Ross vs Samuel
Ross 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 1985, Ross was ranked #96 and Samuel #10 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Ross was ranked #86 and Samuel #44 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Ross was ranked #3254 and Samuel #60 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Ross was ranked #307 and Samuel #69 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Ross was ranked #329 and Samuel #76 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Ross was ranked #395 and Samuel #79 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Ross and Samuel over time
Ross and Samuel appear together in 4 published lists, across 131 years of shared records. Samuel held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Ross in 0.
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.
Ross reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 1976, Samuel moved ahead of Ross in New Zealand · Boys — #73 and #78 the year before became #77 and #48.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ross and Samuel changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #329 and #76.
- Longest-running competitions
Ross and Samuel were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 61 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #329 and #76.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #30 and #39 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2023 they were #395 and #79.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Ross held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Samuel in 35.
Highest recorded here: Ross #39 in 1998, Samuel #33 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ross #329, Samuel #76.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ross held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samuel in 29.
Highest recorded here: Ross #60 in 1997, Samuel #6 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ross #3254, Samuel #60.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2023
Ross held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Samuel in 25.
Highest recorded here: Ross #30 in 1997, Samuel #25 in 2005.
The order changed in 2000: Samuel moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #37 and #43; by 2000 that had become #42 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ross #395, Samuel #79.
New Zealand · Boys14 shared years, 1967–1985
Ross held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Samuel in 10.
Highest recorded here: Ross #46 in 1968, Samuel #9 in 1984.
The order changed in 1976: Samuel moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #73 and #78; by 1976 that had become #77 and #48.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Ross #96, Samuel #10.
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 | Ross | 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 | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #38 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 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); Ross does not have one recorded yet.
- Ross has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Samuel.
- A meaning is recorded for Samuel; Ross doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Ross
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #36 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1985
Highest recorded position: #25 among boys in New Zealand, in 1957 (recorded 1954–1985).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #329 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