boy's name
Samson
SAM-sun (English)
- Origin Hebrew
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 6
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 17,584
the United States
#477
2025 births
Samson is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning "sun," from Shimshon, derived from shemesh. It's the name of the Old Testament judge whose great strength came from his uncut hair, and who was betrayed by Delilah in the Book of Judges.
- Samson is a name of Hebrew origin.
- Peaked in 2025, when 639 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 5,188 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1892.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Samson Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1890s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 19 |
| 1900s | 18 |
| 1910s | 135 |
| 1920s | 169 |
| 1930s | 138 |
| 1940s | 145 |
| 1950s | 243 |
| 1960s | 255 |
| 1970s | 530 |
| 1980s | 937 |
| 1990s | 1,273 |
| 2000s | 1,915 |
| 2010s | 3,902 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 3,200 |
What Samson Means
Samson means sun or man of the sun. Its fame lies in the strongman of the Bible, so the name brings to mind physical strength as much as light.
Where Samson Comes From
Hebrew Shimshon comes from shemesh, sun, and the name appears in Judges alongside the story of a Nazirite hero who killed a lion, fought the Philistines and lost his power when Delilah cut his hair. Greek Sampson and Latin Samson spread it in Christian Europe. A later bearer, Saint Samson of Dol, was a sixth-century Welsh monk who helped found Brittany's church, and through him the name took hold among Celtic Christians and the Normans. Milton's Samson Agonistes and Handel's oratorio renewed its fame. Spellings with a p came through Greek.
Samson in Use
Saint-Saëns's opera Samson and Delilah keeps the story on stage, and paintings by Rubens and Rembrandt treat the same scenes. Sam is the easy everyday form.
How Popular Is Samson?
In 2025, Samson was given to 639 babies in the United States, ranking #477 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Where Samson Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Samson
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Samson Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Samson over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Samson
- English SAM-sun
1 nickname for Samson
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Samson in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
- Other forms
- Forms we hold no single language for — some are used across several, some are simply spelled differently.
- Sampson
Sibling Names for Samson
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Samson — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Samson
What does the name Samson mean?
Sun, from the Hebrew Shimshon.
Who was Samson in the Bible?
A judge of Israel with great strength, betrayed by Delilah.
Is Samson a modern name?
It's an old biblical name still in regular use.
How popular is the name Samson?
In 2025, Samson was given to 639 babies in the United States, ranking #477 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Is Samson a girl's or a boy's name?
Samson is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Samson?
Samson has 2 syllables.
When was Samson most popular?
Samson peaked in 2025, when 639 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Samson?
Samson is usually shortened to Sam.
Is Samson a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Samson currently ranks #477 in the United States. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.