Samuel Boy

Popularity: #18 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SAM-yool //ˈsæm.juː.əl//

Origin: Hebrew; English; French

Meaning: Hebrew: 'God has heard'; English: 'one who is heard'; French: 'he who hears'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Samuel has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the name שְׁמוּאֵל (Shemu'el), which is traditionally interpreted to mean "God has heard" or "name of God." This name appears in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the books of 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel, where Samuel is a significant prophet and judge in ancient Israel. The name was transliterated into Greek as Σαμουήλ (Samouēl) and later into Latin as Samuel, before making its way into Old French and eventually into Middle English as Samuel, maintaining its original form throughout these transitions.

Historically, the figure of Samuel is pivotal, as he is credited with anointing the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David, during the 11th century BCE. His role as a prophet and leader is emphasized in various biblical narratives, which have influenced Judeo-Christian traditions.

The name gained further prominence through its inclusion in the Christian Old Testament, particularly in the King James Version published in 1611, which helped to solidify its usage in English-speaking contexts. Culturally, Samuel has been associated with wisdom, leadership, and divine communication, reflecting the characteristics of the biblical figure.

The name has been embraced in various forms across different cultures, often retaining its biblical significance. In addition to its full form, diminutive forms such as Sam have emerged, providing a more familiar or affectionate variant while still connecting to the original name's heritage.

Samuel's enduring presence in religious texts and its symbolic associations with faith and guidance have contributed to its lasting significance across centuries.

Famous people named Samuel

In this section, you will find notable people named Samuel. 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 Samuel who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Samuel 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.

Samuel L. Jackson is an actor and producer best known for Pulp Fiction, Django Unchained, and The Avengers.

Samuel Adams was a brewer and a Founding Father best known for his role in the American Revolution and the Boston Tea Party.

Samuel Beckett was a playwright and novelist best known for Waiting for Godot, Endgame, and Krapp's Last Tape.

Samuel Morse was an inventor and painter best known for developing the Morse code and the telegraph.

Samuel Johnson was a writer and lexicographer best known for A Dictionary of the English Language and The Lives of the Poets.

Samuel Colt was an inventor and industrialist best known for founding Colt's Manufacturing Company and creating the revolver.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge was a poet and philosopher best known for The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan.

Samuel Alito is a jurist best known for serving as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Samuel Goldwyn was a film producer best known for founding MGM and producing films like The Best Years of Our Lives and Wuthering Heights.

Samuel P. Huntington was a political scientist best known for The Clash of Civilizations and Who Are We?

Samuel Adams was a political leader and a Founding Father best known for his role in the American Revolution and the Boston Tea Party.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known as Mark Twain, was an author best known for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Samuel Beckett was a playwright and novelist best known for Waiting for Godot and Endgame.

Samuel Gompers was a labor leader best known for founding the American Federation of Labor (AFL).

Samuel L. Jackson is an actor best known for Pulp Fiction, The Hateful Eight, and Snakes on a Plane.

Fictional characters named Samuel

The following list of fictional characters named Samuel 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.

Samuel Adams is a fictional character from the animated series The Boondocks. He is a prominent figure who represents the voice of reason and often critiques societal issues in the show.

Samuel T. Cogley is a fictional character from the TV series Star Trek. He is a defense attorney who plays a key role in the legal proceedings involving Captain Kirk.

Sibling suggestions

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

DanielMichaelNathanDavidIsaacEliJoshua

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Samuel. 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.

SaulSimonSimeonSolomonSilasSantiagoSampson

U.S. Historical Usage

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

Samuel has ranked as high as #35 nationally, which occurred in 2001, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Samuel 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 Samuel 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 Samuel.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 8,342 8,334 8
2024 8,362 8,355 7
2023 8,048 8,038 10
2022 8,435 8,427 8
2021 8,586 8,580 6
2020 8,608 8,594 14
2019 9,332 9,322 10
2018 9,866 9,854 12
2017 10,465 10,449 16
2016 10,637 10,621 16
2015 10,917 10,905 12
2014 11,043 11,029 14
2013 11,155 11,141 14
2012 11,484 11,470 14
2011 11,372 11,366 6
2010 11,999 11,971 28
2009 12,201 12,181 20
2008 12,798 12,774 24
2007 13,383 13,367 16
2006 13,671 13,652 19
2005 14,297 14,271 26
2004 14,185 14,131 54
2003 14,716 14,691 25
2002 14,598 14,579 19
2001 14,845 14,813 32
2000 14,215 14,188 27
1999 14,071 14,049 22
1998 13,939 13,912 27
1997 14,260 14,237 23
1996 13,656 13,629 27
1995 12,469 12,440 29
1994 12,191 12,147 44
1993 11,751 11,711 40
1992 11,380 11,344 36
1991 11,261 11,234 27
1990 10,928 10,894 34
1989 10,144 10,107 37
1988 9,627 9,564 63
1987 8,639 8,576 63
1986 7,635 7,579 56
1985 7,073 7,009 64
1984 6,410 6,362 48
1983 6,258 6,195 63
1982 6,059 6,014 45
1981 6,080 6,036 44
1980 6,050 6,014 36
1979 5,734 5,687 47
1978 5,427 5,394 33
1977 5,297 5,257 40
1976 5,062 5,025 37
1975 4,656 4,619 37
1974 4,705 4,672 33
1973 4,300 4,267 33
1972 4,252 4,213 39
1971 4,445 4,407 38
1970 4,584 4,558 26
1969 4,459 4,430 29
1968 4,150 4,123 27
1967 4,252 4,232 20
1966 4,178 4,155 23
1965 4,421 4,395 26
1964 4,489 4,462 27
1963 4,545 4,520 25
1962 4,586 4,552 34
1961 4,694 4,667 27
1960 4,738 4,711 27
1959 4,985 4,953 32
1958 5,070 5,051 19
1957 5,250 5,236 14
1956 5,613 5,585 28
1955 5,558 5,535 23
1954 5,651 5,634 17
1953 5,444 5,423 21
1952 5,676 5,647 29
1951 5,493 5,476 17
1950 5,245 5,227 18
1949 5,377 5,356 21
1948 5,017 5,002 15
1947 5,124 5,110 14
1946 4,550 4,523 27
1945 3,973 3,957 16
1944 3,964 3,946 18
1943 4,160 4,143 17
1942 4,220 4,190 30
1941 3,553 3,538 15
1940 3,384 3,364 20
1939 3,272 3,254 18
1938 3,266 3,243 23
1937 3,050 3,027 23
1936 2,902 2,893 9
1935 3,166 3,149 17
1934 3,152 3,137 15
1933 3,132 3,111 21
1932 3,428 3,411 17
1931 3,407 3,379 28
1930 3,550 3,531 19
1929 3,598 3,567 31
1928 3,871 3,844 27
1927 4,226 4,189 37
1926 4,204 4,180 24
1925 4,430 4,405 25
1924 4,614 4,591 23
1923 4,595 4,578 17
1922 4,616 4,600 16
1921 4,774 4,754 20
1920 4,671 4,654 17
1919 4,487 4,472 15
1918 4,795 4,772 23
1917 4,506 4,490 16
1916 4,413 4,399 14
1915 4,361 4,351 10
1914 3,712 3,703 9
1913 2,855 2,850 5
1912 2,608 2,602 6
1911 1,398 1,398 0
1910 1,129 1,129 0
1909 983 983 0
1908 965 960 5
1907 892 892 0
1906 789 783 6
1905 863 856 7
1904 727 727 0
1903 741 741 0
1902 702 702 0
1901 628 628 0
1900 883 877 6
1899 704 704 0
1898 749 749 0
1897 759 759 0
1896 734 734 0
1895 814 814 0
1894 776 776 0
1893 856 851 5
1892 902 902 0
1891 759 753 6
1890 820 815 5
1889 810 810 0
1888 931 931 0
1887 802 802 0
1886 870 870 0
1885 888 888 0
1884 945 945 0
1883 937 937 0
1882 1,003 1,003 0
1881 919 919 0
1880 1,024 1,024 0

Top States for Samuel (2024)

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
TX 973
12%
CA 836
10%
FL 510
6%
NY 435
5%
NC 309
4%
OH 308
4%
PA 295
4%
GA 279
3%
TN 264
3%
WA 219
3%
IL 219
3%
MI 217
3%
VA 212
3%
MA 209
3%
IN 188
2%
NJ 187
2%
AL 177
2%
AZ 175
2%
MO 172
2%
CO 149
2%
KY 144
2%
SC 141
2%
UT 138
2%
MD 119
1%
WI 118
1%
LA 110
1%
MN 107
1%
OK 104
1%
AR 102
1%
OR 97
1%
KS 87
1%
MS 81
1%
CT 74
1%
IA 68
1%
ID 60
1%
NV 58
1%
NE 42
1%
NM 38
0%
WV 36
0%
ME 31
0%
NH 27
0%
RI 27
0%
ND 26
0%
MT 24
0%
AK 23
0%
HI 22
0%
DC 19
0%
VT 17
0%
DE 16
0%
WY 12
0%
SD 9
0%