Sam vs Samuel
Sam 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 2013, Sam was ranked #82 and Samuel #7 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2010, Sam was ranked #97 and Samuel #12 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Sam was ranked #50 and Samuel #76 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Sam was ranked #334 and Samuel #60 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Sam was ranked #187 and Samuel #64 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Sam was ranked #127 and Samuel #69 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Sam was ranked #289 and Samuel #75 among boys in Norway.
Sam and Samuel over time
Sam and Samuel appear together in 6 published lists, across 208 years of shared records. Samuel held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Sam 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.
Sam reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Samuel in 2. 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 took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Sam moved into the top 50 at #46 in 2017 as Samuel fell out of it to #52, having been #38 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2017, Sam moved ahead of Samuel in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #41 and #38 the year before became #46 and #52.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Sam and Samuel changed places 4 times in Norway · Boys between 1960 and 2025, ending at #289 and #75.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Sam and Samuel averaged 38.8 places apart, ending at #187 and #64.
- Longest-running competitions
Sam and Samuel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 57 years, from 1960 to 2025, ending at #289 and #75.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Sam #44 in 2005, Samuel #25 in 2005.
List by list
Norway · Boys57 shared years, 1960–2025
Sam held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Samuel in 54.
Highest recorded here: Sam #171 in 2024, Samuel #44 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Sam #289, Samuel #75.
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1983–2025
Sam held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Samuel in 32.
Highest recorded here: Sam #38 in 2015, Samuel #33 in 2013.
The order changed in 2017: Sam moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #41 and #38; by 2017 that had become #46 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Sam #50, Samuel #76.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Sam held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samuel in 29.
Highest recorded here: Sam #47 in 1996, Samuel #6 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Sam #334, Samuel #60.
New Zealand · Boys28 shared years, 1986–2013
Sam held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samuel in 28.
Highest recorded here: Sam #49 in 1990, Samuel #3 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Sam #82, Samuel #7.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Sam held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samuel in 28.
Highest recorded here: Sam #44 in 2005, Samuel #25 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Sam #187, Samuel #64.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys23 shared years, 1986–2010
Sam held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samuel in 23.
Highest recorded here: Sam #63 in 1991, Samuel #10 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Sam #97, Samuel #12.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Samuel
Pairs where Samuel shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Samuel vs Graham
In 1964 they stood at #119 and #129 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #90 and #770.
Samuel · Graham · 54 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Samuel vs Garry
In 1964 they stood at #119 and #114 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2009 they were #37 and #701.
Samuel · Garry · 45 shared years, 1964–2009 · Started together, ended far apart
- Samuel vs Roger
In 1964 they stood at #119 and #113 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2021 they were #75 and #631.
Samuel · Roger · 41 shared years, 1964–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Samuel vs Ross
In 1997 they stood at #39 and #30 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2023 they were #79 and #395.
Samuel · Ross · 27 shared years, 1997–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Sam | 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, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #50 (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); Sam does not have one recorded yet.
- Sam has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Samuel.
- A meaning is recorded for Samuel; 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
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
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