If you’re looking for a name that is familiar, traditional, and also rising in popularity, you might consider the name Samuel.
The name Samuel is from the Old Testament of the Bible, and derives from a Hebrew phrase meaning either “God has heard” or “name of God.” Jews, Christians, and Muslims respect Samuel from the Bible as a wise prophet, judge, and leader of ancient Israel.
- Origin: The name Samuel comes from either the Hebrew words Shem (name) and El (God), or Sh’ma (hear) and El (God). The name can be interpreted either as “name of God” or “God has heard.”
- Gender: Samuel is historically the masculine form of the name. Samuelle, Samuella, and Samantha are sometimes used as feminine variations.
- Pronunciation: SAM-yoo-ul
Editor's Note
Although baby names are often separated by gender, Parents believes that sex need not play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.
How Popular Is the Name Samuel?
Samuel has been a popular name throughout the English-speaking world since at least the 16th century. It has consistently been a top-100 name for boys in the US for over a century.
The name Samuel dropped out of the top 50 from the late 1920s until the mid-1980s but came back up to the No. 50 spot in 1987. Since then it has surged, ranking No. 25 in 2002 and ranking in the top 30 ever since. In 2022, Samuel was the No. 22 baby name for boys in America.1
Name Variations
As the Bible has been translated into virtually every known language, Samuel has many variant forms and spellings. These include:
- İsmail (Turkish)
- Kamuela (Hawaiian)
- Saamuel (Estonian)
- Saimu'ala (Hindi)
- Sâmo'el (Persian)
- Samouí̱l (Greek)
- Samu (Hungarian)
- Samuil (Russian)
- Samuli (Finnish)
- Sāmūxel (Thai)
- Sawyl (Welsh)
- Shmu’el (Hebrew)
- Somhairle (Irish)
Similar Names
There are a variety of names similar to Samuel, including Samson. This is another name from the Old Testament. The name Samson is derived from the Hebrew Shimshōn, meaning "man of the sun."2
The feminine variant Samantha may be a mashup of the name Samuel and either the feminine name Anthea or the Greek word anthos meaning “flower.” Samara is another popular feminine name, not related to Samuel, but also commonly shortened to Sam.
Other boy names starting with S include:
- Sawyer
- Scott
- Seamus
- Sean
- Sebastian
- Seth
- Shepherd
- Simon
- Spencer
- Stephen
- Stuart
Other boy names from the Old Testament include:
- Aaron
- Asher
- Abraham
- Benjamin
- David
- Ezra
- Jacob
- Joshua
- Levi
- Nathan
- Noah
Common Nicknames for Samuel
Samuel is often shortened to Sam or Sammy. These nicknames can also be short for Samson.
Suggested Sibling Names
Here are a few names that pair nicely with Samuel:
- Daniel
- Deborah
- Elijah
- Elizabeth
- Evelyn
- Hannah
- Isaac
- Mark
- Matthew
- Miriam
- Richard
- Ruth
- Sarah
Famous People Named Samuel
Samuel has been a popular name for a long time. The name has lent itself to many famous people.
Famous Samuels
- Samuel Adams (1722–1803), Founding Father of the United States
- Samuel Alito (born 1950), associate justice of the US Supreme Court
- Samuel Beckett (1906–1989), Irish playwright known for his play "Waiting For Godot"
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834), English poet, a founder of the Romantic movement in poetry
- Samuel “Shemp” Howard (birth name Samuel Horwitz, 1895–1955), American actor and comedian, member of the Three Stooges
- Samuel L. Jackson (born 1948), American film and television actor and film producer
- Samuel Morse (1791–1872), American inventor and artist, best known for developing Morse code
- Samuel Walton (1918–1992), American businessman, founder of Walmart
Famous Sams
- Sam Cooke (1931–1964), American singer and songwriter referred to as the "King of Soul"
- Sam Fuld (born 1981), former Major League Baseball player, and the general manager for the Philadelphia Phillies
- Sam McCullum (born 1952), former NFL player, wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings
- Sam Mendes (born 1965), English stage and film director, known for such films as American Beauty, Road to Perdition, and Skyfall
- Sam Raimi (born 1959), American film director, known for the Evil Dead series and Spider-Man trilogy
- Yosemite Sam, a common foil for Bugs Bunny in the Looney Tunes cartoons
More Baby Names
Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:
