writer and creator of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes, also contributed to the name's enduring appeal.

In the 20th century, Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008), the renowned British science fiction writer and futurist, became a prominent bearer of the name. Another notable Arthur was Arthur Ashe (1943-1993), an American professional tennis player who was the first black man to win the Wimbledon singles title and a prominent advocate for civil rights and social justice.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have carried the name Arthur, a name that has endured for centuries and continues to be widely used across various cultures and societies.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Arthur was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Arthur, please contact us.

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"Arthur first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 4, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/arthur-meaning-and-history/.

"Arthur first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/arthur-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 4 December, 2024

Arthur first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/arthur-meaning-and-history/.

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