boy's name
Samuel
SAM-yoo-ul
- Origin Hebrew
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 6
- Popularity Top 100 (US)
- Births on record 1,099,722
the United States
#18
2025 births
Samuel is a boy's name of Hebrew origin usually translated as "God has heard," from Shemu'el. In the Books of Samuel he is the prophet who anoints Saul and then David as kings of Israel, and his name is explained in the text by his mother's prayer being answered.
- Samuel is a name of Hebrew origin.
- Peaked in 2001, when 14,845 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 397 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Samuel over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 9,129 |
| 1890s | 7,873 |
| 1900s | 8,173 |
| 1910s | 34,264 |
| 1920s | 43,599 |
| 1930s | 32,325 |
| 1940s | 43,322 |
| 1950s | 53,985 |
| 1960s | 44,512 |
| 1970s | 48,462 |
| 1980s | 73,975 |
| 1990s | 125,906 |
| 2000s | 138,909 |
| 2010s | 108,270 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 50,381 |
What Samuel means
Samuel is most often read as "God has heard," though the Hebrew also supports "name of God." The biblical text favors the first reading, connecting the name to Hannah's prayer for a child being heard, and this is the meaning most commonly given.
Where Samuel comes from
Samuel comes from the Hebrew Shemu'el, which can be parsed either as shama El, God has heard, or shem El, name of God. First Samuel 1:20 supports the first reading, presenting the name as Hannah's acknowledgment that her prayer for a son was answered. Samuel occupies a pivotal role in the Hebrew Bible as the last of the judges and the prophet who anoints Israel's first two kings. The name entered English through Greek and Latin scriptures and became widespread after the Reformation, particularly among Puritan families who favored Old Testament names, and it has remained in steady use since.
How popular is Samuel?
In 2025, Samuel was given to 8,342 babies in the United States, ranking #18 that year. It is one of the most popular names in the United States.
Where Samuel 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.
How Samuel is spelled
Birth registers count each spelling separately, so every one has its own ranking.
| Spelling | What it is | Births on record |
|---|---|---|
| Samuël | Samuël is a rare spelling of Samuel, written with a diaeresis and recorded about 170 times, mostly in France. | 170 |
Names that peaked alongside Samuel
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Samuel also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Samuel over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
2 nicknames for Samuel
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.
Samuel 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.
Sibling names for Samuel
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Samuel — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Samuel
What does the name Samuel mean?
Samuel is usually translated as "God has heard," from the Hebrew Shemu'el.
Is Samuel a biblical name?
Yes. Samuel is the prophet who anoints Saul and David as kings of Israel.
Does the Bible explain Samuel's name?
First Samuel 1:20 links it to Hannah's prayer for a son being heard.
How popular is the name Samuel?
In 2025, Samuel was given to 8,342 babies in the United States, ranking #18 that year. It is one of the most popular names in the United States.
Is Samuel a girl's or a boy's name?
Samuel is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Samuel?
Samuel has 2 syllables.
When was Samuel most popular?
Samuel peaked in 2001, when 14,845 babies were given the name. Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Samuel?
Samuel is usually shortened to Sam and Sammy.
Is Samuel a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Samuel currently ranks #18 in the United States. Its usage has held steady over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.