Marcus vs Samuel
Marcus 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 2014, Marcus was ranked #90 and Samuel #14 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Marcus was ranked #93 and Samuel #51 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Marcus was ranked #233 and Samuel #60 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Marcus was ranked #144 and Samuel #64 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Marcus was ranked #176 and Samuel #69 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Marcus was ranked #150 and Samuel #75 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Marcus was ranked #232 and Samuel #76 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Marcus and Samuel over time
Marcus and Samuel appear together in 6 published lists, across 225 years of shared records. Samuel held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Marcus in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Marcus reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Samuel in 2. 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 1995, Samuel moved ahead of Marcus in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #84 and #93 the year before became #98 and #20.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Marcus and Samuel changed places 10 times in Norway · Boys between 1963 and 2025, ending at #150 and #75.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Marcus and Samuel averaged 55.0 places apart, ending at #93 and #51.
- Longest-running competitions
Marcus and Samuel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 62 years, from 1963 to 2025, ending at #150 and #75.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Marcus #100 in 2003, Samuel #25 in 2005.
List by list
Norway · Boys62 shared years, 1963–2025
Marcus held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Samuel in 19.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #24 in 2001, Samuel #44 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Marcus #150, Samuel #75.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Marcus held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Samuel in 48.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #99 in 1972, Samuel #33 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Marcus #232, Samuel #76.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Marcus held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samuel in 29.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #83 in 2001, Samuel #6 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Marcus #233, Samuel #60.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Marcus held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samuel in 28.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #100 in 2003, Samuel #25 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Marcus #144, Samuel #64.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys26 shared years, 1972–2024
Marcus held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Samuel in 25.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #49 in 2010, Samuel #10 in 2003.
The order changed in 1995: Samuel moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #84 and #93; by 1995 that had become #98 and #20.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Marcus #93, Samuel #51.
New Zealand · Boys18 shared years, 1973–2014
Marcus held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samuel in 18.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #78 in 2010, Samuel #3 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Marcus #90, Samuel #14.
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 | Marcus | Samuel |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Traditionally rendered as 'name of God', though also popularly interpreted as 'God has heard' — sources differ on which root is emphasised. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel |
| Pronunciation | /ˈsæmjuːəl/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| 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 | Norway · Boys #150 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #38 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Samuel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel); Marcus does not have one recorded yet.
- Marcus and Samuel both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Samuel; Marcus 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
Marcus
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #399 among boys in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1963–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1963–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #150 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Samuel
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1967–2023
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 1998 (recorded 1967–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #38 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys