Boy name · Celtic
Arthur
★ #5 in England & Wales, 2025
Arthur is a boy's name of Celtic origin, meaning "Bear — the legendary king". It was the 5th most popular boys' name in England and Wales in 2025 (ONS). It is a vintage name enjoying a genuine revival, and we file it here as a vintage-revival and a classic name — useful shorthand if you're building a shortlist around a particular feel rather than starting from scratch.
At a glance
- Meaning
- Bear — the legendary king
- Origin
- Celtic
- Name family
- Celtic & Welsh
- Gender
- Boy
- Style
- vintage, classic
- UK rank (2025)
- #5 (ONS)
Names similar to Arthur
Sharing at least one style with Arthur — a starting point if you like the feel but want more options.
Sibling name pairings
Names that share Arthur's style, if you're planning ahead for a brother or sister.
Questions about the name Arthur
What does the name Arthur mean?
Arthur is of Celtic origin and means "Bear — the legendary king".
Is Arthur a popular baby name in the UK?
Yes — Arthur was the 5th most popular boys' name in England and Wales in 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics (the latest published data). Rankings update yearly; we refresh this page when ONS releases new figures.
What names are similar to Arthur?
Names with a similar style to Arthur include Oscar, Theodore, Felix, Tobias.
For current official UK popularity rankings, see the ONS baby names statistics for England and Wales — the only authoritative live source. Explore more names in our Baby Name Finder, or try our due date calculator if you're just getting started.
Reviewed July 2026.