Mason vs Sam
Mason 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2013, Mason was ranked #5 and Sam #82 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Mason was ranked #25 and Sam #127 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Mason was ranked #75 and Sam #50 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2010, Mason was ranked #52 and Sam #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Mason was ranked #61 and Sam #187 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Mason was ranked #63 and Sam #334 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2008, Mason was ranked #5545 and Sam #3860 among girls in England and Wales.
Mason and Sam over time
Mason and Sam appear together in 4 published lists, across 94 years of shared records. Mason held the stronger position in more years in 3 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.
Sam reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Mason 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 2005, Mason moved ahead of Sam in England and Wales · Boys — #77 and #53 the year before became #60 and #67.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Mason and Sam changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1993 and 2025, ending at #75 and #50.
- Mirrored each other
Over 26 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Mason rose about as far as Sam fell — from #240 and #91 in 1998 to #61 and #187 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Mason held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Sam in 9.
Highest recorded here: Mason #27 in 2013, Sam #47 in 1996.
The order changed in 2005: Mason moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #77 and #53; by 2005 that had become #60 and #67.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Mason #63, Sam #334.
Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1998–2024
Mason held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Sam in 12.
Highest recorded here: Mason #15 in 2013, Sam #44 in 2005.
The order changed in 2011: Mason moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #88 and #63; by 2011 that had become #44 and #62.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Mason #61, Sam #187.
Republic of Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 1993–2025
Mason held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Sam in 22.
Highest recorded here: Mason #32 in 2022, Sam #38 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Mason #75, Sam #50.
New Zealand · Boys14 shared years, 2000–2013
Mason held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Sam in 6.
Highest recorded here: Mason #5 in 2012, Sam #49 in 2005.
The order changed in 2007: Mason moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #80 and #62; by 2007 that had become #54 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Mason #5, Sam #82.
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 Mason
Pairs where Mason shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Mason vs Taylor
In 1996 they stood at #127 and #121 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #63 and #385.
Mason · Taylor · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Mason vs Hugo
Mason and Hugo both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Mason · Hugo · 31 shared years, 1993–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Mason vs Archie
Mason and Archie both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Mason · Archie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Charlie vs Mason
Charlie and Mason both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Charlie · Mason · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Side by side
| Field | Mason | Sam |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Originally an occupational surname/vocabulary word meaning 'stoneworker', later adopted as a given name. The deeper root of the word itself is disputed among etymologists — a Germanic (Frankish) origin versus an alternative Medieval Latin source. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | English surname, from Old French masson/macon | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmeɪsən/ | 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 | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #56 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #50 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Mason has a recorded origin (English surname, from Old French masson/macon); Sam does not have one recorded yet.
- Mason has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Sam.
- A meaning is recorded for Mason; Sam doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Mason
Popularity journey
First recorded1993
First recorded at #339 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1993 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2000–2023
Highest recorded position: #4 among boys in New Zealand, in 2014 (recorded 2000–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #56 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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