Arthur
Arthur: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈɑːθə/ · /ˈɑɹθɚ/
Meaning and origin of Arthur
Root meaning: “bear”
- A male given name from the Celtic languages.
Etymology
From the name of the legendary king, from Middle English Arthure, from Medieval Latin Arthurus, probably from Middle Welsh arth (“bear”). Other suggestions include Old Welsh arth (“bear”) and ur (“man”), or a Latinized (Romano-British) name; compare Latin Artorius, itself possibly of Etruscan origin, or more likely Messapic-Illyrian related to Proto-Albanian *artsa (“bear”).
How popular is Arthur?
Since 1880, 3,201 girls and 548,729 boys in the U.S. have been named Arthur (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #699 in 1885. Its highest rank for boys was #14 in 1880. In 2025 it ranked #87 for boys, with 3,847 babies given the name.
Names similar to Arthur
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Celtic boy names
Sibling name ideas for Arthur
Sister and brother names that share Arthur's Celtic roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Arthur FAQ
What does the name Arthur mean?
Arthur traces back to a root meaning "bear". A male given name from the Celtic languages. From the name of the legendary king, from Middle English Arthure, from Medieval Latin Arthurus, probably from Middle Welsh arth (“bear”). Other suggestions include Old Welsh arth (“bear”) and ur (“man”), or a Latinized (Romano-British) name; compare Latin Artorius, itself possibly of Etruscan origin, or more likely Messapic-Illyrian related to Proto-Albanian *artsa (“bear”).
What is the origin of the name Arthur?
Arthur is listed as a name of Celtic origin.
How popular is the name Arthur?
Since 1880, 3,201 girls and 548,729 boys in the U.S. have been named Arthur (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #699 in 1885. Its highest rank for boys was #14 in 1880. In 2025 it ranked #87 for boys, with 3,847 babies given the name.
Is Arthur a boy or girl name?
Arthur is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 3,201 girls and 548,729 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.