Namewise

Oisin vs Samuel

Oisin 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.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Oisin was ranked #9 and Samuel #64 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Oisin was ranked #517 and Samuel #66 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Oisin was ranked #234 and Samuel #69 among boys in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Oisin was ranked #262 and Samuel #76 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Oisin and Samuel over time

Oisin and Samuel appear together in 3 published lists, across 119 years of shared records. Oisin held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Samuel in 1.

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 3 of those lists, and Oisin 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 2006, Oisin moved ahead of Samuel in Northern Ireland · Boys — #30 and #25 the year before became #29 and #36.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Oisin and Samuel changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #9 and #64.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Oisin and Samuel averaged 28.0 places apart, ending at #9 and #64.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Oisin rose about as far as Samuel fell — from #81 and #39 in 1997 to #9 and #64 in 2024.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Oisin and Samuel were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #517 and #66.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025

    Oisin held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Samuel in 24.

    Highest recorded here: Oisin #8 in 2016, Samuel #33 in 2013.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Oisin #262, Samuel #76.

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

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

    Highest recorded here: Oisin #433 in 2021, Samuel #6 in 2004.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Oisin #517, Samuel #66.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Oisin held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Samuel in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Oisin #7 in 2022, Samuel #25 in 2005.

    The order changed in 2006: Oisin moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #30 and #25; by 2006 that had become #29 and #36.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Oisin #9, Samuel #64.

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 Oisin

Pairs where Oisin 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 Republic of Ireland lists

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

Republic of Ireland 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 Oisin, Samuel
FieldOisinSamuel
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningTraditionally interpreted as 'little deer', combining an Old Irish word for deer or stag with a diminutive ending.Traditionally rendered as 'name of God', though also popularly interpreted as 'God has heard' — sources differ on which root is emphasised.
OriginIrishBiblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel
Pronunciation/oʊˈʃiːn//ˈsæmjuːəl/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IEAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #262 (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

  • Oisin is recorded with a Irish origin, while Samuel is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel origin.
  • Oisin and Samuel both have 2 syllables.
  • Oisin's recorded meaning differs from Samuel's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.

How each name got here

Oisin

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #517 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