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At a Glance: Name: Arthur – Meaning: possibly 'bear' (etymology disputed) – Origin: Celtic (Welsh), disputed — possibly a Latinized Romano-British name – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: AR-thur
Arthur (pronounced AR-thur) carries a bold, vintage feel — it's a Celtic name, specifically Welsh, though its exact origins are disputed and some scholars trace it to a Latinized Romano-British name instead. You may have heard Arthur means 'noble' and 'courageous,' but that's a popular claim rather than a settled fact — the name's meaning is genuinely uncertain, with 'bear' being one disputed possibility rather than a confirmed one. If you're drawn to a name with history but no tidy, guaranteed meaning, Arthur fits that spot.
Meaning & Origin of Arthur
Meaning: Possibly 'bear' (etymology disputed).
Origin: Celtic (Welsh), disputed — possibly a Latinized Romano-British name.
A common claim: Arthur is widely believed to mean 'noble' and 'courageous', or alternatively 'bear' (from Welsh arth). Actually: Arthur's etymology is disputed and uncertain; 'noble, courageous' matches none of the leading scholarly theories and looks like a popular interpretation rather than an attested meaning.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Arthur
Phonetic: AR-thur IPA: /ˈɑːrθər/
Popularity of Arthur
Arthur hit its peak popularity in 1880, ranking #14 with 1,599 baby boys given the name that year. By 2024 it had settled to #105, though it was actually given to more boys in absolute terms — 3,318 — reflecting how much larger the overall naming pool has grown since.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Make Arthur Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Arthur, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Arthur mean?
Possibly ‘bear’ (etymology disputed). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Arthur)
How do you pronounce Arthur?
Arthur is pronounced AR-thur (IPA: /ˈɑːrθər/).
Is Arthur a popular name right now?
Arthur peaked at #14 in 1880 and is ranked #105 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
📊 How popular is Arthur? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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