Bronagh vs Samantha
Bronagh 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Bronagh was ranked #336 and Samantha #424 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Bronagh was ranked #352 and Samantha #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Bronagh was ranked #790 and Samantha #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Bronagh was ranked #5927 and Samantha #778 among girls in England and Wales.
Bronagh and Samantha over time
Bronagh and Samantha appear together in 3 published lists, across 107 years of shared records. Samantha held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Bronagh in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Samantha reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Bronagh 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Bronagh and Samantha changed places 13 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2019, ending at #336 and #424.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Bronagh and Samantha averaged 35.5 places apart, ending at #336 and #424.
- Longest-running competitions
Bronagh and Samantha were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 60 years, from 1966 to 2025, ending at #352 and #885.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Bronagh #1176 in 1997, Samantha #32 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls60 shared years, 1966–2025
Bronagh held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Samantha in 49.
Highest recorded here: Bronagh #126 in 2004, Samantha #33 in 1986.
The order changed in 2024: Bronagh moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #555 and #339; by 2024 that had become #307 and #631.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bronagh #352, Samantha #885.
England and Wales · Girls25 shared years, 1996–2025
Bronagh held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samantha in 25.
Highest recorded here: Bronagh #1176 in 1997, Samantha #32 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bronagh #5927, Samantha #778.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2019
Bronagh held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Samantha in 10.
Highest recorded here: Bronagh #60 in 1998, Samantha #57 in 2000.
The order changed in 2019: Bronagh moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #313 and #313; by 2019 that had become #336 and #424.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Bronagh #336, Samantha #424.
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 Samantha
Pairs where Samantha shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Samantha vs Alice
In 1996 they stood at #32 and #25 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #778 and #52.
Samantha · Alice · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Samantha vs Eleanor
In 1996 they stood at #32 and #22 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #778 and #56.
Samantha · Eleanor · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Samantha vs Elizabeth
In 1996 they stood at #32 and #26 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #778 and #74.
Samantha · Elizabeth · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Samantha vs Zoe
In 1996 they stood at #32 and #31 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #778 and #104.
Samantha · Zoe · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Bronagh | 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, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) | Norway · Girls #525 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 74/100 | 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)); Bronagh does not have one recorded yet.
- Bronagh has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Samantha.
- A meaning is recorded for Samantha; Bronagh doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Bronagh
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #60 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1998 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #5927 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #778 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls