Felix
Latin
“happy, fortunate”
Mostly boys · Celtic
“bear”
Say it AHR-thurPronunciation may vary by region.
A little maybe, saved for later.
The story behind the name
Arthur, once the shining head of the Knights of the Round Table, is, after decades of neglect, now being polished up and restored by stylish parents, inspired perhaps by the new generation of royals. Arthur has led the list of possible names for the young British princes, chosen as a middle name for Prince Louis, son of William and Catherine, Prince and Princess of Wales.
In addition to its leading role in the Arthurian legends, Arthurs figure prominently in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, Edgar Allan Poe's The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket and George Eliot's Adam Bede. There are also countless Arthurs in children's literature, movies, and TV -- including The Fonz of Happy Days fame. More recently, Arthur was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Santa in the eponymous movie Arthur Christmas.
Arthur has many notable namesakes, including playwright Arthur Miller; writer/astronomer Arthur C. Clarke; writers Arthur Conan Doyle, Arthur Rimbaud and Arthur Koestler; philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer; conductor Arthur Fiedler; and tennis great Arthur Ashe, the first African American to win the U.S. Open. Queen Victoria's seventh child was Prince Arthur.
A little perspective
Recorded US births over time
| Year | Category | US rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 87 | 3,847 |
| 2024 | Boys | 105 | 3,334 |
| 2024 | Girls | 12,303 | 7 |
| 2023 | Boys | 130 | 2,832 |
| 2022 | Boys | 140 | 2,691 |
| 2021 | Boys | 155 | 2,477 |
| 2020 | Boys | 163 | 2,338 |
| 2019 | Boys | 177 | 2,193 |
| 2018 | Boys | 229 | 1,653 |
| 2017 | Boys | 245 | 1,514 |
| 2016 | Boys | 273 | 1,345 |
| 2016 | Girls | 16,543 | 5 |
| 2015 | Boys | 292 | 1,247 |
| 2014 | Boys | 306 | 1,153 |
Rankings are calculated separately for boys and girls. Records below the publication threshold may be missing; gaps are not zero births.
No nicknames are listed yet. The name can stand beautifully on its own.
Keep the possibilities coming
More names with a similar feeling or shared roots.
Latin
“happy, fortunate”
German
“estate ruler”
Greek
“gift of God”