Raymond vs Samuel
Raymond 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1993, Raymond was ranked #100 and Samuel #5 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1991, Raymond was ranked #96 and Samuel #13 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Raymond was ranked #545 and Samuel #60 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Raymond was ranked #509 and Samuel #76 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Raymond was ranked #395 and Samuel #79 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2008, Raymond was ranked #487 and Samuel #93 among boys in Norway.
Raymond and Samuel over time
Raymond and Samuel appear together in 6 published lists, across 199 years of shared records. Samuel held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Raymond in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Raymond reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 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 1975, Samuel moved ahead of Raymond in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #66 and #80 the year before became #81 and #76.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Raymond and Samuel averaged 52.9 places apart, ending at #100 and #5.
- Mirrored each other
Over 22 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Samuel rose about as far as Raymond fell — from #63 and #100 in 1967 to #100 and #5 in 1993.
- Longest-running competitions
Raymond and Samuel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 54 years, from 1946 to 2008, ending at #487 and #93.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Raymond held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Samuel in 33.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #29 in 1969, Samuel #33 in 2013.
The order changed in 1992: Samuel moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #85 and #96; by 1992 that had become #102 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Raymond #509, Samuel #76.
Norway · Boys54 shared years, 1946–2008
Raymond held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Samuel in 14.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #60 in 1978, Samuel #93 in 2008.
The order changed in 1994: Samuel moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #178 and #218; by 1994 that had become #234 and #165.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Raymond #487, Samuel #93.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Raymond held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samuel in 29.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #312 in 1996, Samuel #6 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Raymond #545, Samuel #60.
New Zealand · Boys22 shared years, 1967–1993
Raymond held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Samuel in 18.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #61 in 1973, Samuel #5 in 1993.
The order changed in 1974: Samuel moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #61 and #78; by 1974 that had become #71 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 1993: Raymond #100, Samuel #5.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1997–2023
Raymond held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samuel in 17.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #143 in 1997, Samuel #25 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Raymond #395, Samuel #79.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys16 shared years, 1972–1991
Raymond held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Samuel in 14.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #66 in 1974, Samuel #13 in 1991.
The order changed in 1975: Samuel moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #66 and #80; by 1975 that had become #81 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Raymond #96, Samuel #13.
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 | Raymond | 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 | /ˈsæmjuːəl/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #38 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Samuel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel); Raymond does not have one recorded yet.
- Raymond and Samuel both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Samuel; Raymond doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Raymond
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #265 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1991
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1991).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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