Alexandra vs Samantha
Alexandra and Samanthacompared 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2013, Alexandra was ranked #68 and Samantha #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2014, Alexandra was ranked #83 and Samantha #70 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alexandra was ranked #141 and Samantha #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Alexandra was ranked #176 and Samantha #541 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Alexandra was ranked #206 and Samantha #446 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Alexandra was ranked #212 and Samantha #525 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Alexandra was ranked #231 and Samantha #778 among girls in England and Wales.
Alexandra and Samantha over time
Alexandra and Samantha appear together in 6 published lists, across 226 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Samantha reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Alexandra in 2. 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 took the other's place near the top
In England and Wales · Girls, Alexandra moved into the top 50 at #49 in 1999 as Samantha fell out of it to #51, having been #44 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1999, Alexandra moved ahead of Samantha in England and Wales · Girls — #46 and #44 the year before became #49 and #51.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alexandra and Samantha changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1969 and 2013, ending at #68 and #84.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 41 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Alexandra and Samantha averaged 26.7 places apart, ending at #68 and #84.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexandra and Samantha were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #231 and #778.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alexandra #38 in 1996, Samantha #32 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #38 and #32 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #231 and #778.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls60 shared years, 1966–2025
Alexandra held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Samantha in 32.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #67 in 1998, Samantha #33 in 1986.
The order changed in 1998: Alexandra moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #132 and #73; by 1998 that had become #67 and #127.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexandra #141, Samantha #885.
Norway · Girls43 shared years, 1969–2025
Alexandra held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Samantha in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #70 in 2005, Samantha #298 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexandra #212, Samantha #525.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls41 shared years, 1969–2013
Alexandra held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Samantha in 37.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #16 in 1993, Samantha #3 in 1992.
The order changed in 2012: Alexandra moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #92 and #72; by 2012 that had become #85 and #91.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alexandra #68, Samantha #84.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alexandra held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Samantha in 3.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #38 in 1996, Samantha #32 in 1996.
The order changed in 1999: Alexandra moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #46 and #44; by 1999 that had become #49 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexandra #231, Samantha #778.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1985–2014
Alexandra held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samantha in 29.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #26 in 1990, Samantha #3 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Alexandra #83, Samantha #70.
Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1997–2021
Alexandra held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Samantha in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #45 in 1997, Samantha #57 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Alexandra #206, Samantha #446.
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 | Alexandra | Samantha |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Likely a feminine adaptation of Samuel, incorporating a suffix possibly derived from Greek 'anthos' ('flower'). Emerged in 18th-century America; boosted to wide popularity by the 1964 television series Bewitched. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Hebrew, feminine adaptation (uncertain suffix origin) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /sə.ˈmæn.θə/ |
| Syllables | 4 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #141 (2025) | Norway · Girls #525 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Samantha has a recorded origin (Hebrew, feminine adaptation (uncertain suffix origin)); Alexandra does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexandra has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Samantha.
- A meaning is recorded for Samantha; Alexandra doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Alexandra
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #400 among girls in Norway in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1969–2015
Highest recorded position: #16 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1993 (recorded 1969–2015).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #231 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Samantha
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #79 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2013
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1992 (recorded 1966–2013).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #778 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls