Andrew vs Samuel
Andrew 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2013, Andrew was ranked #75 and Samuel #7 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2016, Andrew was ranked #89 and Samuel #15 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2021, Andrew was ranked #458 and Samuel #48 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #315 and Samuel #60 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #216 and Samuel #64 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #104 and Samuel #69 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Andrew was ranked #106 and Samuel #76 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Andrew and Samuel over time
Andrew and Samuel appear together in 6 published lists, across 260 years of shared records. Samuel held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Andrew in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Andrew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Samuel in none. 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 1996, Samuel moved ahead of Andrew in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #15 and #20 the year before became #22 and #16.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Andrew and Samuel changed places 10 times in Norway · Boys between 1946 and 2021, ending at #458 and #48.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 42 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Andrew and Samuel averaged 35.1 places apart, ending at #89 and #15.
- Longest-running competitions
Andrew and Samuel were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 42 years, from 1972 to 2016, ending at #89 and #15.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Andrew held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Samuel in 21.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #16 in 1992, Samuel #33 in 2013.
The order changed in 2005: Samuel moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #32 and #34; by 2005 that had become #39 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrew #106, Samuel #76.
Norway · Boys57 shared years, 1946–2021
Andrew held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Samuel in 34.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #206 in 1963, Samuel #48 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Andrew #458, Samuel #48.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys42 shared years, 1972–2016
Andrew held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Samuel in 19.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #4 in 1980, Samuel #10 in 2003.
The order changed in 1996: Samuel moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #15 and #20; by 1996 that had become #22 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Andrew #89, Samuel #15.
New Zealand · Boys42 shared years, 1967–2013
Andrew held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Samuel in 24.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #2 in 1975, Samuel #3 in 1998.
The order changed in 1989: Samuel moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #6 and #7; by 1989 that had become #10 and #6.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Andrew #75, Samuel #7.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samuel in 29.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #29 in 1996, Samuel #6 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #315, Samuel #60.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Samuel in 19.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #5 in 1997, Samuel #25 in 2005.
The order changed in 2007: Samuel moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #30 and #36; by 2007 that had become #33 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #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 | Andrew | Samuel |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | The English form of Greek Andreas, from 'andreios' ('manly, masculine'), itself from 'aner' ('man'). The apostle Andrew was the first disciple to join Jesus and is patron saint of Scotland. | Traditionally rendered as 'name of God', though also popularly interpreted as 'God has heard' — sources differ on which root is emphasised. |
| Origin | Greek, biblical | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæn.dɹuː/ | /ˈsæmjuːəl/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| 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 · Boys #106 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #38 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Andrew is recorded with a Greek, biblical origin, while Samuel is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel origin.
- Andrew and Samuel both have 2 syllables.
- Andrew's recorded meaning differs from Samuel's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Andrew
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #344 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–2013
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–2013).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #106 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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