Samuel Boy

Popularity: #17 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationSAM-yool / /ˈsæm.juː.əl/

Hebrew; English; French

Meaning

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

Historical & Cultural Background

Samuel is a prominent name in the Hebrew Bible, belonging to a prophet and judge. The name has been widely used in various cultures, particularly in Christian and Jewish communities. It gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the Middle Ages and has remained a classic choice for boys. The name's enduring appeal is reflected in its use across different languages and cultures.

Trend Summary

Samuel has consistently ranked among the top names for boys in the United States, maintaining popularity over the decades.

Similar Names

SaulSimonSimeonSolomonSilasSantiagoSampson

Variants

  • Sam
  • Samu
  • Sammy

International Variants

  • Samuel (Spanish)
  • Samuele (Italian)
  • Samu (Finnish)
  • Samuil (Bulgarian)

Famous people named Samuel

Samuel Adams was an American statesman and a Founding Father of the United States.

Samuel Beckett was an Irish playwright, novelist, and poet, best known for his play 'Waiting for Godot.'.

Samuel Johnson was an English writer and lexicographer, famous for his dictionary of the English language.

Samuel L. Jackson is an American actor and producer, recognized for his roles in numerous films including 'Pulp Fiction.'.

Fictional characters named Samuel

Samuel T. C. is a character in the video game 'The Last of Us,' known for his role in the story's progression.

Samuel 'Sam' Winchester is a main character in the TV series 'Supernatural,' portrayed as a demon hunter.

Sibling Suggestions

DanielMichaelNathanDavidIsaacEliJoshua

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Samuel was first seen in the United States in 1880. Samuel has ranked as high as #33 nationally, which occurred in 2001, and has been most popular in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Ohio. In the past 5 years the name Samuel has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Samuel (2024)

StateBirthsShare
TX 973
12%
CA 836
11%
FL 510
6%
NY 435
5%
NC 309
4%
OH 308
4%
PA 295
4%
GA 279
4%
TN 264
3%
WA 219
3%
IL 219
3%
MI 217
3%
VA 212
3%
MA 209
3%
IN 188
2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
18801,024
1881919
18821,003
1883937
1884945
1885888
1886870
1887802
1888931
1889810
1890815
1891753
1892902
1893851
1894776
1895814
1896734
1897759
1898749
1899704
1900877
1901628
1902702
1903741
1904727
1905856
1906783
1907892
1908960
1909983
19101,129
19111,398
19122,602
19132,850
19143,703
19154,351
19164,399
19174,490
19184,772
19194,472
19204,654
19214,754
19224,600
19234,578
19244,592
19254,405
19264,179
19274,189
19283,844
19293,567
19303,531
19313,379
19323,411
19333,111
19343,137
19353,149
19362,893
19373,027
19383,243
19393,254
19403,362
19413,537
19424,190
19434,142
19443,946
19453,957
19464,524
19475,109
19485,003
19495,357
19505,226
19515,476
19525,648
19535,423
19545,634
19555,534
19565,584
19575,237
19585,051
19594,953
19604,711
19614,666
19624,552
19634,522
19644,463
19654,394
19664,158
19674,232
19684,121
19694,431
19704,559
19714,406
19724,214
19734,266
19744,671
19754,621
19765,026
19775,259
19785,393
19795,688
19806,013
19816,037
19826,017
19836,195
19846,361
19857,010
19867,580
19878,576
19889,564
198910,107
199010,892
199111,232
199211,345
199311,710
199412,146
199512,440
199613,629
199714,237
199813,912
199914,049
200014,187
200114,813
200214,579
200314,687
200414,128
200514,269
200613,645
200713,366
200812,773
200912,175
201011,971
201111,366
201211,468
201311,139
201411,024
201510,900
201610,615
201710,447
20189,850
20199,321
20208,585
20218,573
20228,414
20238,019
20248,310