Sampson Boy

Popularity: #904 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SAM-suhn //ˈsæm.sən//

Origin: Hebrew; English

Meaning: Hebrew: sun; English: variant of Samson

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Sampson has its roots in the Hebrew name Shimshon, which is derived from the Hebrew word "shemesh," meaning "sun." This name was transliterated into Greek as Sampson (Σαμψών) and later into Latin as Sampson, before being adopted into Old French and eventually entering the English language. The transition from Hebrew to Greek and then Latin reflects the historical spread of the biblical narrative, particularly through the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, which dates back to the 3rd century BCE.

The name Sampson is most famously associated with the biblical figure Samson, a judge of Israel known for his extraordinary strength, as recounted in the Book of Judges, particularly in chapters 13 to 16, which were written around the 11th century BCE. Sampson's narrative is rich with themes of strength, betrayal, and redemption, culminating in his downfall due to his relationship with Delilah.

This story has had a significant impact on Western literature and art, inspiring countless adaptations and interpretations throughout the centuries. The name gained further prominence during the Renaissance, when biblical stories were revisited and reinterpreted in various forms of art and literature.

Notably, the King James Bible, published in 1611, solidified the name's presence in English-speaking cultures, as it provided a widely read and influential translation of biblical texts. Culturally, the name Sampson has come to symbolize physical strength and moral complexity, often representing the duality of human nature—capable of great feats yet vulnerable to personal failings.

The name has also seen variations and diminutives, such as Sam, which have been used in various contexts. Overall, the enduring legacy of the name Sampson is deeply intertwined with its biblical origins and the moral lessons derived from the life of its most famous bearer.

Famous people named Sampson

In this section, you will find notable people named Sampson. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Sampson who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Sampson who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Sampson Davis is a physician and author best known for The Bond, We Beat the Street, and Living and Dying in Brick City.

Fictional characters named Sampson

The following list of fictional characters named Sampson is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Sampson is a fictional character from William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. He is a servant of the Capulet family who instigates a fight with the Montagues, showcasing the feud between the two families.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Sampson, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

SamuelSimonSantiagoSullivanSethSilas

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Sampson. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

SamsonSalvadorSantiagoSimeonSullivanSoren

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Sampson was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Sampson has ranked as high as #4875 nationally, which occurred in 2017, and has been most popular in California, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.

In the past 5 years the name Sampson has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Sampson is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Sampson was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Sampson.

Year Total Births Boy
2025 34 34
2024 34 34
2023 38 38
2022 42 42
2021 46 46
2020 57 57
2019 41 41
2018 50 50
2017 61 61
2016 51 51
2015 57 57
2014 42 42
2013 39 39
2012 38 38
2011 35 35
2010 31 31
2009 34 34
2008 40 40
2007 43 43
2006 37 37
2005 35 35
2004 29 29
2003 34 34
2002 35 35
2001 31 31
2000 36 36
1999 51 51
1998 44 44
1997 33 33
1996 34 34
1995 34 34
1994 39 39
1993 33 33
1992 33 33
1991 29 29
1990 35 35
1989 36 36
1988 40 40
1987 29 29
1986 33 33
1985 31 31
1984 24 24
1983 28 28
1982 27 27
1981 33 33
1980 31 31
1979 23 23
1978 34 34
1977 28 28
1976 26 26
1975 20 20
1974 20 20
1973 19 19
1972 17 17
1971 14 14
1970 21 21
1969 28 28
1968 21 21
1967 16 16
1966 17 17
1965 18 18
1964 27 27
1963 28 28
1962 22 22
1961 33 33
1960 33 33
1959 31 31
1958 21 21
1957 29 29
1956 42 42
1955 34 34
1954 38 38
1953 25 25
1952 33 33
1951 23 23
1950 27 27
1949 35 35
1948 28 28
1947 19 19
1946 28 28
1945 19 19
1944 19 19
1943 32 32
1942 23 23
1941 18 18
1940 25 25
1939 27 27
1938 28 28
1937 18 18
1936 28 28
1935 21 21
1934 20 20
1933 27 27
1932 26 26
1931 34 34
1930 37 37
1929 29 29
1928 34 34
1927 39 39
1926 29 29
1925 35 35
1924 30 30
1923 30 30
1922 40 40
1921 39 39
1920 43 43
1919 41 41
1918 36 36
1917 21 21
1916 30 30
1915 23 23
1914 34 34
1913 22 22
1912 23 23
1911 7 7
1910 12 12
1909 13 13
1908 9 9
1907 10 10
1906 7 7
1905 12 12
1904 13 13
1903 10 10
1902 14 14
1901 10 10
1900 20 20
1899 18 18
1898 23 23
1897 11 11
1896 7 7
1895 10 10
1894 7 7
1893 6 6
1892 8 8
1891 5 5
1890 8 8
1889 8 8
1888 9 9
1887 6 6
1886 8 8
1885 8 8
1884 10 10
1883 6 6
1882 8 8
1881 8 8
1880 5 5

Top States for Sampson (2023)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
OK 5
100%