Namewise

Mason vs Samuel

Mason 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.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Mason was ranked #25 and Samuel #69 among boys in Scotland.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 2023, Mason was ranked #26 and Samuel #50 among boys in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 2025, Mason was ranked #56 and Samuel #38 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Mason was ranked #61 and Samuel #64 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Mason was ranked #77 and Samuel #66 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Mason was ranked #75 and Samuel #76 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Mason and Samuel over time

Mason and Samuel appear together in 5 published lists, across 127 years of shared records. Samuel held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Mason in 0.

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.

Samuel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 2012, Mason moved ahead of Samuel in New Zealand · Boys — #15 and #7 the year before became #5 and #6.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Mason and Samuel changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 2003 and 2025, ending at #56 and #38.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Mason and Samuel averaged 41.2 places apart, ending at #77 and #66.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 26 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Mason rose about as far as Samuel fell — from #240 and #34 in 1998 to #61 and #64 in 2024.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Mason and Samuel were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #77 and #66.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Mason held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Samuel in 26.

    Highest recorded here: Mason #27 in 2013, Samuel #6 in 2004.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Mason #77, Samuel #66.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1998–2024

    Mason held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Samuel in 13.

    Highest recorded here: Mason #15 in 2013, Samuel #25 in 2005.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Mason #61, Samuel #64.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 1993–2025

    Mason held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Samuel in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Mason #32 in 2022, Samuel #33 in 2013.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Mason #75, Samuel #76.

  • New Zealand · Boys24 shared years, 2000–2023

    Mason held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Samuel in 12.

    Highest recorded here: Mason #4 in 2014, Samuel #3 in 2000.

    The order changed in 2012: Mason moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #15 and #7; by 2012 that had become #5 and #6.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Mason #26, Samuel #50.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys22 shared years, 2003–2025

    Mason held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Samuel in 17.

    Highest recorded here: Mason #14 in 2018, Samuel #10 in 2003.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Mason #56, Samuel #38.

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.

Other comparisons involving Samuel

Pairs where Samuel 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 moved ahead of the other.

All one moved ahead of the other→

Other pairs from New Zealand lists

Pairs measured inside New Zealand'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 Zealand overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Mason, Samuel
FieldMasonSamuel
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningOriginally 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.Traditionally rendered as 'name of God', though also popularly interpreted as 'God has heard' — sources differ on which root is emphasised.
OriginEnglish surname, from Old French masson/maconBiblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel
Pronunciation/ˈmeɪsən//ˈsæmjuːəl/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNew South Wales, Australia · Boys #56 (2025)New South Wales, Australia · Boys #38 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Mason is recorded with a English surname, from Old French masson/macon origin, while Samuel is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel origin.
  • Mason and Samuel both have 2 syllables.
  • Mason's recorded meaning differs from Samuel's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Mason

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded2000–2023

    Highest recorded position: #4 among boys in New Zealand, in 2014 (recorded 2000–2023).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #77 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Samuel

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1967–2023

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 1998 (recorded 1967–2023).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #66 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys