Glenn vs Samuel
Glenn and Samuelcompared 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 1983, Glenn was ranked #100 and Samuel #16 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1986, Glenn was ranked #99 and Samuel #30 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2013, Glenn was ranked #343 and Samuel #39 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Glenn was ranked #5119 and Samuel #60 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Glenn was ranked #829 and Samuel #76 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2012, Glenn was ranked #545 and Samuel #77 among boys in Norway.
Glenn and Samuel over time
Glenn and Samuel appear together in 6 published lists, across 177 years of shared records. Samuel held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Glenn in 2.
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.
Glenn reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Samuel 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 New Zealand · Boys, Samuel moved into the top 50 at #33 in 1977 as Glenn fell out of it to #55, having been #45 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1980, Samuel moved ahead of Glenn in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #56 and #57 the year before became #64 and #59.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Glenn and Samuel changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #829 and #76.
- Mirrored each other
Over 55 shared years in Norway · Boys, Samuel rose about as far as Glenn fell — from #329 and #342 in 1948 to #545 and #77 in 2012.
- Longest-running competitions
Glenn and Samuel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 55 years, from 1948 to 2012, ending at #545 and #77.
List by list
Norway · Boys55 shared years, 1948–2012
Glenn held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Samuel in 14.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #57 in 1974, Samuel #77 in 2012.
The order changed in 1998: Samuel moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #159 and #177; by 1998 that had become #192 and #144.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Glenn #545, Samuel #77.
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1964–2025
Glenn held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Samuel in 39.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #92 in 1992, Samuel #34 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Glenn #829, Samuel #76.
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1996–2024
Glenn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samuel in 27.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #278 in 1996, Samuel #6 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Glenn #5119, Samuel #60.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys14 shared years, 1972–1986
Glenn held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Samuel in 8.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #33 in 1972, Samuel #30 in 1986.
The order changed in 1980: Samuel moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #56 and #57; by 1980 that had become #64 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Glenn #99, Samuel #30.
New Zealand · Boys13 shared years, 1967–1983
Glenn held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Samuel in 6.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #28 in 1974, Samuel #16 in 1983.
The order changed in 1977: Samuel moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #45 and #48; by 1977 that had become #55 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Glenn #100, Samuel #16.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 1997–2013
Glenn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samuel in 13.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #104 in 1997, Samuel #25 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Glenn #343, Samuel #39.
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 | Glenn | Samuel |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Traditionally rendered as 'name of God', though also popularly interpreted as 'God has heard' — sources differ on which root is emphasised. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel |
| Pronunciation | /ˈsæmjuːəl/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #38 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Samuel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel); Glenn does not have one recorded yet.
- Glenn has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Samuel.
- A meaning is recorded for Samuel; Glenn doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Glenn
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #329 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1986
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1962 (recorded 1952–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Samuel
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #339 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1967–2023
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 1998 (recorded 1967–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #38 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys