Fun Facts About the Name Samuel
- A favorite across generations: Samuel stayed in the U.S. top 100 every year from 1880 through 2025 - 146 consecutive years.
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 820,054 boys named Samuel from 1880 through 2025.
- More than 822 thousand babies named Samuel: U.S. records list 822,942 babies given the name Samuel from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,888 girls received the name Samuel - about 1 girl for every 284 boys.
What Does the Name Samuel Mean?
Samuel is the English form of the Hebrew name Shmuel (שְׁמוּאֵל). Its usual meaning is "God has heard." The Hebrew name is often analyzed as a combination of shama (שָׁמַע), "to hear," and El (אֵל), "God," though the exact formation and vowel pattern are not certain. A competing explanation connects shem (שֵׁם), "name," with El, yielding "name of God" or "his name is God." The biblical story in 1 Samuel 1:20 gives a different wordplay: Hannah says, "I have asked him of the LORD," linking the name to sha'al (שָׁאַל), "to ask." That narrative explanation is traditional and does not settle the older etymology. The customary English meaning remains "God has heard."
Samuel Name History & Origins
The name Samuel comes from the Hebrew Bible, where Samuel is a prophet and judge, the son of Hannah and Elkanah. He anoints Saul as king and later anoints David, and the books of 1 and 2 Samuel are named for him. Jewish communities have used the Hebrew name Shmuel since antiquity. In the Greek Septuagint the name appears as Samouēl (Σαμουήλ), and in the Latin Vulgate as Samuel (also written Samuhel in some manuscripts and traditions). From Latin it passed into European vernaculars, including Old French and Middle English, usually in the form Samuel. The name also appears in the New Testament in Acts 3:24, where Samuel is named among the prophets. In English, the name was used by Protestants after the Reformation, alongside other biblical Hebrew names. Short forms such as Sam and Sammy developed later. The name should not be confused with Saul, which comes from a different Hebrew root, even though the biblical story of Samuel's birth puns on the sound of sha'al, "to ask."
How Popular is the Name Samuel?
Samuel has maintained century-spanning popularity, remaining an unbroken fixture in the U.S. top 100 continuously from 1880 to 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #11,753 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2024 | #13,186 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2023 | #10,178 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2022 | #12,062 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #14,959 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2020 | #7,894 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 2019 | #10,345 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2018 | #9,059 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2017 | #7,379 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2016 | #7,545 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2015 | #9,391 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2014 | #8,417 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2013 | #8,504 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2012 | #8,556 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2011 | #16,423 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #5,082 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 2009 | #6,771 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2008 | #6,102 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2007 | #8,024 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2006 | #6,791 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2005 | #5,084 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2004 | #2,957 | 54 | 0.0029% |
| 2003 | #5,064 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2002 | #6,080 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2001 | #4,013 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 2000 | #4,506 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1999 | #5,002 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1998 | #4,220 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1997 | #4,635 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1996 | #4,029 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1995 | #3,756 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1994 | #2,792 | 44 | 0.0025% |
| 1993 | #2,978 | 40 | 0.0022% |
| 1992 | #3,200 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 1991 | #3,916 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 1990 | #3,279 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 1989 | #2,973 | 37 | 0.0020% |
| 1988 | #1,947 | 63 | 0.0035% |
| 1987 | #1,852 | 63 | 0.0036% |
| 1986 | #1,972 | 56 | 0.0033% |
| 1985 | #1,781 | 64 | 0.0037% |
| 1984 | #2,108 | 48 | 0.0029% |
| 1983 | #1,728 | 63 | 0.0038% |
| 1982 | #2,246 | 45 | 0.0027% |
| 1981 | #2,294 | 44 | 0.0026% |
| 1980 | #2,640 | 36 | 0.0022% |
| 1979 | #2,143 | 47 | 0.0029% |
| 1978 | #2,616 | 33 | 0.0022% |
| 1977 | #2,295 | 40 | 0.0026% |
| 1976 | #2,285 | 37 | 0.0025% |
| 1975 | #2,270 | 37 | 0.0025% |
| 1974 | #2,381 | 33 | 0.0022% |
| 1973 | #2,340 | 33 | 0.0023% |
| 1972 | #2,046 | 39 | 0.0026% |
| 1971 | #2,162 | 38 | 0.0023% |
| 1970 | #2,766 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1969 | #2,441 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 1968 | #2,413 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1967 | #2,850 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1966 | #2,562 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 1965 | #2,394 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1964 | #2,398 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 1963 | #2,477 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1962 | #2,018 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 1961 | #2,345 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1960 | #2,291 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1959 | #2,010 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1958 | #2,735 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1957 | #3,273 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1956 | #2,095 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1955 | #2,326 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1954 | #2,770 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1953 | #2,350 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1952 | #1,884 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1951 | #2,558 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1950 | #2,418 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1949 | #2,204 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1948 | #2,683 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1947 | #2,872 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1946 | #1,763 | 27 | 0.0017% |
| 1945 | #2,221 | 16 | 0.0012% |
| 1944 | #2,086 | 18 | 0.0014% |
| 1943 | #2,234 | 17 | 0.0012% |
| 1942 | #1,526 | 30 | 0.0022% |
| 1941 | #2,254 | 15 | 0.0012% |
| 1940 | #1,837 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1939 | #1,942 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1938 | #1,640 | 23 | 0.0021% |
| 1937 | #1,621 | 23 | 0.0022% |
| 1936 | #3,065 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1935 | #1,991 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1934 | #2,164 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1933 | #1,710 | 21 | 0.0021% |
| 1932 | #2,020 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1931 | #1,417 | 28 | 0.0026% |
| 1930 | #1,926 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1929 | #1,389 | 31 | 0.0028% |
| 1928 | #1,581 | 27 | 0.0023% |
| 1927 | #1,330 | 37 | 0.0031% |
| 1926 | #1,765 | 24 | 0.0020% |
| 1925 | #1,739 | 25 | 0.0021% |
| 1924 | #1,861 | 23 | 0.0018% |
| 1923 | #2,252 | 17 | 0.0014% |
| 1922 | #2,368 | 16 | 0.0013% |
| 1921 | #2,040 | 20 | 0.0016% |
| 1920 | #2,248 | 17 | 0.0014% |
| 1919 | #2,370 | 15 | 0.0013% |
| 1918 | #1,746 | 23 | 0.0020% |
| 1917 | #2,192 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1916 | #2,348 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1915 | #2,868 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1914 | #2,604 | 9 | 0.0012% |
| 1913 | #3,627 | 5 | 0.0008% |
| 1912 | #2,917 | 6 | 0.0011% |
| 1908 | #2,382 | 5 | 0.0015% |
| 1906 | #1,922 | 6 | 0.0020% |
| 1905 | #1,672 | 7 | 0.0024% |
| 1900 | #1,900 | 6 | 0.0020% |
| 1893 | #1,622 | 5 | 0.0023% |
| 1891 | #1,316 | 6 | 0.0032% |
| 1890 | #1,506 | 5 | 0.0026% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #18 | 8,334 | 0.4879% |
| 2024 | #17 | 8,310 | 0.4845% |
| 2023 | #19 | 8,019 | 0.4693% |
| 2022 | #19 | 8,414 | 0.4824% |
| 2021 | #23 | 8,573 | 0.4904% |
| 2020 | #25 | 8,585 | 0.4977% |
| 2019 | #22 | 9,321 | 0.5198% |
| 2018 | #21 | 9,850 | 0.5426% |
| 2017 | #21 | 10,447 | 0.5646% |
| 2016 | #21 | 10,615 | 0.5595% |
| 2015 | #23 | 10,900 | 0.5688% |
| 2014 | #23 | 11,024 | 0.5740% |
| 2013 | #25 | 11,139 | 0.5890% |
| 2012 | #25 | 11,468 | 0.6047% |
| 2011 | #26 | 11,366 | 0.5985% |
| 2010 | #24 | 11,971 | 0.6240% |
| 2009 | #24 | 12,175 | 0.6139% |
| 2008 | #27 | 12,773 | 0.6261% |
| 2007 | #25 | 13,366 | 0.6441% |
| 2006 | #25 | 13,645 | 0.6640% |
| 2005 | #21 | 14,269 | 0.7145% |
| 2004 | #23 | 14,128 | 0.7118% |
| 2003 | #23 | 14,687 | 0.7435% |
| 2002 | #25 | 14,579 | 0.7509% |
| 2001 | #26 | 14,813 | 0.7624% |
| 2000 | #28 | 14,187 | 0.7224% |
| 1999 | #27 | 14,049 | 0.7317% |
| 1998 | #28 | 13,912 | 0.7279% |
| 1997 | #27 | 14,237 | 0.7552% |
| 1996 | #30 | 13,629 | 0.7195% |
| 1995 | #33 | 12,440 | 0.6535% |
| 1994 | #33 | 12,146 | 0.6287% |
| 1993 | #37 | 11,710 | 0.5971% |
| 1992 | #40 | 11,345 | 0.5680% |
| 1991 | #39 | 11,232 | 0.5560% |
| 1990 | #45 | 10,892 | 0.5303% |
| 1989 | #47 | 10,107 | 0.5051% |
| 1988 | #45 | 9,564 | 0.4996% |
| 1987 | #50 | 8,576 | 0.4593% |
| 1986 | #52 | 7,580 | 0.4116% |
| 1985 | #54 | 7,010 | 0.3793% |
| 1984 | #55 | 6,361 | 0.3524% |
| 1983 | #54 | 6,195 | 0.3456% |
| 1982 | #56 | 6,017 | 0.3316% |
| 1981 | #54 | 6,037 | 0.3370% |
| 1980 | #54 | 6,013 | 0.3370% |
| 1979 | #55 | 5,688 | 0.3304% |
| 1978 | #57 | 5,393 | 0.3284% |
| 1977 | #60 | 5,259 | 0.3200% |
| 1976 | #59 | 5,026 | 0.3203% |
| 1975 | #61 | 4,621 | 0.2959% |
| 1974 | #60 | 4,671 | 0.2971% |
| 1973 | #66 | 4,266 | 0.2737% |
| 1972 | #66 | 4,214 | 0.2598% |
| 1971 | #66 | 4,406 | 0.2491% |
| 1970 | #62 | 4,559 | 0.2453% |
| 1969 | #64 | 4,431 | 0.2478% |
| 1968 | #66 | 4,121 | 0.2371% |
| 1967 | #69 | 4,232 | 0.2427% |
| 1966 | #81 | 4,158 | 0.2331% |
| 1965 | #84 | 4,394 | 0.2362% |
| 1964 | #86 | 4,463 | 0.2240% |
| 1963 | #87 | 4,522 | 0.2227% |
| 1962 | #88 | 4,552 | 0.2200% |
| 1961 | #89 | 4,666 | 0.2197% |
| 1960 | #91 | 4,711 | 0.2210% |
| 1959 | #86 | 4,953 | 0.2320% |
| 1958 | #85 | 5,051 | 0.2380% |
| 1957 | #82 | 5,237 | 0.2428% |
| 1956 | #74 | 5,584 | 0.2640% |
| 1955 | #71 | 5,534 | 0.2687% |
| 1954 | #71 | 5,634 | 0.2763% |
| 1953 | #70 | 5,423 | 0.2750% |
| 1952 | #67 | 5,648 | 0.2906% |
| 1951 | #67 | 5,476 | 0.2908% |
| 1950 | #62 | 5,226 | 0.2919% |
| 1949 | #62 | 5,357 | 0.3020% |
| 1948 | #70 | 5,003 | 0.2851% |
| 1947 | #72 | 5,109 | 0.2792% |
| 1946 | #70 | 4,524 | 0.2786% |
| 1945 | #62 | 3,957 | 0.2940% |
| 1944 | #62 | 3,946 | 0.2895% |
| 1943 | #62 | 4,142 | 0.2902% |
| 1942 | #59 | 4,190 | 0.3034% |
| 1941 | #65 | 3,537 | 0.2880% |
| 1940 | #65 | 3,362 | 0.2900% |
| 1939 | #63 | 3,254 | 0.2940% |
| 1938 | #62 | 3,243 | 0.2924% |
| 1937 | #66 | 3,027 | 0.2838% |
| 1936 | #67 | 2,893 | 0.2789% |
| 1935 | #62 | 3,149 | 0.3024% |
| 1934 | #66 | 3,137 | 0.3038% |
| 1933 | #61 | 3,111 | 0.3138% |
| 1932 | #56 | 3,411 | 0.3267% |
| 1931 | #56 | 3,379 | 0.3250% |
| 1930 | #55 | 3,531 | 0.3218% |
| 1929 | #53 | 3,567 | 0.3316% |
| 1928 | #52 | 3,844 | 0.3471% |
| 1927 | #49 | 4,189 | 0.3717% |
| 1926 | #48 | 4,179 | 0.3763% |
| 1925 | #46 | 4,405 | 0.3947% |
| 1924 | #45 | 4,592 | 0.4054% |
| 1923 | #45 | 4,578 | 0.4177% |
| 1922 | #43 | 4,600 | 0.4227% |
| 1921 | #44 | 4,754 | 0.4316% |
| 1920 | #44 | 4,654 | 0.4373% |
| 1919 | #43 | 4,472 | 0.4563% |
| 1918 | #43 | 4,772 | 0.4709% |
| 1917 | #42 | 4,490 | 0.4852% |
| 1916 | #41 | 4,399 | 0.4942% |
| 1915 | #39 | 4,351 | 0.5127% |
| 1914 | #36 | 3,703 | 0.5655% |
| 1913 | #36 | 2,850 | 0.5560% |
| 1912 | #30 | 2,602 | 0.6052% |
| 1911 | #30 | 1,398 | 0.6187% |
| 1910 | #32 | 1,129 | 0.5813% |
| 1909 | #32 | 983 | 0.5994% |
| 1908 | #33 | 960 | 0.6220% |
| 1907 | #32 | 892 | 0.6075% |
| 1906 | #33 | 783 | 0.5880% |
| 1905 | #30 | 856 | 0.6470% |
| 1904 | #34 | 727 | 0.5674% |
| 1903 | #31 | 741 | 0.6215% |
| 1902 | #33 | 702 | 0.5723% |
| 1901 | #33 | 628 | 0.5899% |
| 1900 | #33 | 877 | 0.5828% |
| 1899 | #30 | 704 | 0.6628% |
| 1898 | #32 | 749 | 0.6105% |
| 1897 | #28 | 759 | 0.6731% |
| 1896 | #31 | 734 | 0.6139% |
| 1895 | #25 | 814 | 0.6934% |
| 1894 | #26 | 776 | 0.6703% |
| 1893 | #20 | 851 | 0.7577% |
| 1892 | #20 | 902 | 0.7391% |
| 1891 | #20 | 753 | 0.7441% |
| 1890 | #20 | 815 | 0.7341% |
| 1889 | #20 | 810 | 0.7325% |
| 1888 | #18 | 931 | 0.7704% |
| 1887 | #18 | 802 | 0.7908% |
| 1886 | #18 | 870 | 0.7853% |
| 1885 | #18 | 888 | 0.8238% |
| 1884 | #17 | 945 | 0.8257% |
| 1883 | #17 | 937 | 0.8956% |
| 1882 | #17 | 1,003 | 0.8823% |
| 1881 | #17 | 919 | 0.9123% |
| 1880 | #17 | 1,024 | 0.9268% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
