Samuel
Samuel is a boys' name of Hebrew origin meaning “God has heard.” It ranked #18 in the United States in 2025. A major prophet in the Hebrew Bible who anointed the first kings of Israel.
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how do you pronounce Samuel?
SAM-yoo-el
where does the name Samuel come from?
From the Hebrew שְׁמוּאֵל (Shmuel), which admits two readings: name of God, or heard by God. The first book of Samuel prefers the second, since Hannah names him because she asked the Lord for him, drawing on the verb shama, to hear.
The name has remained consistently popular across centuries and cultures.
the history of Samuel
Samuel is the last of the judges and the prophet who anoints both Saul and David, standing at the hinge between two forms of Israelite government. The name was taken up enthusiastically by English Puritans and carried to America, where Samuel Adams, Samuel Morse and Samuel Clemens all bore it, and it has stayed in the top forty for decades.
how popular is this name?
Samuel has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 146 years since 1880. It peaked at #17 in 1880, and ranked #18 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #18 |
| 2024 | #17 |
| 2023 | #19 |
| 2022 | #19 |
| 2021 | #23 |
| 2020 | #25 |
| 2019 | #22 |
| 2018 | #21 |
| 2017 | #21 |
| 2016 | #21 |
| 2010 | #24 |
| 2000 | #28 |
| 1990 | #45 |
| 1980 | #54 |
| 1970 | #62 |
| 1960 | #91 |
| 1950 | #62 |
| 1940 | #65 |
| 1930 | #55 |
| 1920 | #44 |
| 1910 | #32 |
| 1900 | #33 |
| 1890 | #20 |
| 1880 | #17 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Samuel fell outside the top 1,000.
who are famous people named Samuel?
- Samuel L. Jackson (actor)
- Samuel Adams (Founding Father)
- Samuel Beckett (playwright)
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge (poet)
what are the nicknames and variants of Samuel?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Samuel?
what names go well with Samuel?
Sibling names that share Samuel's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Samuel
What does the name Samuel mean?
Samuel means “God has heard”.
What is the origin of the name Samuel?
Samuel comes from the Hebrew naming tradition. Related forms include Samuele, Shmuel and Samwell.
How popular is the name Samuel?
Samuel ranked #18 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1880, at #17, and it has spent 146 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Samuel a boy or girl name?
Samuel is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Samuel?
Samuel is pronounced SAM-yoo-el, with 3 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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