Arthur vs Sami
Arthur and Samicompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #4 and Sami #297 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #24 and Sami #432 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Arthur was ranked #57 and Sami #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #81 and Sami #499 among boys in Norway.
Arthur and Sami over time
Arthur and Sami appear together in 3 published lists, across 103 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Sami in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Sami reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Arthur 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Sami changed places 12 times in Norway · Boys between 1962 and 2024, ending at #81 and #499.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Sami were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 51 years, from 1962 to 2024, ending at #81 and #499.
List by list
Norway · Boys51 shared years, 1962–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Sami in 8.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #74 in 2020, Sami #308 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #81, Sami #499.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Sami in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Sami #239 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Sami #297.
Republic of Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1995–2025
Arthur held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Sami in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #47 in 2024, Sami #334 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arthur #57, Sami #829.
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 | Arthur | Sami |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Meaning debated — no single origin is established with confidence. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɑɹθər/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Art, Artie | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Arthur has a recorded origin (Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman); Sami does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Sami both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Sami doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Sami a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Arthur
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #153 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in England and Wales, in 2020 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #19 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Sami
Popularity journey
First recorded1962
First recorded at #506 among boys in Norway in 1962 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #239 among boys in England and Wales, in 2005 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys