Namewise

Anne vs Samantha

Anne 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 1976, Anne was ranked #80 and Samantha #28 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2025, Anne was ranked #159 and Samantha #525 among girls in Norway.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2015, Anne was ranked #358 and Samantha #269 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Anne was ranked #638 and Samantha #541 among girls in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Anne was ranked #544 and Samantha #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Anne was ranked #1110 and Samantha #778 among girls in England and Wales.

Anne and Samantha over time

Anne and Samantha appear together in 5 published lists, across 155 years of shared records. Samantha held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Anne in 1.

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.

Anne 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 took the other's place near the top

    In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Samantha moved into the top 50 at #37 in 1969 as Anne fell out of it to #59, having been #47 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1969, Samantha moved ahead of Anne in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #47 and #49 the year before became #59 and #37.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Anne and Samantha changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1966 and 2025, ending at #544 and #885.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Anne and Samantha were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1110 and #778.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Samantha #32 in 1996.

List by list

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

    Anne held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Samantha in 31.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #5 in 1966, Samantha #33 in 1986.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #544, Samantha #885.

  • Norway · Girls43 shared years, 1969–2025

    Anne held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Samantha in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1969, Samantha #298 in 2015.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #159, Samantha #525.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Anne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samantha in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Samantha #32 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #1110, Samantha #778.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls11 shared years, 1966–1976

    Anne held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Samantha in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #28 in 1966, Samantha #15 in 1975.

    The order changed in 1969: Samantha moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #47 and #49; by 1969 that had become #59 and #37.

    Most recent shared year, 1976: Anne #80, Samantha #28.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1998–2015

    Anne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samantha in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #225 in 2003, Samantha #64 in 1998.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2015: Anne #358, Samantha #269.

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 Anne

Pairs where Anne 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 took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

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 1970s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1970 and 1979.

The 1970s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Anne, Samantha
FieldAnneSamantha
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningThe French form of Anna, from the Hebrew root 'hanan' carrying the sense of grace or favour. Imported to England in the 13th century but not popular until three centuries later.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.
OriginHebrew, via French transmissionHebrew, feminine adaptation (uncertain suffix origin)
Pronunciation/ˈɑː.nə//sə.ˈmæn.θə/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesAnn, Ane, AnnaNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #159 (2025)Norway · Girls #525 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Anne is recorded with a Hebrew, via French transmission origin, while Samantha is recorded with a Hebrew, feminine adaptation (uncertain suffix origin) origin.
  • Anne has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Samantha.
  • Anne's recorded meaning differs from Samantha's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Samantha a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.

How each name got here

Anne

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #1 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1110 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · 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 #778 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls