Kyle vs Sam
Kyle 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 2025, Kyle was ranked #124 and Sam #50 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2008, Kyle was ranked #90 and Sam #71 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2005, Kyle was ranked #81 and Sam #92 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kyle was ranked #278 and Sam #127 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Kyle was ranked #339 and Sam #187 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kyle was ranked #651 and Sam #334 among boys in England and Wales.
Kyle and Sam over time
Kyle and Sam appear together in 5 published lists, across 140 years of shared records. Kyle held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Sam in 1.
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.
Kyle reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Sam 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2016, Sam moved ahead of Kyle in England and Wales · Boys — #151 and #177 the year before became #194 and #186.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kyle and Sam changed places 7 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1986 and 2008, ending at #90 and #71.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Kyle and Sam averaged 15.9 places apart, ending at #90 and #71.
- Longest-running competitions
Kyle and Sam were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 43 years, from 1983 to 2025, ending at #124 and #50.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Kyle #37 in 1996, Sam #47 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #37 and #47 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #651 and #334.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1983–2025
Kyle held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Sam in 10.
Highest recorded here: Kyle #32 in 2004, Sam #38 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kyle #124, Sam #50.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kyle held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Sam in 9.
Highest recorded here: Kyle #37 in 1996, Sam #47 in 1996.
The order changed in 2016: Sam moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #151 and #177; by 2016 that had become #194 and #186.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kyle #651, Sam #334.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Kyle held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Sam in 15.
Highest recorded here: Kyle #30 in 1998, Sam #44 in 2005.
The order changed in 2011: Sam moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #58 and #63; by 2011 that had become #64 and #62.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kyle #339, Sam #187.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1986–2008
Kyle held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Sam in 10.
Highest recorded here: Kyle #46 in 1986, Sam #49 in 1990.
The order changed in 2003: Sam moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #72 and #73; by 2003 that had become #67 and #55.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Kyle #90, Sam #71.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys19 shared years, 1986–2005
Kyle held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Sam in 0.
Highest recorded here: Kyle #26 in 1998, Sam #63 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Kyle #81, Sam #92.
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 | Kyle | Sam |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | 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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #124 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #50 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kyle has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Sam.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Kyle
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #95 among boys in New Zealand in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1985–2005
Highest recorded position: #26 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1998 (recorded 1985–2005).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #124 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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