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Samuel

♂ Boy

Pronounced SAM-yoo-ul /ˈsæm.ju.əl/High

Meaning: Heard by God; name of God; asked of GodHigh

In 30 seconds: From the Hebrew meaning 'heard by God' or 'asked of God,' Samuel is the great Old Testament prophet and judge who anointed both Saul and David as kings of Israel.
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Origin HighHebrew
MeaningHeard by God; name of God; asked of God
Peak year2001
Total births (all-time)≈ 749,990

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200118802017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Samuel derives from the Hebrew Shemu'el (שְׁמוּאֵל), most likely meaning 'God has heard' (from shama, to hear, and El, God). The prophet Samuel is one of the key figures of the Hebrew Bible, serving as the last judge of Israel and the first kingmaker.

Samuel was a common Puritan name in colonial America, borne by Samuel Adams (1722–1803) and Samuel Morse (1791–1872). It has never left the U.S. top 30 boys' names and has ranked in the top 20 for much of the past century. Its warm nickname Sam is an enduring favorite.

Did you know? In the Hebrew Bible, Hannah prayed desperately to God for a child, and when her son Samuel was born, she named him to commemorate that God had heard her prayer — sham'a El, 'God has heard.'

Variations

SamualSamueleShmuel

Nicknames

SamSammySammie

Famous Bearers

  • ★Samuel Adams (1722–1803)
    American Founding Father, statesman, and political theorist.
  • ★Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) (1835–1910)
    American writer, author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
  • ★Samuel Beckett (1906–1989)
    Irish novelist and playwright, Nobel Prize in Literature winner.

If you like Samuel…

Benjamin— fellow warm biblical classic with great nickname potential
Daniel— shares the prophet-era Hebrew heritage
Joseph— another Old Testament patriarch name with the same enduring appeal
Nathaniel— shares the dignified, full-form biblical feel
Ezra— another Hebrew prophet name on a strong modern trajectory

Frequently Asked

What does the name Samuel mean?

Samuel comes from the Hebrew Shemu'el, most likely meaning 'God has heard,' commemorating Hannah's answered prayer for a child.

How do you pronounce Samuel?

Samuel is said SAM-yoo-ul /ˈsæm.ju.əl/ — three syllables, with stress on the first.

Is Samuel a boy or girl name?

Samuel is used almost exclusively as a boy's name; the feminine equivalent is Samantha.

How popular is Samuel?

Samuel has remained in the U.S. top 20 boys' names consistently, and has been a fixture in the top 30 since SSA records began.