Namewise

Kenneth vs Samuel

Kenneth 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 1981, Kenneth was ranked #88 and Samuel #22 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2007, Kenneth was ranked #315 and Samuel #26 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2021, Kenneth was ranked #475 and Samuel #48 among boys in Norway.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1977, Kenneth was ranked #99 and Samuel #62 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Kenneth was ranked #1007 and Samuel #66 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #535 and Samuel #69 among boys in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Kenneth was ranked #785 and Samuel #70 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Kenneth and Samuel over time

Kenneth and Samuel appear together in 3 published lists, across 158 years of shared records. Samuel 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 3 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 2000, Samuel moved ahead of Kenneth in Norway · Boys — #139 and #140 the year before became #159 and #151.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 68 shared years in Norway · Boys, Samuel rose about as far as Kenneth fell — from #275 and #339 in 1946 to #475 and #48 in 2021.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Kenneth and Samuel were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1007 and #66.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys68 shared years, 1946–2021

    Kenneth held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Samuel in 22.

    Highest recorded here: Kenneth #10 in 1979, Samuel #44 in 2019.

    The order changed in 2000: Samuel moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #139 and #140; by 2000 that had become #159 and #151.

    Most recent shared year, 2021: Kenneth #475, Samuel #48.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2024

    Kenneth held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Samuel in 32.

    Highest recorded here: Kenneth #26 in 1972, Samuel #33 in 2013.

    The order changed in 1992: Samuel moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #81 and #96; by 1992 that had become #80 and #73.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Kenneth #785, Samuel #70.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Kenneth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samuel in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Kenneth #345 in 1996, Samuel #6 in 2004.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Kenneth #1007, Samuel #66.

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 Kenneth

Pairs where Kenneth 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 — mirrored each other.

All mirrored each other→

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 Kenneth, Samuel
FieldKennethSamuel
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningAn 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.Traditionally rendered as 'name of God', though also popularly interpreted as 'God has heard' — sources differ on which root is emphasised.
OriginScottish GaelicBiblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel
Pronunciation/ˈkɛn.əθ//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 observationEngland and Wales · Boys #1007 (2025)New South Wales, Australia · Boys #38 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Kenneth is recorded with a Scottish Gaelic origin, while Samuel is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel origin.
  • Kenneth and Samuel both have 2 syllables.
  • Kenneth's recorded meaning differs from Samuel's — see the table above for each.
  • 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1945–2021

    Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in Norway, in 1979 (recorded 1945–2021).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1007 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · 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 #66 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys