Declining since 2002, #18 for boys today.
Popularity of Samuel since 1880
Babies named Samuel per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2001, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Samuel's real moment was 1880.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 9,129 |
| 1890s | 7,857 |
| 1900s | 8,149 |
| 1910s | 34,166 |
| 1920s | 43,362 |
| 1930s | 32,135 |
| 1940s | 43,129 |
| 1950s | 53,767 |
| 1960s | 44,247 |
| 1970s | 48,099 |
| 1980s | 73,456 |
| 1990s | 125,597 |
| 2000s | 138,647 |
| 2010s | 108,128 |
| 2020s | 50,328 |
Meaning & origin
Samuel's share of American births peaked in 1880, which happens to be the first year of federal record-keeping. In other words, the name has technically been declining for the entire history of the data, and yet in 2025 it still ranked 18th, given to about 1 in 205 newborn boys. Almost no other name combines that long, shallow glide with such persistent strength; Samuel does not cycle in and out of fashion so much as sit above it.
The recent trend is a gentle drift downward since 2002, but "drift" is the operative word: Samuel has remained in or near the national top 100 across the entire record, a claim only a handful of names can make. Its bearers span the full American timeline, from Puritan pulpits to Samuel Adams, Samuel Morse, and Samuel L. Jackson.
Current strongholds are the District of Columbia, Alaska, and Alabama, a spread with no regional pattern, which is what total national distribution looks like. For parents wanting a name their son will never have to explain and never share with five classmates at once, the data makes Samuel's case plainly.
Samuel comes from the Hebrew Shemu'el, for which scholars offer two readings, "name of God" or "God has heard", and the biblical text itself plays on the second: Hannah names her long-prayed-for son Samuel "because I have asked him of the Lord." The prophet Samuel anoints both Saul and David, giving the name central standing in Jewish and Christian tradition alike. It came into broad English use after the Reformation, was a Puritan favorite, and arrived early in America, where bearers from Samuel Adams to Samuel Clemens kept it prominent. It has never gone out of style: its share of births was highest in 1880, the first year of federal records, and it has remained in or near the top 100 ever since.
Read more: Samuel on Wikipedia
Where Samuel is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Samuel” around the world
Where Samuel lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
#66
in 2024
Ireland
#76
in 2025
New Zealand
#54
in 2025
Quebec
#46
in 2025
Australia (NSW)
#38
in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec) · NSW Registry of BDM (Australia (NSW)).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sam, Sammy
Famous people named Samuel
- Samuel Johnson · 18th-century English writer and lexicographer
- Samuel Morse · inventor of the telegraph and co-developer of Morse code
- Samuel Beckett · Irish playwright and Nobel laureate
- Samuel L. Jackson · one of the highest-grossing actors in film history
Sibling names for Samuel
Names that share Samuel's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Abigail, Eleanor, Hannah, Charlotte, Ruth, Grace, Lillian, Abby, Alexandra, Anna, Ariel, Arielle, Bethany, Clara, Debora, Eliza, Faith, Georgia, Hope, Isabel, Isabelle, Joanna, Kathryn, Leah, Lydia, Miriam, Molly, Rachael, Rachel, Rebecca, Rebekah, Rosa, Abagail, Abbie, Abigale, Abigayle, Adira, Aliza, Annabell, Annalee, Chana, Charity, Dina, Dinah, Easter, Elaina, Elianna, Elissa, Ester, Evalyn, Evelin, Felicity, Golda, Hadassah, Hanah, Hanna, Janna, Karmen, Katie, Libby, Lizbeth, Louisa, Michal, Nathaly, Orpha, Paulina, Racheal, Roselyn, Sarabeth, Sariah, Scarlette, Serina, Shayna, Susanna, Susannah, Tamar, Yohana, Abbigale, Abbygail, Abigael, Abygail, Adalie, Alexsandra, Annah, Ariela, Avigail, Beckie, Betsey, Cady, Catheryn, Charita, Davida, Debroah, Delila, Delylah, Devora, Devorah, Elisheva, Elizabet, Emmanuella, Evaline, Fayth, Gabriell, Graci, Johannah, Jubilee, Lillia, Lilyanne, Margrett, Meriam, Micheala, Myriam, Naomie, Naomy, Neomi, Rachal, Rachell, Raechel, Rebbecca, Rebeccah, Rebeka, Rebekka, Rebekkah, Rutha, Ruthe, Samaria, Samatha, Sarena, Sarrah, Suzannah, Tamarah, Trinitee, Abegail, Abigal, Alicen, Amma, Annagrace, Annaleah, Anni, Aprill, Betsabe, Betzy, Caraline, Celie, Channa, Chasiti, Danah, Davia, Debborah, Deberah, Deborha, Deborrah, Dinorah, Ellamarie, Emiline, Emmanuela, Esty, Faithe, Faythe, Gabryelle, Graycee, Jacqui, Jenney, Jessye, Joannah, Lissie, Lizbet, Lizzy, Madalynne, Magdalyn, Mariangel, Marybell, Mical, Naiomi, Nathania, Noami, Noeli, Penina, Rahel, Raphaela, Rebbeca, Rivkah, Ruchy, Rut, Ruthy, Samella, Sarahann, Sarha, Serah, Shoshanna, Tamsen, Yohanna, Yudith, Abagael, Abagale, Abbegail, Abbiegail, Abigayl, Abrie, Abygale, Alisse, Anabeth, Angeliz, Annelie, Annlee, Becka, Bethanee, Betheny, Channah, Chariti, Cherity, Debarah, Debbora, Deboraha, Elisheba, Elleanor, Elliotte, Emilyanne, Emmakate, Feven, Helayna, Israella, Jacoba, Jenie, Jessamy, Jocabed, Joelie, Josaphine, Joyanna, Judieth, Juliah, Jullie, Konstance, Lydiah, Madeleyn, Melat, Michaelah, Mikhaela, Mirriam, Mozel, Naomia, Rabecca, Ramah, Rechel, Rosaland, Ruthanna, Samary, Samona, Samuella, Samyrah, Sharah, Sheina, Shoshanah, Shoshannah, Smantha, Subrina, Sulamita, Tabbitha, Tabita, Thamara, Abigial, Annebelle, Halayna, Myrian, Abbigael, Abbye, Abiah, Achsah, Amillya, Amybeth, Annaleese, Annina, Becci, Bekah, Bekka, Chanah, Charitie, Charna, Chassity, Christna, Deborh, Elener, Emireth, Eveleigh, Gabrille, Gavrielle, Georga, Hagar, Hager, Illana, Jemina, Judeth, Judithe, Judye, Katherinne, Leaner, Libbey, Madalen, Maddeline, Mariamawit, Maryela, Merriam, Miria, Naome, Rahcel, Raphaella, Rebacca, Rebakah, Rebecah, Rebeckah, Reveca, Sabel, Sarahanne, Yireh
Brothers: Benjamin, Henry, William, Daniel, Joseph, Isaac, Joshua, Abraham, Elliot, Emanuel, Emmanuel, Israel, Issac, Jesse, Joel, Jonah, Josue, Kristian, Mathew, Maxwell, Nathan, Nathanael, Nathaniel, Ruben, Spencer, Abimael, Abram, Brigham, Davy, Emmet, Ephraim, Gabrial, Hershel, Hosea, Hyman, Isadore, Isai, Jedidiah, Job, Josh, Lemuel, Lukas, Mathias, Mitchel, Mordechai, Mose, Moses, Nathanial, Nehemias, Reuben, Roby, Saul, Theadore, Wilson, Zachariah, Abiel, Abran, Ahron, Benjaman, Benjamen, Benjamine, Benjiman, Bennet, Daneil, Daniell, Danniel, Davi, Elie, Eligah, Eliott, Eliud, Esau, Haziel, Hershell, Hosie, Hyrum, Isac, Ishmael, Isreal, Izaac, Izak, Jafet, Jamieson, Jamin, Jeremey, Jerimiah, Jermiah, Jonathen, Joshuah, Jospeh, Levy, Meyer, Mikeal, Nathon, Neftali, Obed, Salomon, Soloman, Willam, Willian, Yakov, Yariel, Yohan, Yonathan, Abie, Abijah, Able, Abrahan, Abrahm, Adael, Andrue, Avram, Bejamin, Benjamyn, Benuel, Benyamin, Binyamin, Christop, Danel, Davied, Doniel, Eliga, Emanual, Emmette, Esaw, Ethaniel, Eythan, Gaberial, Gaberiel, Gabryel, Henrry, Herchel, Hershal, Hillery, Hurshel, Issak, Izack, Jabez, Janathan, Joab, Joash, Johnatan, Jonnathan, Jonothan, Josafat, Josha, Josiel, Jossue, Kaileb, Magdiel, Mandel, Mattew, Micael, Mishael, Mizael, Mosiah, Myer, Naaman, Nataniel, Nathaneal, Nathaneil, Nathanel, Natnael, Neftaly, Neithan, Nephi, Nichalos, Olliver, Othniel, Otoniel, Pinchas, Rafeal, Ralphael, Reubin, Sabian, Santiel, Shaul, Stephens, Timithy, Yonas, Zachari, Zacheriah, Zakariah, Abenezer, Adom, Angelgabriel, Benjimen, Benjimin, Berman, Calab, Christepher, Christyan, Dagmawi, Danile, Dawit, Eliceo, Elieser, Eluzer, Ephrem, Eyob, Ezequias, Gabreal, Gabreil, Hersel, Hershall, Isais, Ishmeal, Izac, Jahel, Joanthan, Joas, Johnaton, Jondavid, Joshau, Lehi, Leul, Manases, Manoah, Moroni, Nathanal, Nathanuel, Nathanyel, Nethaniel, Oseias, Remiel, Usiel, Zacariah, Zaccary, Ezekeil, Isack, Jonahtan, Abba, Andrewjames, Baruch, Benjerman, Calub, Danuel, Dvid, Eliazer, Elizer, Emmanuell, Emmons, Esaul, Greogry, Isaack, Isaul, Ishmel, Issiac, Izaias, Izmael, Jaicob, Jamas, Jemuel, Jonathin, Joseff, Joseh, Josehua, Joshual, Josia, Josuha, Mikias, Nathanyal, Nathanyl, Noach, Nussen, Otniel, Raphel, Roniel, Sadrac, Sanuel, Selig, Solmon, Timoth, Wilkin, Yeudiel, Yohanan
Names like Samuel
Names whose popularity has moved with Samuel's over the last 50 years.
