Paul vs Sam
Paul and Samcompared 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 · Boys
In 2025, Paul was ranked #286 and Sam #50 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1998, Paul was ranked #86 and Sam #71 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1998, Paul was ranked #86 and Sam #77 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Paul was ranked #290 and Sam #127 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Paul was ranked #370 and Sam #171 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Paul was ranked #278 and Sam #187 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Paul was ranked #586 and Sam #334 among boys in England and Wales.
Paul and Sam over time
Paul and Sam appear together in 6 published lists, across 181 years of shared records. Paul held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Sam in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Paul reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Sam 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 1997, Sam moved ahead of Paul in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #72 and #74 the year before became #86 and #75.
- Longest-running competitions
Paul and Sam were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 57 years, from 1959 to 2024, ending at #370 and #171.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Paul #72 in 1996, Sam #47 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys57 shared years, 1959–2024
Paul held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Sam in 12.
Highest recorded here: Paul #82 in 1964, Sam #171 in 2024.
The order changed in 2013: Sam moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #288 and #289; by 2013 that had become #281 and #220.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Paul #370, Sam #171.
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1983–2025
Paul held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Sam in 20.
Highest recorded here: Paul #7 in 1983, Sam #38 in 2015.
The order changed in 2006: Sam moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #54 and #59; by 2006 that had become #62 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Paul #286, Sam #50.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Paul held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sam in 29.
Highest recorded here: Paul #72 in 1996, Sam #47 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Paul #586, Sam #334.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Paul held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Sam in 20.
Highest recorded here: Paul #27 in 1997, Sam #44 in 2005.
The order changed in 2004: Sam moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #60 and #65; by 2004 that had become #63 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Paul #278, Sam #187.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys12 shared years, 1986–1998
Paul held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Sam in 3.
Highest recorded here: Paul #25 in 1986, Sam #63 in 1991.
The order changed in 1997: Sam moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #72 and #74; by 1997 that had become #86 and #75.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Paul #86, Sam #77.
New Zealand · Boys12 shared years, 1986–1998
Paul held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Sam in 6.
Highest recorded here: Paul #25 in 1987, Sam #49 in 1990.
The order changed in 1992: Sam moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #50 and #55; by 1992 that had become #53 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Paul #86, Sam #71.
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 | Paul | Sam |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From the Roman name Paulus, meaning 'small' in Latin. Saint Paul, originally named Saul, converted to Christianity and became a key missionary figure, authoring several New Testament epistles. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈpɔːl/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| 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 · Boys #286 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #50 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Paul has a recorded origin (Latin); Sam does not have one recorded yet.
- Paul and Sam both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Paul; Sam 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
Paul
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #73 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Sam
Popularity journey
First recorded1959
First recorded at #340 among boys in Norway in 1959 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1983–2025
Highest recorded position: #38 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2015 (recorded 1983–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #289 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys