Declining since 2016, #3,379 for boys today.
Popularity of Sampson since 1880
Babies named Sampson per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2017, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Sampson's real moment was 1898.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 76 |
| 1890s | 103 |
| 1900s | 118 |
| 1910s | 249 |
| 1920s | 348 |
| 1930s | 266 |
| 1940s | 246 |
| 1950s | 303 |
| 1960s | 243 |
| 1970s | 222 |
| 1980s | 312 |
| 1990s | 365 |
| 2000s | 354 |
| 2010s | 445 |
| 2020s | 251 |
Meaning & origin
Sampson, a spelling variant of Samson, has a long history in English-speaking countries. It peaked in popularity in 1898, when it was most frequently given to newborn boys. Since 2016, its usage has been declining, and by 2025 it had fallen to a rank of 3379, with only about 1 in 50,238 boys receiving the name. While it never broke into the top ranks nationally, the name carries strong biblical associations due to the story of Samson, a figure of immense strength. This gives Sampson an old-fashioned but sturdy feel, appealing to parents seeking a classic name with religious heritage.
Sampson is a variant of Samson, ultimately from the Hebrew Shimshon, which is commonly linked to shemesh (sun). In the Old Testament, Samson was a judge of Israel known for his supernatural strength. The spelling Sampson has been used in English since the Middle Ages, often as a surname before being adopted as a given name.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sam, Sammy
Variants: Samson
Sibling names for Sampson
Names that share Sampson's style, for a brother or sister.
