Samuel vs Walter
Samuel and Waltercompared 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, Samuel was ranked #60 and Walter #344 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Samuel was ranked #69 and Walter #478 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Samuel was ranked #75 and Walter #108 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Samuel was ranked #76 and Walter #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Samuel and Walter over time
Samuel and Walter appear together in 3 published lists, across 125 years of shared records. Samuel held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Walter 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.
Samuel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Walter in 1. 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 1977, Samuel moved ahead of Walter in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #181 and #154 the year before became #170 and #175.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Samuel and Walter changed places 9 times in Norway · Boys between 1946 and 2025, ending at #75 and #108.
- Longest-running competitions
Samuel and Walter were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 45 years, from 1946 to 2025, ending at #75 and #108.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #119 and #111 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #76 and #829.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys51 shared years, 1964–2025
Samuel held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Walter in 6.
Highest recorded here: Samuel #33 in 2013, Walter #105 in 1968.
The order changed in 1977: Samuel moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #181 and #154; by 1977 that had become #170 and #175.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Samuel #76, Walter #829.
Norway · Boys45 shared years, 1946–2025
Samuel held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Walter in 15.
Highest recorded here: Samuel #44 in 2019, Walter #108 in 2025.
The order changed in 1972: Samuel moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #486 and #350; by 1972 that had become #452 and #569.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Samuel #75, Walter #108.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Samuel held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Walter in 0.
Highest recorded here: Samuel #6 in 2004, Walter #271 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Samuel #60, Walter #344.
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 | Samuel | Walter |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| 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. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Samouel | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈsæmjuːəl/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #38 (2025) | Norway · Boys #108 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 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); Walter does not have one recorded yet.
- Samuel and Walter both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Samuel; Walter doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, 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 #38 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Walter
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #178 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #108 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys