Rasmus vs Samuel
Rasmus 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2023, Rasmus was ranked #4107 and Samuel #62 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Rasmus was ranked #362 and Samuel #75 among boys in Norway.
Rasmus and Samuel over time
Rasmus and Samuel appear together in 2 published lists, across 84 years of shared records. Samuel held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Rasmus in 0.
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.
Rasmus reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Samuel 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 2001, Samuel moved ahead of Rasmus in Norway · Boys — #144 and #151 the year before became #168 and #138.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Rasmus and Samuel changed places 27 times in Norway · Boys between 1946 and 2025, ending at #362 and #75.
- Mirrored each other
Over 71 shared years in Norway · Boys, Samuel rose about as far as Rasmus fell — from #239 and #339 in 1946 to #362 and #75 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Rasmus and Samuel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 71 years, from 1946 to 2025, ending at #362 and #75.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Rasmus #2578 in 2004, Samuel #6 in 2004.
List by list
Norway · Boys71 shared years, 1946–2025
Rasmus held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Samuel in 46.
Highest recorded here: Rasmus #130 in 2009, Samuel #44 in 2019.
The order changed in 2001: Samuel moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #144 and #151; by 2001 that had become #168 and #138.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Rasmus #362, Samuel #75.
England and Wales · Boys13 shared years, 2003–2023
Rasmus held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samuel in 13.
Highest recorded here: Rasmus #2578 in 2004, Samuel #6 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Rasmus #4107, Samuel #62.
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 | Rasmus | Samuel |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Traditionally rendered as 'name of God', though also popularly interpreted as 'God has heard' — sources differ on which root is emphasised. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈsæmjuːəl/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #362 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #38 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Samuel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel); Rasmus does not have one recorded yet.
- Rasmus and Samuel both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Samuel; Rasmus doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.
How each name got here
Rasmus
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #264 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #130 among boys in Norway, in 2009 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #362 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Samuel
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1967–2023
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 1998 (recorded 1967–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #38 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys