Art: Meaning, Pronunciation and Origin
Art is an Irish boy's name meaning “champion.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Meaning
- Champion
- Gender
- Boy
- English forms
- Arthur
- Popularity in Ireland
- No. 329 for boys (2025)
How do you pronounce Art?
Art is pronounced ART. It has one syllable.
What does Art mean?
In Ireland a separate name from Arthur it comes from an ancient word for “a bear,” used in the sense of “outstanding warrior” or “champion.” A pagan High King of Ireland, Art’s rule was so honest that two angels hovered over him in battle.
How popular is Art in Ireland?
In 2025, 12 baby boys in Ireland were named Art, which made it No. 329 that year. That's up from No. 397 ten years earlier. It was most popular in 2019, when 19 baby boys were named Art, No. 244 that year. It first appears in the records in 1965, with 3 baby boys.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | No. 329 |
| 2024 | 12 | No. 327 |
| 2023 | 10 | No. 362 |
| 2022 | 13 | No. 329 |
| 2021 | 13 | No. 326 |
| 2020 | 13 | No. 324 |
| 2019 | 19 | No. 244 |
| 2018 | 16 | No. 283 |
| 2017 | 14 | No. 305 |
| 2016 | 16 | No. 283 |
| 2015 | 9 | No. 397 |
| 2014 | 8 | No. 428 |
| 2013 | 3 | No. 711 |
| 2012 | 4 | No. 616 |
| 2010 | 7 | No. 448 |
| 2009 | 3 | No. 701 |
| 2008 | 12 | No. 328 |
| 2007 | 5 | No. 473 |
| 2006 | 5 | No. 423 |
| 2004 | 4 | No. 439 |
| 2003 | 4 | No. 423 |
| 2001 | 3 | No. 409 |
| 2000 | 3 | No. 390 |
| 1998 | 3 | No. 369 |
| 1995 | 3 | No. 334 |
| 1994 | 3 | No. 342 |
| 1987 | 3 | No. 303 |
| 1973 | 3 | No. 320 |
| 1965 | 3 | No. 250 |
Art in Ogham
Ogham is the oldest way of writing Irish. It was carved along the edges of standing stones, mostly between the 4th and 6th centuries, and read from the bottom up. In later tradition each letter was named after a tree or plant. Here’s Art, letter by letter.
- AAilm, pine
- RRuis, elder
- TTinne, holly
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Art
Questions about Art
- How do you pronounce Art?
- Art is pronounced ART. One syllable.
- What does Art mean?
- Art means “champion.”
- Is Art a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Art is a boy's name.
- What is Art in English?
- The English form of Art is Arthur.
- How popular is Art in Ireland?
- In 2025, Art was No. 329 for boys in Ireland, with 12 babies, according to the Central Statistics Office. It was most popular in 2019, at No. 244.