UK boy's name
Arto
A Finnish masculine name derived from the Greek "Artoulos" meaning bear.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Arto is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Arto popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 6 births.
This profile covers 38 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2014 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 38 living people in the UK are called Arto. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Arto ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 6 boys were registered as Arto.
- • About 38 living people in the UK are estimated to have Arto as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4270
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2017
6 births
Estimated living
38
2026
Meaning
What does Arto mean?
The name Arto is of Finnish origin and is derived from the old Finnish word "artti", which means "bear". This name has been in use since the early 19th century and was particularly popular among Finnish speakers in the regions of Finland and Karelia.
Arto is believed to have been inspired by the revered bear in Finnish folklore and mythology. In ancient Finnish culture, the bear was considered a sacred animal and was often portrayed as a powerful and respected figure. The name Arto was likely chosen to honor this symbolic connection with the bear.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Arto can be found in the Finnish epic poem "Kalevala", which is a compilation of traditional folk tales and mythology. The poem, written in the 19th century, includes several characters with the name Arto, further solidifying its historical roots in Finnish culture.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Arto. One of the most famous was Arto Paasilinna (1942-2018), a renowned Finnish novelist and satirist known for his humorous and unconventional writing style. His works often explored themes of Finnish identity and societal norms.
Another prominent figure with the name Arto was Arto Salomaa (1934-2005), a Finnish mathematician and computer scientist who made significant contributions to the fields of formal language theory and automata theory. He was a professor at the University of Turku and served as the president of the Academy of Finland.
In the world of sports, Arto Tolsa (born 1945) is a former Finnish ice hockey player and coach. He played for several teams in the Finnish SM-liiga and represented Finland in international competitions, including the 1976 Winter Olympics.
Arto Numminen (born 1938) is a Finnish artist known for his abstract paintings and sculptures. His works have been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums worldwide, and he has received several prestigious awards for his contributions to the art world.
Arto Sihvonen (1938-2009) was a Finnish actor and director who had a long and successful career in both theater and film. He was recognized for his versatility and ability to portray a wide range of characters, from comedic roles to dramatic performances.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Arto over time
The chart below shows babies named Arto registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2014 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Arto, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Arto by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Arto was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3886 | 22 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3293 | 16 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Arto
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Arto: questions and answers
How popular is the name Arto in the UK right now?
In 2024, Arto was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Arto most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 6 babies registered as Arto in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Arto?
A Finnish masculine name derived from the Greek "Artoulos" meaning bear.
How many people are called Arto in the UK?
A total of 38 babies have been registered as Arto across the 8 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.