Dominic vs Sam
Dominic 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Dominic was ranked #159 and Sam #50 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2013, Dominic was ranked #100 and Sam #82 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2008, Dominic was ranked #93 and Sam #94 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Dominic was ranked #234 and Sam #127 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dominic was ranked #161 and Sam #334 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Dominic was ranked #476 and Sam #171 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Dominic was ranked #239 and Sam #187 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Dominic and Sam over time
Dominic and Sam appear together in 6 published lists, across 155 years of shared records. Sam held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Dominic 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.
Dominic reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Sam in 2. 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 2012, Dominic moved ahead of Sam in England and Wales · Boys — #120 and #112 the year before became #116 and #124.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Dominic and Sam averaged 55.5 places apart, ending at #161 and #334.
- Longest-running competitions
Dominic and Sam were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 43 years, from 1983 to 2025, ending at #159 and #50.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Dominic #51 in 1996, Sam #47 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1983–2025
Dominic held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Sam in 36.
Highest recorded here: Dominic #131 in 2017, Sam #38 in 2015.
The order changed in 1990: Sam moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #159 and #232; by 1990 that had become #157 and #155.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dominic #159, Sam #50.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dominic held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Sam in 16.
Highest recorded here: Dominic #51 in 1996, Sam #47 in 1996.
The order changed in 2012: Dominic moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #120 and #112; by 2012 that had become #116 and #124.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dominic #161, Sam #334.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Dominic held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sam in 28.
Highest recorded here: Dominic #118 in 1997, Sam #44 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dominic #239, Sam #187.
Norway · Boys24 shared years, 1976–2024
Dominic held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Sam in 23.
Highest recorded here: Dominic #283 in 2007, Sam #171 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dominic #476, Sam #171.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys18 shared years, 1987–2008
Dominic held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Sam in 11.
Highest recorded here: Dominic #63 in 2005, Sam #63 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Dominic #93, Sam #94.
New Zealand · Boys13 shared years, 1998–2013
Dominic held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Sam in 12.
Highest recorded here: Dominic #65 in 2002, Sam #49 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Dominic #100, 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 | Dominic | 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 | |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #159 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #50 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Dominic has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Sam.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Dominic
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #84 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #51 among boys in England and Wales, in 1996 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
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