Rising since 1985, #920 for boys today.
Popularity of Shmuel since 1953
Babies named Shmuel per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 23 |
| 1960s | 94 |
| 1970s | 244 |
| 1980s | 519 |
| 1990s | 723 |
| 2000s | 1,125 |
| 2010s | 1,850 |
| 2020s | 1,394 |
Meaning & origin
Shmuel, the Hebrew original of Samuel, carries deep biblical roots and a strong cultural resonance within Jewish communities. Though it entered U.S. records in 1953, its modern trajectory is notably upward: ranked 920th in 2025, it has been steadily rising since the 1980s. In its peak year, 2025, the name was given to roughly 1 in 6,672 newborn boys. Shmuel shows particular popularity in northeastern states like New Jersey, New York, and Maryland, reflecting its strong ties to Orthodox and traditional Jewish populations. Its distinctive sound and religious significance make it a meaningful choice that stands apart from the more Anglicized Samuel.
Shmuel is the Hebrew form of Samuel, from the Hebrew name Shemu'el, meaning 'name of God' or 'God has heard.' In the Hebrew Bible, Samuel was a prophet and the last of the judges, making the name a long-standing choice among Jewish families worldwide. It has been consistently used in Jewish communities for centuries and is also common in Israel.
Where Shmuel 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.
“Shmuel” around the world
Where Shmuel lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
Quebec
5
babies in 2025
Sources: Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Shmulik, Muli, Shmuli
Variants: Samuel, Samuhel
Sibling names for Shmuel
Names that share Shmuel's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Chava, Leah, Miriam, Raizel, Yocheved, Gitty, Baila, Blima, Faigy, Gittel, Malky, Raizy, Rivky, Bayla, Bluma, Brucha, Fraida, Leeba, Liba, Mushka, Perel, Rifka, Shaindel, Tzirel, Blimi, Blimie, Breindel, Ettel, Faige, Fradel, Gitel, Mindel, Shulamis, Zissel, Chavie, Dvora, Frimy, Reizel, Yittel
Brothers: Yaakov, Yosef, David, Moshe, Avraham, Dovid, Herschel, Menachem, Yisroel, Yitzchok, Aryeh, Avrohom, Binyomin, Mendel, Mendy, Yechiel, Yehoshua, Yitzchak, Avrum, Cheskel, Chesky, Hersh, Hershy, Leib, Moishe, Nachman, Yecheskel, Berish, Dovber, Fishel, Kalman, Leibish, Michoel, Mordche, Netanel, Nuchem, Refael, Yanky, Yidel, Zalmen, Avrumi, Avrumy, Berel, Boruch, Kalmen, Leiby, Nachmen, Rubel, Yitzhak
