Blake vs Sam
Blake and Samcompared 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, Blake was ranked #20 and Sam #82 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2010, Blake was ranked #41 and Sam #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Blake was ranked #41 and Sam #127 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Blake was ranked #156 and Sam #50 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Blake was ranked #104 and Sam #334 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Blake was ranked #144 and Sam #187 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2023, Blake was ranked #408 and Sam #4056 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Blake was ranked #750 and Sam #868 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Blake and Sam over time
Blake and Sam appear together in 5 published lists, across 137 years of shared records. Sam held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Blake 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.
Sam reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Blake 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 2011, Blake moved ahead of Sam in England and Wales · Boys — #105 and #93 the year before became #79 and #112.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Blake and Sam changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #144 and #187.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Blake and Sam averaged 47.4 places apart, ending at #41 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Blake and Sam were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 37 years, from 1983 to 2025, ending at #156 and #50.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys37 shared years, 1983–2025
Blake held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Sam in 35.
Highest recorded here: Blake #94 in 2022, Sam #38 in 2015.
The order changed in 1990: Sam moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #274 and #318; by 1990 that had become #323 and #155.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Blake #156, Sam #50.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Blake held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Sam in 15.
Highest recorded here: Blake #56 in 2013, Sam #47 in 1996.
The order changed in 2011: Blake moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #105 and #93; by 2011 that had become #79 and #112.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Blake #104, Sam #334.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Blake held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Sam in 18.
Highest recorded here: Blake #62 in 2013, Sam #45 in 2006.
The order changed in 2019: Blake moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #121 and #100; by 2019 that had become #85 and #94.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Blake #144, Sam #187.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys23 shared years, 1986–2010
Blake held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Sam in 0.
Highest recorded here: Blake #21 in 1995, Sam #63 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Blake #41, Sam #97.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1993–2013
Blake held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Sam in 3.
Highest recorded here: Blake #14 in 2012, Sam #49 in 2005.
The order changed in 1997: Blake moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #67 and #66; by 1997 that had become #59 and #66.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Blake #20, Sam #82.
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 | Blake | Sam |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #156 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #50 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Blake has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Sam.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Blake
Popularity journey
First recorded1982
First recorded at #82 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1982 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1993–2023
Highest recorded position: #14 among boys in New Zealand, in 2012 (recorded 1993–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Sam
Popularity journey
First recorded1959
First recorded at #340 among boys in Norway in 1959 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1983–2025
Highest recorded position: #38 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2015 (recorded 1983–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #289 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys