Arter is a male name with British and American English pronunciations. In both variations, it is pronounced as AR-ter (/ˈɑːtər/). Arter is a variant of the more common name Arthur. Arthur has a Celtic origin and means "bear king" or "bear-like." It carries associations of strength, courage, and wisdom. The name Arter has been recorded in the United States since at least 1916 when it was given to five newborn boys, ranking at number 3898 that year.