Mostly boys
Alexander
Greek
“defending men”
Mostly boys · Hebrew
Samuel
“told by God”
Say it SAM-yoo-ulPronunciation may vary by region.
See your shortlist ↗
A little maybe, saved for later.
The story behind the name
Meet Samuel.
Samuel comes from Hebrew Shemu'el and is commonly interpreted as told by God. In the Old Testament, Samuel is a prophet and judge who anoints Saul and David as kings.
Sam and Sammy give this traditional full name shorter everyday forms. Samuel may appeal to parents who want a clear biblical history alongside a nickname that feels informal and easy to use throughout life.
6 lettersHebrew origins ↗
A little perspective
How popular is Samuel?
Girls · 2025#11,7538 recorded births
Boys · 2025#188,334 recorded births
Recorded US births over time
● Girls● Boys
View the numbers behind the chart
| Year | Category | US rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 18 | 8,334 |
| 2025 | Girls | 11,753 | 8 |
| 2024 | Boys | 17 | 8,355 |
| 2024 | Girls | 13,235 | 7 |
| 2023 | Boys | 19 | 8,038 |
| 2023 | Girls | 10,196 | 10 |
| 2022 | Boys | 19 | 8,427 |
| 2022 | Girls | 12,067 | 8 |
| 2021 | Boys | 23 | 8,580 |
| 2021 | Girls | 14,967 | 6 |
| 2020 | Boys | 25 | 8,594 |
| 2020 | Girls | 7,897 | 14 |
| 2019 | Boys | 22 | 9,322 |
| 2019 | Girls | 10,346 | 10 |
| 2018 | Boys | 21 | 9,854 |
| 2018 | Girls | 9,061 | 12 |
| 2017 | Boys | 21 | 10,449 |
| 2017 | Girls | 7,381 | 16 |
| 2016 | Boys | 21 | 10,621 |
| 2016 | Girls | 7,546 | 16 |
| 2015 | Boys | 23 | 10,905 |
| 2015 | Girls | 9,394 | 12 |
| 2014 | Boys | 23 | 11,029 |
| 2014 | Girls | 8,419 | 14 |
Rankings are calculated separately for boys and girls. Records below the publication threshold may be missing; gaps are not zero births.
A few ways to make it theirs.
Nicknames
SamSammy
Variations & related forms
ShmuelSamuele
Keep the possibilities coming
If you love Samuel…
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