Nicole vs Samantha
Nicole 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2002, Nicole was ranked #94 and Samantha #27 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2007, Nicole was ranked #100 and Samantha #27 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Nicole was ranked #350 and Samantha #446 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Nicole was ranked #381 and Samantha #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Nicole was ranked #412 and Samantha #778 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Nicole was ranked #448 and Samantha #525 among girls in Norway.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Nicole was ranked #638 and Samantha #541 among girls in Scotland.
Nicole and Samantha over time
Nicole and Samantha appear together in 6 published lists, across 222 years of shared records. Nicole held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Samantha 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.
Nicole reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Nicole moved ahead of Samantha in England and Wales · Girls — #36 and #32 the year before became #37 and #38.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Nicole and Samantha changed places 8 times in Norway · Girls between 1969 and 2025, ending at #448 and #525.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 37 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Nicole and Samantha averaged 24.7 places apart, ending at #94 and #27.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Samantha rose about as far as Nicole fell — from #54 and #99 in 1978 to #100 and #27 in 2007.
- Longest-running competitions
Nicole and Samantha were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #412 and #778.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Nicole #36 in 1996, Samantha #32 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #36 and #32 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #412 and #778.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls60 shared years, 1966–2025
Nicole held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Samantha in 24.
Highest recorded here: Nicole #15 in 1996, Samantha #33 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nicole #381, Samantha #885.
Norway · Girls43 shared years, 1969–2025
Nicole held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Samantha in 6.
Highest recorded here: Nicole #205 in 2003, Samantha #298 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nicole #448, Samantha #525.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls37 shared years, 1966–2002
Nicole held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Samantha in 16.
Highest recorded here: Nicole #2 in 1975, Samantha #3 in 1992.
The order changed in 1987: Samantha moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #5 and #10; by 1987 that had become #10 and #4.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Nicole #94, Samantha #27.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Nicole held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Samantha in 1.
Highest recorded here: Nicole #36 in 1996, Samantha #32 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Nicole moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #36 and #32; by 1997 that had become #37 and #38.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nicole #412, Samantha #778.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1978–2007
Nicole held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Samantha in 21.
Highest recorded here: Nicole #5 in 1987, Samantha #3 in 1989.
The order changed in 1988: Samantha moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #5 and #8; by 1988 that had become #6 and #5.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Nicole #100, Samantha #27.
Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1997–2021
Nicole held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Samantha in 1.
Highest recorded here: Nicole #14 in 1998, Samantha #57 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Nicole #350, Samantha #446.
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 | Nicole | Samantha |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). | 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 | Greek, via French transmission | Hebrew, feminine adaptation (uncertain suffix origin) |
| Pronunciation | /nɪ.ˈkoʊl/ | /sə.ˈmæn.θə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 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 #381 (2025) | Norway · Girls #525 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicole is recorded with a Greek, via French transmission origin, while Samantha is recorded with a Hebrew, feminine adaptation (uncertain suffix origin) origin.
- Nicole and Samantha both have 3 syllables.
- Nicole's recorded meaning differs from Samantha's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Nicole
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2002
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2002).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #412 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