Namewise

Julian vs Samuel

Julian 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 2024, Julian was ranked #87 and Samuel #51 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Julian was ranked #54 and Samuel #75 among boys in Norway.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1974, Julian was ranked #98 and Samuel #59 among boys in New Zealand.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Julian was ranked #280 and Samuel #60 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Julian was ranked #234 and Samuel #69 among boys in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Julian was ranked #348 and Samuel #76 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2023, Julian was ranked #348 and Samuel #79 among boys in Northern Ireland.

Julian and Samuel over time

Julian and Samuel appear together in 3 published lists, across 143 years of shared records. Samuel held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Julian in 1.

The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Julian reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Samuel 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.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys59 shared years, 1964–2025

    Julian held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Samuel in 56.

    Highest recorded here: Julian #129 in 1970, Samuel #33 in 2013.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Julian #348, Samuel #76.

  • Norway · Boys55 shared years, 1967–2025

    Julian held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Samuel in 23.

    Highest recorded here: Julian #26 in 2011, Samuel #44 in 2019.

    The order changed in 2025: Julian moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #57 and #53; by 2025 that had become #54 and #75.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Julian #54, Samuel #75.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Julian held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samuel in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Julian #267 in 2022, Samuel #6 in 2004.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Julian #280, Samuel #60.

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 Julian

Pairs where Julian shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Samuel

Pairs where Samuel 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 Norway lists

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

Norway overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Julian, Samuel
FieldJulianSamuel
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedTraditionally rendered as 'name of God', though also popularly interpreted as 'God has heard' — sources differ on which root is emphasised.
OriginNot yet recordedBiblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈsæmjuːəl/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Boys #54 (2025)New South Wales, Australia · Boys #38 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Samuel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel); Julian does not have one recorded yet.
  • Julian and Samuel both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Samuel; Julian 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

Julian

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #191 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

  2. Highest recorded1967–2025

    Highest recorded position: #26 among boys in Norway, in 2011 (recorded 1967–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #54 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys

Samuel

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1967–2023

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 1998 (recorded 1967–2023).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #38 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys