Roger vs Samuel
Roger 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 2024, Roger was ranked #2263 and Samuel #60 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1969, Roger was ranked #70 and Samuel #94 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2013, Roger was ranked #514 and Samuel #70 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Roger was ranked #631 and Samuel #75 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Roger and Samuel over time
Roger and Samuel appear together in 3 published lists, across 124 years of shared records. Samuel held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Roger in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Roger reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 1992, Samuel moved ahead of Roger in Norway · Boys — #153 and #262 the year before became #181 and #159.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Roger and Samuel changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2021, ending at #631 and #75.
- Longest-running competitions
Roger and Samuel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 54 years, from 1946 to 2013, ending at #514 and #70.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #113 and #119 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2021 they were #631 and #75.
List by list
Norway · Boys54 shared years, 1946–2013
Roger held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Samuel in 15.
Highest recorded here: Roger #18 in 1972, Samuel #70 in 2013.
The order changed in 1992: Samuel moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #153 and #262; by 1992 that had become #181 and #159.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Roger #514, Samuel #70.
Republic of Ireland · Boys41 shared years, 1964–2021
Roger held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Samuel in 29.
Highest recorded here: Roger #99 in 1965, Samuel #34 in 2006.
The order changed in 1981: Samuel moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #135 and #146; by 1981 that had become #160 and #140.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Roger #631, Samuel #75.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Roger held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samuel in 29.
Highest recorded here: Roger #694 in 1997, Samuel #6 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Roger #2263, Samuel #60.
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 | Roger | 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, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #2263 (2024) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #38 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 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); Roger does not have one recorded yet.
- Roger and Samuel both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Samuel; Roger doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Roger
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #86 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2013
Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in Norway, in 1972 (recorded 1945–2013).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2263 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · 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