Irish boy name
Art Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Art means bear. From the Irish word art, meaning bear, the name of a legendary high king.
Art mac Cuinn, called Art Óenfer, the lone one, is a legendary high king of Ireland in the Kings Cycle and the father of the famous Cormac mac Airt. According to the tales he was killed at the battle of Mag Mucrama. The name comes from the Irish word for bear. In Irish, Art is a distinct name that stands apart from the English Art, which is usually short for Arthur or Arturo, though the two have crossed over. Art is short and strong, and an uncomplicated choice with real depth.
Variants of Art
AirtÁrtArtán
Art popularity: Ireland vs the US
In 2025 Art ranked #319 in Ireland (12 babies) and #3,382 in the US (34 babies). It is far more popular in Ireland than in America.
Ireland (boys)United States (boys)
Rank among babies of the same sex, 1 = most popular (log scale). Ranks below #10,000 sit on the bottom edge. Gaps mean fewer than 3 Irish or 5 US babies that year.
Data: US Social Security Administration (public domain) and Central Statistics Office, Ireland (CC BY 4.0). Irish accented spellings (such as Síle) are only recorded from 2018, so earlier years combine spellings.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Art mean?
Art means "bear". From the Irish word art, meaning bear, the name of a legendary high king.
How do you pronounce Art?
Art is pronounced ART.
What is the origin of Art?
Art is of Irish origin. From the Irish word art, meaning bear, the name of a legendary high king.