Albert vs Samuel
Albert and Samuelcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Albert was ranked #57 and Samuel #60 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Albert was ranked #58 and Samuel #75 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Albert was ranked #216 and Samuel #64 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Albert was ranked #218 and Samuel #69 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Albert was ranked #348 and Samuel #76 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Albert and Samuel over time
Albert and Samuel appear together in 4 published lists, across 175 years of shared records. Samuel held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Albert in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Samuel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Albert in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1974, Samuel moved ahead of Albert in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #140 and #152 the year before became #196 and #148.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Albert and Samuel changed places 10 times in Norway · Boys between 1946 and 2025, ending at #58 and #75.
- Longest-running competitions
Albert and Samuel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 73 years, from 1946 to 2025, ending at #58 and #75.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Boys within 2 years — Albert #52 in 2021, Samuel #44 in 2019.
List by list
Norway · Boys73 shared years, 1946–2025
Albert held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Samuel in 53.
Highest recorded here: Albert #52 in 2021, Samuel #44 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Albert #58, Samuel #75.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Albert held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Samuel in 52.
Highest recorded here: Albert #101 in 1964, Samuel #33 in 2013.
The order changed in 1974: Samuel moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #140 and #152; by 1974 that had become #196 and #148.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Albert #348, Samuel #76.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Albert held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Samuel in 26.
Highest recorded here: Albert #55 in 2018, Samuel #6 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Albert #57, Samuel #60.
Northern Ireland · Boys11 shared years, 1997–2024
Albert held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samuel in 11.
Highest recorded here: Albert #200 in 2023, Samuel #26 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Albert #216, Samuel #64.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Albert | Samuel |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Traditionally rendered as 'name of God', though also popularly interpreted as 'God has heard' — sources differ on which root is emphasised. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈsæmjuːəl/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #58 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #38 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Samuel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel); Albert does not have one recorded yet.
- Albert and Samuel both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Samuel; Albert doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Albert
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #227 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #52 among boys in Norway, in 2021 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #58 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Samuel
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #339 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1967–2023
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 1998 (recorded 1967–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #38 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys