Lara vs Samantha
Lara 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 2013, Lara was ranked #53 and Samantha #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Lara was ranked #97 and Samantha #446 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Lara was ranked #98 and Samantha #778 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Lara was ranked #102 and Samantha #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Lara was ranked #131 and Samantha #541 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Lara was ranked #144 and Samantha #525 among girls in Norway.
Lara and Samantha over time
Lara and Samantha appear together in 5 published lists, across 160 years of shared records. Lara held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Samantha in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Samantha reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Lara 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 2004, Lara moved ahead of Samantha in England and Wales · Girls — #91 and #90 the year before became #98 and #105.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lara and Samantha changed places 4 times in Norway · Girls between 1984 and 2025, ending at #144 and #525.
- Longest-running competitions
Lara and Samantha were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #98 and #778.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls58 shared years, 1968–2025
Lara held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Samantha in 32.
Highest recorded here: Lara #80 in 2002, Samantha #33 in 1986.
The order changed in 2000: Lara moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #136 and #102; by 2000 that had become #98 and #132.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lara #102, Samantha #885.
Norway · Girls34 shared years, 1984–2025
Lara held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Samantha in 3.
Highest recorded here: Lara #129 in 2022, Samantha #298 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lara #144, Samantha #525.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Lara held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Samantha in 8.
Highest recorded here: Lara #85 in 2022, Samantha #32 in 1996.
The order changed in 2004: Lara moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #91 and #90; by 2004 that had become #98 and #105.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lara #98, Samantha #778.
Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1997–2021
Lara held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Samantha in 6.
Highest recorded here: Lara #61 in 2006, Samantha #57 in 2000.
The order changed in 2010: Lara moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #138 and #116; by 2010 that had become #77 and #430.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Lara #97, Samantha #446.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1999–2013
Lara held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Samantha in 3.
Highest recorded here: Lara #25 in 2002, Samantha #11 in 1999.
The order changed in 2002: Lara moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #41 and #18; by 2002 that had become #25 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Lara #53, Samantha #84.
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 Lara
Pairs where Lara shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Aisling vs Lara
Over 58 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Lara rose about as far as Aisling fell — from #87 and #401 in 1968 to #180 and #102 in 2025.
Aisling · Lara · 58 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Andrea vs Lara
Over 58 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Lara rose about as far as Andrea fell — from #179 and #401 in 1968 to #304 and #102 in 2025.
Andrea · Lara · 58 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Heather vs Lara
Over 58 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Lara rose about as far as Heather fell — from #189 and #401 in 1968 to #325 and #102 in 2025.
Heather · Lara · 58 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Lara vs Julia
Over 58 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Lara rose about as far as Julia fell — from #401 and #65 in 1968 to #102 and #118 in 2025.
Lara · Julia · 58 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Samantha
Pairs where Samantha shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Samantha vs Alice
In 1996 they stood at #32 and #25 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #778 and #52.
Samantha · Alice · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Samantha vs Eleanor
In 1996 they stood at #32 and #22 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #778 and #56.
Samantha · Eleanor · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Samantha vs Elizabeth
In 1996 they stood at #32 and #26 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #778 and #74.
Samantha · Elizabeth · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Samantha vs Zoe
In 1996 they stood at #32 and #31 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #778 and #104.
Samantha · Zoe · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Lara | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #98 (2025) | Norway · Girls #525 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 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)); Lara does not have one recorded yet.
- Lara has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Samantha.
- A meaning is recorded for Samantha; Lara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Lara
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #553 among girls in Norway in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1999–2023
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2002 (recorded 1999–2023).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #98 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #778 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls