Namewise

Chelsea vs Samantha

Chelsea 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 Zealand · Girls

    In 2008, Chelsea was ranked #98 and Samantha #28 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2013, Chelsea was ranked #47 and Samantha #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2013, Chelsea was ranked #370 and Samantha #218 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Chelsea was ranked #608 and Samantha #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Chelsea was ranked #983 and Samantha #778 among girls in England and Wales.

Chelsea and Samantha over time

Chelsea and Samantha appear together in 5 published lists, across 123 years of shared records. Samantha held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Chelsea in 1.

The order between them changed and held in 3 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 3 of those lists, Chelsea 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 moved ahead of the other

    In 2005, Chelsea moved ahead of Samantha in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #34 and #33 the year before became #29 and #33.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Chelsea and Samantha changed places 13 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2013, ending at #370 and #218.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Chelsea and Samantha averaged 27.0 places apart, ending at #47 and #84.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Chelsea and Samantha were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #983 and #778.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Chelsea #34 in 1996, Samantha #32 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1996 they stood at #34 and #32 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #983 and #778.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls35 shared years, 1989–2025

    Chelsea held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Samantha in 22.

    Highest recorded here: Chelsea #54 in 1999, Samantha #49 in 1990.

    The order changed in 2025: Chelsea moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #856 and #339; by 2025 that had become #608 and #885.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Chelsea #608, Samantha #885.

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

    Chelsea held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Samantha in 19.

    Highest recorded here: Chelsea #34 in 1996, Samantha #32 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Chelsea #983, Samantha #778.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls21 shared years, 1993–2013

    Chelsea held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Samantha in 11.

    Highest recorded here: Chelsea #23 in 1999, Samantha #5 in 1993.

    The order changed in 2005: Chelsea moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #34 and #33; by 2005 that had become #29 and #33.

    Most recent shared year, 2013: Chelsea #47, Samantha #84.

  • New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 1987–2008

    Chelsea held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samantha in 20.

    Highest recorded here: Chelsea #19 in 1994, Samantha #3 in 1989.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2008: Chelsea #98, Samantha #28.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2013

    Chelsea held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Samantha in 7.

    Highest recorded here: Chelsea #35 in 1998, Samantha #57 in 2000.

    The order changed in 2013: Samantha moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #187 and #297; by 2013 that had become #370 and #218.

    Most recent shared year, 2013: Chelsea #370, Samantha #218.

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 Chelsea

Pairs where Chelsea 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 — repeatedly exchanged positions.

All repeatedly exchanged positions→

Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Northern Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2010s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.

The 2010s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Chelsea, Samantha
FieldChelseaSamantha
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedLikely 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.
OriginNot yet recordedHebrew, feminine adaptation (uncertain suffix origin)
Pronunciation/sə.ˈmæn.θə/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025)Norway · Girls #525 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Samantha has a recorded origin (Hebrew, feminine adaptation (uncertain suffix origin)); Chelsea does not have one recorded yet.
  • Chelsea has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Samantha.
  • A meaning is recorded for Samantha; Chelsea doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Chelsea

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1987

    First recorded at #65 among girls in New Zealand in 1987 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New Zealand · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1987–2008

    Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New Zealand, in 1994 (recorded 1987–2008).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #983 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