Jonathan vs Samuel
Jonathan 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 2013, Jonathan was ranked #88 and Samuel #7 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2016, Jonathan was ranked #97 and Samuel #15 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #302 and Samuel #60 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #305 and Samuel #64 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #352 and Samuel #69 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #93 and Samuel #75 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #223 and Samuel #76 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Jonathan and Samuel over time
Jonathan and Samuel appear together in 6 published lists, across 264 years of shared records. Samuel held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jonathan 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.
Jonathan 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1984, Samuel moved ahead of Jonathan in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #41 and #44 the year before became #48 and #39.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jonathan and Samuel changed places 8 times in Norway · Boys between 1960 and 2025, ending at #93 and #75.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 44 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jonathan and Samuel averaged 39.7 places apart, ending at #97 and #15.
- Longest-running competitions
Jonathan and Samuel were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 44 years, from 1972 to 2016, ending at #97 and #15.
List by list
Norway · Boys62 shared years, 1960–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Samuel in 22.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #32 in 2011, Samuel #44 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #93, Samuel #75.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Samuel in 30.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #18 in 1981, Samuel #33 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #223, Samuel #76.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys44 shared years, 1972–2016
Jonathan held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Samuel in 36.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #41 in 1980, Samuel #10 in 2003.
The order changed in 1984: Samuel moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #41 and #44; by 1984 that had become #48 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Jonathan #97, Samuel #15.
New Zealand · Boys39 shared years, 1967–2013
Jonathan held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Samuel in 27.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #15 in 1982, Samuel #3 in 1998.
The order changed in 1983: Samuel moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #15 and #18; by 1983 that had become #19 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Jonathan #88, Samuel #7.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samuel in 29.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #39 in 1996, Samuel #6 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #302, Samuel #60.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Samuel in 24.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #20 in 1998, Samuel #25 in 2005.
The order changed in 2001: Samuel moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #33 and #35; by 2001 that had become #40 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #305, Samuel #64.
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 | Jonathan | 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 | Not yet recorded | /ˈsæmjuːəl/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| 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 | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #38 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 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); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- Jonathan has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Samuel.
- A meaning is recorded for Samuel; Jonathan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Jonathan
Popularity journey
First recorded1949
First recorded at #371 among boys in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1957–2013
Highest recorded position: #15 among boys in New Zealand, in 1982 (recorded 1957–2013).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #93 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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