Marie vs Samantha
Marie and Samantha compared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Marie was ranked #45 and Samantha #525 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1981, Marie was ranked #93 and Samantha #68 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Marie was ranked #446 and Samantha #446 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Marie was ranked #790 and Samantha #541 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Marie was ranked #556 and Samantha #631 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Marie was ranked #778 and Samantha #778 among girls in England and Wales.
Marie and Samantha over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Marie and Samantha over time
Marie and Samantha appear together in 4 published lists, across 143 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Marie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Samantha 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Marie and Samantha changed places 12 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1966 and 2024, ending at #556 and #631.
- Longest-running competitions
Marie and Samantha were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #778 and #778.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Marie #288 in 1996, Samantha #32 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1966–2024
Marie held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Samantha in 27.
Highest recorded here: Marie #19 in 1968, Samantha #33 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Marie #556, Samantha #631.
Norway · Girls43 shared years, 1969–2025
Marie held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Samantha in 0.
Highest recorded here: Marie #12 in 1992, Samantha #298 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Marie #45, Samantha #525.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Marie held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samantha in 29.
Highest recorded here: Marie #288 in 1996, Samantha #32 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Marie #778, Samantha #778.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2021
Marie held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samantha in 10.
Highest recorded here: Marie #197 in 1998, Samantha #61 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Marie #446, Samantha #446.
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 Marie
Pairs where Marie shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Marie vs Carmel
In 1964 they stood at #26 and #21 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2015 they were #316 and #896.
Marie · Carmel · 46 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Bente vs Marie
In 1945 they stood at #66 and #73 in Norway · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2011 they were #568 and #24.
Bente · Marie · 61 shared years, 1945–2011 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Marie
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #26 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #29 and #556.
Anna · Marie · 61 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Maria vs Marie
In 1964 they stood at #33 and #26 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2024 they were #73 and #556.
Maria · Marie · 61 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
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
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.
- Frank vs Vidar
Frank and Vidar changed places 36 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #459 and #478.
Frank · Vidar · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Helge vs Rolf
Helge and Rolf changed places 35 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #352 and #437.
Helge · Rolf · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Stein vs Arild
Stein and Arild changed places 34 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2014, ending at #452 and #408.
Stein · Arild · 67 shared years, 1945–2014 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Inger vs Kari
Inger and Kari changed places 33 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #292 and #222.
Inger · Kari · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Marie | 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 | Not yet recorded | /sə.ˈmæn.θə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #45 (2025) | Norway · Girls #525 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Samantha has a recorded origin (Hebrew, feminine adaptation (uncertain suffix origin)); Marie does not have one recorded yet.
- Marie has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Samantha.
- A meaning is recorded for Samantha; Marie 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
Marie
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #73 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Norway, in 1992 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #778 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