Arthur
BoyUncertain · English: /ˈɑː.θə/ (British), /ˈɑɹ.θəɹ/ (American); German: /ˈaʁ.tʊʁ/; French: /aʁ.tyʁ/.
Arthur carries the imagery of the legendary king, while its exact etymology remains uncertain. Its English, German and French pronunciations differ.
Origin
Uncertain
Pronunciation
English: /ˈɑː.θə/ (British), /ˈɑɹ.θəɹ/ (American); German: /ˈaʁ.tʊʁ/; French: /aʁ.tyʁ/.
Uncertain; possibly connected with ‘bear’
Arthur’s most vivid association is the legendary king of medieval stories. That gives the name a courtly, storybook quality: it may appeal to someone who enjoys a regal style with a literary centre. This association is much clearer than the literal meaning. A Celtic word for ‘bear’ and the Roman family name Artorius are possible roots, but neither makes ‘bear king’ or ‘bear-strong’ a certain translation. The written name is used in English, German and French, with distinct sounds. English Arthur has the th of ‘think’; German and French use a t sound instead. The French u also differs from the German vowel. For a family using these languages, Arthur offers a shared spelling with room for more than one familiar sound.
Etymology: Arthur’s derivation is disputed. A Celtic element meaning ‘bear’ and the Roman family name Artorius are among the explanations proposed.
Spelling table
Code
.- .-. - .... ..- .-.
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Braille
⠠⠁⠗⠞⠓⠥⠗
Name popularity
Latest year: 2025
Boys
Rank87
Girls
RankNot reported
Source
SSA records cover Social Security card applications, not every US birth. Names with fewer than 5 occurrences are omitted; gaps do not mean zero. Spellings are kept separate, except that SSA removes spaces and hyphens. Equal counts are ranked alphabetically. Ranks are calculated separately for boys and girls.
Origin
Uncertain