Namewise

Mary vs Samantha

Mary 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 Zealand · Girls

    In 1991, Mary was ranked #89 and Samantha #3 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2008, Mary was ranked #99 and Samantha #41 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Mary was ranked #112 and Samantha #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2021, Mary was ranked #152 and Samantha #446 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Mary was ranked #315 and Samantha #541 among girls in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Mary was ranked #329 and Samantha #778 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2025, Mary was ranked #518 and Samantha #525 among girls in Norway.

Mary and Samantha over time

Mary and Samantha appear together in 6 published lists, across 179 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.

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.

Mary reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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.

  • One took the other's place near the top

    In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Samantha moved into the top 50 at #37 in 1969 as Mary fell out of it to #55, having been #41 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1969, Samantha moved ahead of Mary in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #41 and #49 the year before became #55 and #37.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Mary and Samantha changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2021, ending at #152 and #446.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Mary and Samantha were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #329 and #778.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Mary #118 in 1997, Samantha #32 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1997 they stood at #53 and #61 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2021 they were #152 and #446.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls60 shared years, 1966–2025

    Mary held the stronger position in 60 of those years, Samantha in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Mary #1 in 1966, Samantha #33 in 1986.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Mary #112, Samantha #885.

  • Norway · Girls37 shared years, 1969–2025

    Mary held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Samantha in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Mary #162 in 1969, Samantha #298 in 2015.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Mary #518, Samantha #525.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Mary held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Samantha in 16.

    Highest recorded here: Mary #118 in 1997, Samantha #32 in 1996.

    The order changed in 2012: Mary moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #250 and #232; by 2012 that had become #241 and #289.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Mary #329, Samantha #778.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1997–2021

    Mary held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Samantha in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Mary #53 in 1997, Samantha #57 in 2000.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2021: Mary #152, Samantha #446.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1966–2008

    Mary held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Samantha in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Mary #35 in 1966, Samantha #15 in 1975.

    The order changed in 1969: Samantha moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #41 and #49; by 1969 that had become #55 and #37.

    Most recent shared year, 2008: Mary #99, Samantha #41.

  • New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1978–1991

    Mary held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Samantha in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Mary #65 in 1980, Samantha #3 in 1989.

    The order changed in 1981: Samantha moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #65 and #83; by 1981 that had become #75 and #68.

    Most recent shared year, 1991: Mary #89, Samantha #3.

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 Mary

Pairs where Mary shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Samantha

Pairs where Samantha 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 — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2000s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2000 and 2009.

The 2000s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Mary, Samantha
FieldMarySamantha
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedLikely 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.
OriginNot yet recordedHebrew, feminine adaptation (uncertain suffix origin)
PronunciationNot yet recorded/sə.ˈmæn.θə/
Syllables23
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 observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025)Norway · Girls #525 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Samantha has a recorded origin (Hebrew, feminine adaptation (uncertain suffix origin)); Mary does not have one recorded yet.
  • Mary has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Samantha.
  • A meaning is recorded for Samantha; Mary 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

Mary

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #67 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #329 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Samantha

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1966–2013

    Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1992 (recorded 1966–2013).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #778 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls