Sam Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Sam is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Sam?
Sam is spelled S-A-M. The name has 3 letters.
Sam at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- The name “Sam” is commonly a diminutive form of “Samuel” or “Samantha,” and its meaning derives from those full names.
- Origin
- “Sam” is commonly used as a shortened form of the names “Samuel” and “Samantha.”
- Pronunciation
- sam · 1 syllable
Sam Popularity in 2025
Rank#5,238
Recorded Births24
Rank#647
Recorded Births428
- Girls usage rose 1,156 places to #5,238 and recorded 6 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 3 places to #647 and recorded 3 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Sam Mean?
The name “Sam” is commonly a diminutive form of “Samuel” or “Samantha,” and its meaning derives from those full names.
Origin: “Sam” is commonly used as a shortened form of the names “Samuel” and “Samantha.”
How Do You Pronounce Sam?
Pronunciationsam
Syllables1
What Is the History of the Name Sam?
- History
- The usage of “Sam” as a familiar short form has been documented alongside the longer names from which it is derived in English-speaking contexts.
Sam Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 24 | #5,238 |
| 2025 | Boys | 428 | #647 |
| 2024 | Girls | 18 | #6,394 |
| 2024 | Boys | 425 | #650 |
| 2023 | Girls | 11 | #8,989 |
| 2023 | Boys | 403 | #676 |
| 2022 | Girls | 18 | #6,464 |
| 2022 | Boys | 418 | #658 |
| 2021 | Girls | 19 | #6,174 |
| 2021 | Boys | 412 | #658 |
| 2020 | Girls | 12 | #8,406 |
| 2020 | Boys | 402 | #655 |
| 2019 | Girls | 14 | #7,716 |
| 2019 | Boys | 443 | #614 |
| 2018 | Girls | 13 | #8,146 |
| 2018 | Boys | 453 | #604 |
| 2017 | Girls | 12 | #8,776 |
| 2017 | Boys | 528 | #537 |
| 2016 | Girls | 17 | #6,901 |
| 2016 | Boys | 478 | #579 |
| 2015 | Girls | 12 | #8,931 |
| 2015 | Boys | 523 | #546 |
| 2014 | Girls | 13 | #8,485 |
| 2014 | Boys | 523 | #533 |
When Was Sam Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1918 · Boys
2,506 recorded births
National rank #75
1917 · Boys
2,454 recorded births
National rank #72
1919 · Boys
2,384 recorded births
National rank #75
1921 · Boys
2,367 recorded births
National rank #85
Where Sam Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MT | #201 | 6 |
| UT | #327 | 14 |
| NY | #367 | 48 |
| NV | #389 | 7 |
| OR | #398 | 9 |
| MA | #413 | 12 |
| ID | #435 | 5 |
| CT | #440 | 6 |