Samuel
Gender: Boy
Meaning: God has heard; name of God
Origin: Hebrew — from Shemu'el (שְׁמוּאֵל): shema (heard) + El (God)
Popularity: Ranked #18 in 2025 with 8,334 babies born.
History: Samuel is the great prophet and judge of the Old Testament who anointed both Saul and David as kings of Israel — a foundational figure in biblical history. The name has been in consistent use in the English-speaking world since the Reformation. Samuel Adams was a Founding Father and firebrand of the American Revolution. Samuel Clemens wrote under the name Mark Twain. Sam is one of the most universally likable nicknames in any language — friendly, unpretentious, and timeless. Samuel has been in the U.S. top 25 for most of the past century.
Famous people named Samuel: Samuel L. Jackson (actor), Samuel Adams (founding father), Samuel Beckett (playwright)
Name length: 6 letters
How common is Samuel? About 1 in 399 babies born in 2025 were named Samuel, or roughly 22.9 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Samuel
What does the name Samuel mean?
Samuel means “God has heard; name of God” from Hebrew — from Shemu'el (שְׁמוּאֵל): shema (heard) + El (God) roots.
What is the origin of the name Samuel?
Samuel has Hebrew — from Shemu'el (שְׁמוּאֵל): shema (heard) + El (God) origin. The traditional meaning is “God has heard; name of God”.
How popular is Samuel?
Samuel ranked #18 in 2025 — given to 8,334 babies that year.
When was Samuel most popular?
Samuel peaked in 2001 with 14,813 babies registered that year.
Is Samuel a boy or girl name?
Samuel is predominantly a boys' name — over 90% of Samuels in registered births are male.
Is the name Samuel rising or falling in popularity?
Samuel has risen 7555 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #7573 in 2020 to #18 in 2025.
How long has Samuel been recorded?
Samuel appears in birth records across 146 years — from 1880 through 2025.