Holding steady.
Popularity of Samule since 1918
Babies named Samule per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1960, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Samule's real moment was 1928.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 11 |
| 1920s | 22 |
| 1930s | 5 |
| 1940s | 38 |
| 1950s | 83 |
| 1960s | 45 |
| 1970s | 31 |
| 1980s | 49 |
| 1990s | 10 |
| 2000s | 20 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Samule is a variant spelling of Samuel that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1918. Despite the enduring popularity of Samuel, Samule never cracked the top 1000 names; its peak usage came a decade after its first recorded appearance, in 1928, when it reached its highest rank. Since then, yearly counts have been negligible, and the name has remained stable in its extreme rarity. The name demonstrates the minor orthographic variation that can occur as parents adapt a traditional name, but it has not gained broad acceptance. Its connection to the deeply rooted biblical name Samuel gives it a familiar weight, yet the unique spelling ensures it stands apart. Most Samules today would likely be mistaken for Samuel in everyday settings, and the name has no strong association with any particular U.S. state.
Samule is a variant spelling of Samuel, which derives from the Hebrew name Shemu'el, meaning 'name of God' or 'God has heard'. In the Old Testament, Samuel was a prophet and judge who anointed Saul and David as kings of Israel. The name has been consistently used among English speakers since the Reformation, and the spelling Samule is a less common adaptation that likely emerged in the early 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sam, Sammy
Sibling names for Samule
Names that share Samule's style, for a brother or sister.
