Kenneth vs Sam
Kenneth 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 2024, Kenneth was ranked #785 and Sam #51 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2007, Kenneth was ranked #315 and Sam #56 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #535 and Sam #127 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2021, Kenneth was ranked #475 and Sam #173 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #968 and Sam #334 among boys in England and Wales.
Kenneth and Sam over time
Kenneth and Sam appear together in 3 published lists, across 124 years of shared records. Sam held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Kenneth in 1.
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.
Kenneth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Sam 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 1997, Sam moved ahead of Kenneth in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #115 and #130 the year before became #133 and #129.
- Longest-running competitions
Kenneth and Sam were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 54 years, from 1959 to 2021, ending at #475 and #173.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Kenneth #345 in 1996, Sam #47 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys54 shared years, 1959–2021
Kenneth held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Sam in 13.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #10 in 1979, Sam #173 in 2021.
The order changed in 2009: Sam moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #309 and #456; by 2009 that had become #310 and #296.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Kenneth #475, Sam #173.
Republic of Ireland · Boys41 shared years, 1983–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Sam in 27.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #50 in 1984, Sam #38 in 2015.
The order changed in 1997: Sam moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #115 and #130; by 1997 that had become #133 and #129.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #785, Sam #51.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kenneth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sam in 29.
Highest recorded here: Kenneth #345 in 1996, Sam #47 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #968, Sam #334.
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 | Kenneth | Sam |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | An Anglicized form of both Coinneach and Cináed, of Scottish Gaelic origin. Borne by the Scottish king Kenneth mac Alpin, who united the Scots and Picts in the 9th century. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɛn.əθ/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| 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 | Scotland · Boys #535 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #50 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kenneth has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic); Sam does not have one recorded yet.
- Kenneth has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Sam.
- A meaning is recorded for Kenneth; Sam 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
Kenneth
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #303 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2021
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in Norway, in 1979 (recorded 1945–2021).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #968 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · 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