Andrea vs Samantha
Andrea 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 1988, Andrea was ranked #94 and Samantha #5 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Andrea was ranked #98 and Samantha #525 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Andrea was ranked #355 and Samantha #239 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Andrea was ranked #304 and Samantha #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Andrea was ranked #1021 and Samantha #670 among girls in England and Wales.
Andrea and Samantha over time
Andrea and Samantha appear together in 5 published lists, across 160 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Andrea reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 1984, Samantha moved ahead of Andrea in New Zealand · Girls — #58 and #80 the year before became #70 and #55.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Andrea and Samantha changed places 14 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1966 and 2025, ending at #304 and #885.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 60 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Andrea and Samantha averaged 59.1 places apart, ending at #304 and #885.
- Longest-running competitions
Andrea and Samantha were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 43 years, from 1969 to 2025, ending at #98 and #525.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Andrea #354 in 1998, Samantha #32 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls60 shared years, 1966–2025
Andrea held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Samantha in 28.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #62 in 1985, Samantha #33 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrea #304, Samantha #885.
Norway · Girls43 shared years, 1969–2025
Andrea held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Samantha in 0.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #11 in 2005, Samantha #298 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrea #98, Samantha #525.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Andrea held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samantha in 29.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #354 in 1998, Samantha #32 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrea #1021, Samantha #670.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1997–2017
Andrea held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Samantha in 17.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #119 in 1999, Samantha #57 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Andrea #355, Samantha #239.
New Zealand · Girls10 shared years, 1978–1988
Andrea held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Samantha in 5.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #28 in 1978, Samantha #5 in 1988.
The order changed in 1984: Samantha moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #58 and #80; by 1984 that had become #70 and #55.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Andrea #94, Samantha #5.
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 | Andrea | 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 | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #98 (2025) | Norway · Girls #525 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 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)); Andrea does not have one recorded yet.
- Andrea has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Samantha.
- A meaning is recorded for Samantha; Andrea doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Andrea
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #401 among girls in Norway in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in Norway, in 2005 (recorded 1952–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #98 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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 #525 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls