Comments for ARTHUR:

From the Greek 'Artos' meaning bear. References : Lady Mary Stewart's "Merlin" Series.

-- Anonymous User  3/1/2005

Arthur's a strong character name. There are pet forms like 'Art', and 'Artie,' (sounds better for Artemis). Always thought it was cool.

-- Tbird  6/23/2005

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created the famous sleuth Sherlock Holmes. [noted -ed]

-- Eirena  7/18/2005

No one will ever know, but another possible origin of the name is from "Arddu", a title sometimes associated with the Welsh mythological hero Bendigeidfran (Bran the Blessed).

"Arddu", according to one source at least (personally I'm sceptical), roughly translates into something meaning "dark one" (which coincides with the Bran the Blessed title, Bran meaning raven), and is pronounced Ar-thee (strong TH like in Arthur).

-- Anonymous User  7/27/2005

Arthur Weasley is a character in the Harry Potter series (and the father of Harry's best friend, Ron).

-- Anonymous User  8/16/2005

Also known as Atorius. King Arthur of the legendary story is a famous bearer of this name.

-- foxsurfergirl  9/25/2005

Arthur is an aardvark in a series of children's books and a T.V. show.

-- breakofday  12/9/2005

Though the first part of the name Arthur shares meaning and linguistic commonality with the Latin word Ursus (Bear) and a superficial resemblance to Artorius (Latin for ploughman) it is surely Celtic. It's purest form would be Eirth Dur. Eirth or Arth does indeed mean bear. Dur or thur as it is sometimes rendered, technically means steel not iron, though "Iron Bear" would be the most esthetically pleasing literal translation to English and has to the modern ear a native American quality. It is possible however that the name Arth Thur (Arthur) is an appellation and not a given name. It must be noted that as a given name it became quite popular among the Celts even during Arthur’s lifetime. The question still stands was Arthur the birth name of the great hero of the age?

-- Aetius  12/31/2005

I love the name Arthur. It is cool he has a strong and brave namesharer, King Arthur. When I get a boy, perhaps I will call him Arthur.

-- Anonymous User  1/16/2006

Arthur is from the Norse meaning 'Eagle of Thor'.

-- Ebba  3/3/2006

Chester A. Arthur was the 21st President of the United States.

-- breakofday  3/10/2006

Arthur Dent is the name of the protagonist of Douglas Adams' "The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy" series.

-- Katrien  3/13/2006

Famous bearer is Arthur Balfour, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1902 to 1905.

-- Anonymous User  3/26/2006

Famous bearer is Arthur Rimbaud, a French poet.

-- Anonymous User  3/26/2006

Arthur the Aardvark has forever ruined my image of the name. I only respect it because it's my father's middle name. Otherwise I would openly mock the name.

-- Anonymous User  7/1/2006

Being Arthur myself, I have experienced only positive reactions from people. It has a certain greatness and nobility about it perhaps because of King Arthur. Since my other name is Kgosi, meaning 'king or chief' in Tswana, my friends often refer to me as King Arthur!

-- Arkim  7/14/2006

Arthur is also used in Germany. Pronounced 'Ar-tur'.

-- Anonymous User  7/17/2006

Arthur Spooner, played by Jerry Stiller, is a character on the T.V. show "King of Queens."

-- breakofday  9/27/2006

Arthur Marx was Harpo of the Marx Brothers.

-- dani_08  10/29/2006

Arthur Miller was a famous playwright who wrote "The Crucible" and "Death of a Salesman".

-- mymymetrocard  11/12/2006

It's a current name in France too (Broceliande, Merlin and the Knights of the Round Table are very famous in Brittany). The French pronunciation is AHR-TUYR.
[noted -ed]

-- Nola  11/23/2006

A popular name in France, maybe, but as an English name it currently makes me think of old grandads with or without walking sticks. I wouldn't consider it for a child of mine.

-- freeserve.co.uk  3/5/2007

Dismissing a name like Arthur because it currently bears associations with an older generation is ridiculous to say the least. That "old man with a walking stick" was a child and a young man once. A few years ago Alfie was considered stodgy and old-fashioned in the UK. Look how popular it is now! Just goes to prove that it really is all a matter of perception and people's perceptions are easily transmuted.

-- Anonymous User  6/16/2007

This name makes me think of King Arthur and the name appears strong, heroic and historical, also fantasy like as no one knows whether he existed. It's still unique and a great name apart from when people say 'Ar-fa'!

-- Poet kc  5/11/2007

According to the American Heritage Dictionary, Arthur comes from an Indo-European root (*rtko-) that means "bear". (3rd ed., pg. 2122)

-- earthnut  6/1/2007

In the movie, "Shrek The Third" the next king of Far Far Away is named Arthur, but they call him Artie. He is a lowlife highschooler but proves everyone wrong when he is king. He's cute. :)

-- LindzPop  6/14/2007

Czech and Slovak pronunciation is "AHR-toor".

-- Karcoolka  6/16/2007

This name is growing on me. I like the masculine appeal, but not the nickname Art.

-- Emma McHnery  8/22/2007

I like the name, but not the nickname Art. But the name Arthur sounds very nice for a boy.

-- aquaspirit96  9/10/2007

Also a very rare girl's name in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s. Most people don't seem to know this, however.

-- freeserve.co.uk  9/11/2007

Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is a main character in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter.

-- trayc53  10/13/2007

Older dictionaries of names give meaning of Arthur as "of noble race" from the Celtic language. Possibly King Arthur never existed but the origin of the legend may have been about one of the Kings of the Arthurs, a forgotten race or tribe.

-- solar  10/20/2007

Gerard Arthur Way is the vocalist in My Chemical Romance.

-- Ryx3  11/9/2007

The legends of King Arthur were probably written about a 5th century Celtic chieftan of the British Isles. So yes, it is likely that he was based off a real person.

You can read more about it here: http://www.arthurian-legend.com/more-about/more-about-arthur-1.php

-- arrowhead909  12/8/2007

Arthur Sullivan, of Gilbert & Sullivan, is a famous bearer. He wrote the music for The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, and many other famous operettas.

-- Luanna  2/9/2008

A famous bearer was Arthur Ashe, Jr. (July 10, 1943 – February 6, 1993), a prominent African American tennis player. During his playing career, he won three Grand Slam titles. He is also remembered for his efforts to further social causes.

-- AndrewJKD  4/13/2008

I'm an Albanian, and I do believe that the name Arthur is of an Albanian origin.
Ar=gold, thur=knited
Thus we have someone knited in gold. In the early centuries many Albanians must have come to the British isles as part of the Roman army or emigrants.

-- lazaros  7/1/2008

The Kinks have an album, called "Arthur (or, the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)". It is a concept album, which tells the story of Arthur, the main character in the album.

-- Pippin  7/11/2008

This was Boo Radley's first name in "To Kill a Mockingbird". He's a recluse, but a nice one.

-- welovejamesarness  8/1/2008

Arthur Neumann was the father of actor Paul Newman. His parents were Hungarian father Simon Neumann and Polish mother Hanna Kohnowa.

-- Emilie007  10/4/2008

Famous bearer: Arthur Lee of the '60s band Love. They had hits with songs like "She Comes in Colors" and "Alone Again Or."

-- sea7968  10/9/2008

Variations of this name appear in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series (Artur Hawkwing) and Blizzard's WarCraft franchise (Arthas Menethil). Arthas Menethil's mentor was called Uther the Lightbringer.

-- Feorsteorra  1/8/2009

I like the sound of the name, and the meaning, but I don't think I'd ever name my kid that because it's too well known from King Arthur, and from the children's TV show character.

-- Daroga  3/8/2009

Author Arthur C. Clarke died on March 19, 2008 (1917-2008). You may want to update the name's entry. [noted -ed]

-- Anonymous User  6/28/2009

It's also used in the Netherlands where it's pronounced AHR-tuyr. [noted -ed]

-- renee06  7/17/2009

The very cool character known as Fonzie or The Fonz, on the 1980s show Happy Days, had the full name Arthur Fonzarelli. He was played by Henry Winkler, and he was quite the ladies man!

-- Anonymous User  7/21/2009

This was my grandfather's name, and brings to mind many other Arthurs as well, including King Arthur and Arthur Weasley from Harry Potter. I used to be fairly neutral towards it and mostly considered it an 'old' name, but it's grown on me.

-- xkimlyx  7/23/2009

Once, some years ago, while researching my first name in the library of my university I found a possible meaning for Arthur in an old text. Recently I ran into a website that had a similar meaning. If I remember correctly the text said "Someone who is guided by Thor; In Thor's Favor" the website said "A Follower Of Thor". I know not the veracity of this, but in that old text it mentioned similarities between both personages (regrettably I have no recollection of it's title other that it was about Arthurian Legends).

-- powmelt  8/2/2009

Personally, I like my name, Arturo, which is the Spanish form of Arthur. I had an Uncle that used to call me Artur, and I kind of like that, he used to say that my personality was very much like that personage, kind of a noble fool. That last bit I did not like, but since I kind of understand the compliment. In my mind, I'm kind of shy about my name, I do get a bit embarrassed by the way people react to my name. By the way, I kind of fancy swords.

-- powmelt  8/2/2009

The German pronunciation is AHR-toor. [noted -ed]

-- mafiosa  8/6/2009

I love the name Arthur but would never name my child this because it is too common. Since this name belongs to King Arthur and heroes from countless stories I always picture somebody that is brave, strong, and heroic.

-- Milena Scialfa  10/18/2009

Arthur Rimbaud, one of the most illustrious French poets with Victor Hugo and Charles Baudelaire.

-- CrYsT4L  10/30/2009

Key: Meaning/History Usage Pronunciation Famous Bearer Personal Impression Other

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