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Home › Baby Names Directory › Samwell

Samwell

♂ Boy

Pronounced SAM-wel /ˈsæm.wɛl/High

Meaning: Samwell is a spelling of Samuel, from the Hebrew Shmuel, 'God has heard' (or 'name of God'). It is also the name of the beloved character Samwell Tarly in Game of Thrones, which drives much of its modern use.Low

In 30 seconds: A warm spin on Samuel: Samwell means 'God has heard' (said 'SAM-wel'), also the name of a beloved Game of Thrones character.
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Origin MediumHebrew, English
MeaningSamwell is a spelling of Samuel, from the Hebrew Shmuel, 'God has heard' (or 'name of God'). It is also the name of the beloved character Samwell Tarly in Game of Thrones, which drives much of its modern use.
U.S. rank (2024)#12057 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2019
Total births (all-time)≈ 49

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201920162024

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Samwell is a spelling of Samuel, from the Hebrew Shmuel, 'God has heard.' Its modern use owes much to the gentle, bookish Samwell Tarly of Game of Thrones. A warm, familiar-yet-fresh name (said 'SAM-wel').

It appears only rarely in U.S. records against the far more common Samuel. Rare, literary-tinged, and warm.

Did you know? Samwell gained fresh life through Samwell Tarly in Game of Thrones — but at heart it's a spelling of Samuel, from the Hebrew for 'God has heard' (said 'SAM-wel').
Overall data confidence 50%
References — Samwell — Spelling of Samuel, 'God has heard'; Game of Thrones character

Variations

SamuelSamwelSamuell

Nicknames

SamSammy

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Samwell…

Samuel— the base name Samwell spells anew
Emmett— a like warm, bookish pick
Gideon— a like Hebrew-rooted name
Caspian— a like literary-flavored choice

Explore names like Samwell

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Samwell mean?

Samwell is a spelling of Samuel, from the Hebrew for 'God has heard.' It's also a Game of Thrones character.

How do you pronounce Samwell?

It's said SAM-wel /ˈsæm.wɛl/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Samwell a boy or girl name?

Samwell is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Samwell?

Samwell is a rare name in the U.S., far less common than Samuel.

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