Arthur

Arthur is an old Celtic name most famously tied to the legendary King Arthur. Likely meaning 'bear,' it carries centuries of literary weight while sounding fresh again today.

Shop your Arthur necklace

What Does the Name Arthur Mean?

Arthur's exact roots are debated, but the leading theory ties it to the Celtic word artos, 'bear,' possibly combined with a word for 'fresh' or 'pure' — read together as someone strong and formidable as a bear. Some scholars instead trace it to the Roman family name Artorius.

Popularity in the United States

Arthur ranks around #87 among US boys' names in 2025, part of the broader revival of vintage early-1900s names alongside Theodore, Henry, and Charles.

Personality & Traits

Arthur tends to read as noble, steady, and a touch old-fashioned in the best sense — a name with the gravity of legend but the friendly nickname Artie to soften it.

Nicknames & Variations

Artie and Art are the standard English nicknames. Arturo is the Spanish and Italian form, and the name is inseparable from its legendary namesake, King Arthur.

Arthur ranks around #87 among US boys' names in 2025, part of the revival of vintage early-1900s names.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Arthur mean?

Arthur likely means 'bear,' from the Celtic word artos, though its exact origin is debated.

Is Arthur a boy or girl name?

Arthur is used almost exclusively as a boy's name.

Is Arthur named after King Arthur?

The legendary King Arthur is the name's most famous bearer, but the name predates the legend itself, appearing in 9th-century Welsh records.

Is Arthur a popular name?

Yes, it ranks around #87 among US boys' names in 2025.

The origin & history of Arthur

Arthur is a name of uncertain, disputed etymology, with three competing scholarly theories: (1) from the Roman family name Artorius, a theory etymologist Kemp Malone called "unsupported by any evidence worthy of the name"; (2) linguist Stefan Zimmer's proposal that Artorius Latinizes a hypothetical Celtic Artorījos, "son of the bear/warrior-king"; and (3) a minority view, which has gained only limited acceptance among scholars, deriving the name from Latin Arcturus ("bear guardian," from Greek arktos "bear" + ouros "watcher"), the brightest star in Boötes. The popular "arth (bear) + wr (man)" Welsh derivation is phonologically and orthographically impossible. The name's earliest attestation is in the early 9th-century Welsh-Latin Historia Brittonum, referring to a putative 5th-century Romano-British general.

Notable people named Arthur

Arthur Conan Doyle — British writer and physician (1859–1930), creator of Sherlock Holmes.

Source: Wikipedia: Arthur Conan Doyle

Arthur Ashe — American tennis player (1943–1993); won three Grand Slam singles titles and remains the only Black man to win the singles title at Wimbledon, the US Open, or the Australian Open.

Source: Wikipedia: Arthur Ashe

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington — British military officer and statesman (1769–1852); commanded the British-led army that, together with Field Marshal Blücher's Prussians, defeated Napoleon at Waterloo (1815), and later served two terms as Prime Minister (1828–1830 and 1834).

Source: Wikipedia: Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington

Popularity of the name Arthur in the US

2024 · 3,325 babies · rank #181 (7 girls, 3,318 boys)