Donnacha vs Sam
Donnacha 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, Donnacha was ranked #64 and Sam #50 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Donnacha was ranked #93 and Sam #187 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Donnacha was ranked #2263 and Sam #334 among boys in England and Wales.
Donnacha and Sam over time
Donnacha and Sam appear together in 3 published lists, across 75 years of shared records. Sam held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Donnacha 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.
Sam reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Donnacha 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 took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Sam moved into the top 50 at #44 in 2023 as Donnacha fell out of it to #61, having been #46 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2023, Donnacha moved ahead of Sam in Northern Ireland · Boys — #138 and #131 the year before became #92 and #145.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Donnacha and Sam changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1983 and 2025, ending at #64 and #50.
- Longest-running competitions
Donnacha and Sam were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 43 years, from 1983 to 2025, ending at #64 and #50.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1983–2025
Donnacha held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Sam in 35.
Highest recorded here: Donnacha #46 in 2022, Sam #38 in 2015.
The order changed in 2023: Sam moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #46 and #50; by 2023 that had become #61 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Donnacha #64, Sam #50.
England and Wales · Boys16 shared years, 2007–2024
Donnacha held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sam in 16.
Highest recorded here: Donnacha #1786 in 2018, Sam #76 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Donnacha #2263, Sam #334.
Northern Ireland · Boys16 shared years, 2009–2024
Donnacha held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Sam in 12.
Highest recorded here: Donnacha #89 in 2021, Sam #62 in 2011.
The order changed in 2023: Donnacha moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #138 and #131; by 2023 that had become #92 and #145.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Donnacha #93, Sam #187.
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 | Donnacha | 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 | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #64 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #50 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Donnacha has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Sam.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Donnacha
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #207 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1965–2025
Highest recorded position: #46 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 1965–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #64 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