Namewise

Amanda vs Samantha

Amanda 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 Zealand · Girls

    In 1997, Amanda was ranked #72 and Samantha #6 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1999, Amanda was ranked #84 and Samantha #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2025, Amanda was ranked #52 and Samantha #525 among girls in Norway.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2017, Amanda was ranked #355 and Samantha #239 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Amanda was ranked #608 and Samantha #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Amanda was ranked #1036 and Samantha #670 among girls in England and Wales.

Amanda and Samantha over time

Amanda and Samantha appear together in 6 published lists, across 197 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.

Amanda reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Samantha 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 1987, Samantha moved ahead of Amanda in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #4 and #10 the year before became #5 and #4.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Amanda and Samantha changed places 12 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1966 and 2025, ending at #608 and #885.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Amanda and Samantha averaged 23.6 places apart, ending at #84 and #11.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Samantha rose about as far as Amanda fell — from #36 and #79 in 1966 to #84 and #11 in 1999.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Amanda and Samantha were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 34 years, from 1966 to 1999, ending at #84 and #11.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Amanda #170 in 1996, Samantha #32 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls60 shared years, 1966–2025

    Amanda held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Samantha in 20.

    Highest recorded here: Amanda #15 in 1986, Samantha #33 in 1986.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Amanda #608, Samantha #885.

  • Norway · Girls41 shared years, 1983–2025

    Amanda held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Samantha in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Amanda #26 in 2016, Samantha #298 in 2015.

    The order changed in 1986: Amanda moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #433 and #429; by 1986 that had become #253 and #623.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Amanda #52, Samantha #525.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls34 shared years, 1966–1999

    Amanda held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Samantha in 13.

    Highest recorded here: Amanda #2 in 1980, Samantha #3 in 1992.

    The order changed in 1987: Samantha moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #4 and #10; by 1987 that had become #5 and #4.

    Most recent shared year, 1999: Amanda #84, Samantha #11.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Amanda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samantha in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Amanda #170 in 1996, Samantha #32 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Amanda #1036, Samantha #670.

  • New Zealand · Girls19 shared years, 1978–1997

    Amanda held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Samantha in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Amanda #4 in 1985, Samantha #3 in 1989.

    The order changed in 1988: Samantha moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #4 and #8; by 1988 that had become #7 and #5.

    Most recent shared year, 1997: Amanda #72, Samantha #6.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1997–2017

    Amanda held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Samantha in 13.

    Highest recorded here: Amanda #164 in 1998, Samantha #57 in 2000.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2017: Amanda #355, Samantha #239.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Amanda

Pairs where Amanda shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Samantha

Pairs where Samantha shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.

All one moved ahead of the other→

Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1990s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1990 and 1999.

The 1990s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Amanda, Samantha
FieldAmandaSamantha
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedLikely 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.
OriginNot yet recordedHebrew, feminine adaptation (uncertain suffix origin)
PronunciationNot yet recorded/sə.ˈmæn.θə/
Syllables33
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #52 (2025)Norway · Girls #525 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Samantha has a recorded origin (Hebrew, feminine adaptation (uncertain suffix origin)); Amanda does not have one recorded yet.
  • Amanda and Samantha both have 3 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Samantha; Amanda doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Amanda

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1954

    First recorded at #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1954–1999

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1980 (recorded 1954–1999).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #52 among girls in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Girls

Samantha

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1966–2013

    Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1992 (recorded 1966–2013).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #525 among girls in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Girls