Molly vs Samantha
Molly 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Molly was ranked #20 and Samantha #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Molly was ranked #21 and Samantha #446 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Molly was ranked #68 and Samantha #541 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2013, Molly was ranked #76 and Samantha #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2015, Molly was ranked #92 and Samantha #85 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Molly was ranked #120 and Samantha #778 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Molly was ranked #217 and Samantha #525 among girls in Norway.
Molly and Samantha over time
Molly and Samantha appear together in 6 published lists, across 147 years of shared records. Molly held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Samantha in 2.
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.
Samantha reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Molly 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2009, Molly moved ahead of Samantha in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #44 and #41 the year before became #46 and #47.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Molly and Samantha changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1997 and 2015, ending at #92 and #85.
- Longest-running competitions
Molly and Samantha were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #120 and #778.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #29 and #32 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #120 and #778.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1989–2025
Molly held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Samantha in 8.
Highest recorded here: Molly #18 in 2019, Samantha #49 in 1991.
The order changed in 1998: Molly moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #80 and #73; by 1998 that had become #87 and #127.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Molly #20, Samantha #885.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Molly held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Samantha in 0.
Highest recorded here: Molly #15 in 2001, Samantha #32 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Molly #120, Samantha #778.
Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1997–2021
Molly held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Samantha in 1.
Highest recorded here: Molly #18 in 2007, Samantha #57 in 2000.
The order changed in 1998: Molly moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #89 and #61; by 1998 that had become #47 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Molly #21, Samantha #446.
Norway · Girls21 shared years, 2003–2025
Molly held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Samantha in 1.
Highest recorded here: Molly #167 in 2011, Samantha #298 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Molly #217, Samantha #525.
New Zealand · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2015
Molly held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Samantha in 17.
Highest recorded here: Molly #31 in 2003, Samantha #6 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Molly #92, Samantha #85.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1996–2013
Molly held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Samantha in 11.
Highest recorded here: Molly #32 in 2005, Samantha #5 in 1996.
The order changed in 2009: Molly moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #44 and #41; by 2009 that had become #46 and #47.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Molly #76, Samantha #84.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Molly | 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 | /sə.ˈmæn.θə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #20 (2025) | Norway · Girls #525 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Samantha has a recorded origin (Hebrew, feminine adaptation (uncertain suffix origin)); Molly does not have one recorded yet.
- Molly has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Samantha.
- A meaning is recorded for Samantha; Molly 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
Molly
Popularity journey
First recorded1989
First recorded at #408 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2001 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #120 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