Namewise

Mathias vs Samuel

Mathias 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.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Mathias was ranked #41 and Samuel #75 among boys in Norway.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Mathias was ranked #507 and Samuel #66 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2021, Mathias was ranked #433 and Samuel #75 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Mathias was ranked #432 and Samuel #76 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Mathias and Samuel over time

Mathias and Samuel appear together in 3 published lists, across 106 years of shared records. Samuel held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Mathias in 1.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Samuel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Mathias 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.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys66 shared years, 1946–2025

    Mathias held the stronger position in 59 of those years, Samuel in 7.

    Highest recorded here: Mathias #2 in 2004, Samuel #44 in 2019.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Mathias #41, Samuel #75.

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

    Mathias held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samuel in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Mathias #406 in 2024, Samuel #6 in 2004.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Mathias #507, Samuel #66.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 2001–2025

    Mathias held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samuel in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Mathias #396 in 2023, Samuel #39 in 2008.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Mathias #432, Samuel #76.

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 Mathias

Pairs where Mathias 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 — repeatedly exchanged positions.

All repeatedly exchanged positions→

Other pairs from Norway lists

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

Norway 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 Mathias, Samuel
FieldMathiasSamuel
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedTraditionally rendered as 'name of God', though also popularly interpreted as 'God has heard' — sources differ on which root is emphasised.
OriginNot yet recordedBiblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel
Pronunciation/ˈsæmjuːəl/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NOAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Boys #41 (2025)New South Wales, Australia · Boys #38 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Samuel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel); Mathias does not have one recorded yet.
  • Mathias and Samuel both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Samuel; Mathias doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.

How each name got here

Mathias

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #307 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in Norway, in 2004 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #507 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