Samuel vs Thomas
Samuel and Thomas compared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Samuel was ranked #64 and Thomas #11 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Samuel was ranked #38 and Thomas #13 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Samuel was ranked #76 and Thomas #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Samuel was ranked #50 and Thomas #18 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Samuel was ranked #69 and Thomas #20 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Samuel was ranked #66 and Thomas #35 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Samuel was ranked #75 and Thomas #106 among boys in Norway.
Samuel and Thomas over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Samuel and Thomas over time
Samuel and Thomas appear together in 6 published lists, across 300 years of shared records. Thomas held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Samuel in 1.
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.
Thomas reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2016, Samuel moved ahead of Thomas in Norway · Boys — #71 and #60 the year before became #53 and #89.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Samuel and Thomas changed places 6 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1972 and 2025, ending at #38 and #13.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Samuel and Thomas averaged 14.8 places apart, ending at #66 and #35.
- Longest-running competitions
Samuel and Thomas were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #66 and #35.
List by list
Norway · Boys73 shared years, 1946–2025
Samuel held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Thomas in 62.
Highest recorded here: Samuel #44 in 2019, Thomas #1 in 1974.
The order changed in 2016: Samuel moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #71 and #60; by 2016 that had become #53 and #89.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Samuel #75, Thomas #106.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Samuel held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Thomas in 62.
Highest recorded here: Samuel #33 in 2013, Thomas #5 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Samuel #76, Thomas #16.
New Zealand · Boys54 shared years, 1967–2023
Samuel held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Thomas in 15.
Highest recorded here: Samuel #3 in 1998, Thomas #4 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Samuel #50, Thomas #18.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys53 shared years, 1972–2025
Samuel held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Thomas in 49.
Highest recorded here: Samuel #10 in 2003, Thomas #3 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Samuel #38, Thomas #13.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Samuel held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Thomas in 30.
Highest recorded here: Samuel #6 in 2004, Thomas #2 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Samuel #66, Thomas #35.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Samuel held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Thomas in 28.
Highest recorded here: Samuel #25 in 2005, Thomas #6 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Samuel #64, Thomas #11.
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
Other comparisons involving Thomas
Pairs where Thomas shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Thomas vs Jordan
In 1997 they stood at #15 and #6 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #11 and #404.
Thomas · Jordan · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Thomas vs Gerard
In 1964 they stood at #6 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #16 and #348.
Thomas · Gerard · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Thomas vs Aksel
Thomas and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #106 and #25.
Thomas · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Thomas vs Anders
Thomas and Anders were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #106 and #293.
Thomas · Anders · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.
- Daniel vs Samuel
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Daniel and Samuel averaged 2.6 places apart, ending at #62 and #66.
Daniel · Samuel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Samuel vs Joseph
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Samuel and Joseph averaged 3.5 places apart, ending at #66 and #59.
Samuel · Joseph · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Graeme vs Ross
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Graeme and Ross averaged 3.7 places apart, ending at #96 and #99.
Graeme · Ross · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Closest over the longest run
- Thomas vs Patrick
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Thomas and Patrick averaged 3.9 places apart, ending at #16 and #25.
Thomas · Patrick · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Closest over the longest run
Other pairs from New Zealand lists
Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- George vs Patrick
Over 64 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, George rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #50 and #60 in 1954 to #6 and #93 in 2020.
George · Patrick · 64 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- Patrick vs Alexander
Over 56 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #60 and #73 in 1954 to #93 and #32 in 2020.
Patrick · Alexander · 56 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- James vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, James rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #20 and #61 in 1954 to #5 and #100 in 2005.
James · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
- Joseph vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Joseph rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #66 and #61 in 1954 to #27 and #100 in 2005.
Joseph · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Samuel | Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally rendered as 'name of God', though also popularly interpreted as 'God has heard' — sources differ on which root is emphasised. | The Greek form of the Aramaic name meaning 'twin'. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel | Aramaic, via Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈsæmjuːəl/ | /ˈtɑməs/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #38 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #13 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Samuel is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel origin, while Thomas is recorded with a Aramaic, via Greek origin.
- Samuel and Thomas both have 2 syllables.
- Samuel's recorded meaning differs from Thomas's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
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 #66 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Thomas
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #177 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: #1 among boys in Norway, in 1974 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #35 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys