Julie vs Samantha
Julie and Samanthacompared 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 · Girls
In 1987, Julie was ranked #93 and Samantha #4 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1986, Julie was ranked #97 and Samantha #16 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Julie was ranked #60 and Samantha #525 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Julie was ranked #439 and Samantha #212 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Julie was ranked #483 and Samantha #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Julie was ranked #2000 and Samantha #670 among girls in England and Wales.
Julie and Samantha over time
Julie and Samantha appear together in 6 published lists, across 172 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Julie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Samantha 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 1977, Samantha moved ahead of Julie in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #27 and #28 the year before became #34 and #24.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Julie and Samantha changed places 16 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1966 and 2025, ending at #483 and #885.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Julie and Samantha averaged 33.0 places apart, ending at #93 and #4.
- Longest-running competitions
Julie and Samantha were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 43 years, from 1969 to 2025, ending at #60 and #525.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Julie #436 in 1996, Samantha #32 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls60 shared years, 1966–2025
Julie held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Samantha in 22.
Highest recorded here: Julie #51 in 1977, Samantha #33 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julie #483, Samantha #885.
Norway · Girls43 shared years, 1969–2025
Julie held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Samantha in 0.
Highest recorded here: Julie #1 in 2001, Samantha #298 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julie #60, Samantha #525.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Julie held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samantha in 29.
Highest recorded here: Julie #436 in 1996, Samantha #32 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Julie #2000, Samantha #670.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 1966–1987
Julie held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Samantha in 13.
Highest recorded here: Julie #8 in 1967, Samantha #4 in 1987.
The order changed in 1977: Samantha moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #27 and #28; by 1977 that had become #34 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Julie #93, Samantha #4.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2008
Julie held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samantha in 10.
Highest recorded here: Julie #112 in 1998, Samantha #57 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Julie #439, Samantha #212.
New Zealand · Girls8 shared years, 1978–1986
Julie held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Samantha in 3.
Highest recorded here: Julie #34 in 1978, Samantha #16 in 1986.
The order changed in 1984: Samantha moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #62 and #80; by 1984 that had become #87 and #55.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Julie #97, Samantha #16.
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 | Julie | Samantha |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Likely a feminine adaptation of Samuel, incorporating a suffix possibly derived from Greek 'anthos' ('flower'). Emerged in 18th-century America; boosted to wide popularity by the 1964 television series Bewitched. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Hebrew, feminine adaptation (uncertain suffix origin) |
| Pronunciation | /sə.ˈmæn.θə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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 | Norway · Girls #60 (2025) | Norway · Girls #525 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Samantha has a recorded origin (Hebrew, feminine adaptation (uncertain suffix origin)); Julie does not have one recorded yet.
- Julie has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Samantha.
- A meaning is recorded for Samantha; Julie 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
Julie
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #305 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #60 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Samantha
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #79 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2013
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1992 (recorded 1966–2013).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #525 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls