Samuel Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Samuel is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Samuel?
Samuel is spelled S-A-M-U-E-L. The name has 6 letters.
Samuel at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Samuel means “God has heard” or “heard by God.”
- Origin
- Samuel is commonly associated with a Hebrew origin, deriving from the Hebrew personal name Shemu'el.
- Pronunciation
- SAM-yoo-əl · 3 syllables
Samuel Popularity in 2025
Rank#10,917
Recorded Births8
Rank#18
Recorded Births8,334
- Girls usage rose 1,244 places to #10,917 and recorded 1 more birth compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 1 place to #18 and recorded 21 fewer 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 Samuel Mean?
Samuel means “God has heard” or “heard by God.”
Origin: Samuel is commonly associated with a Hebrew origin, deriving from the Hebrew personal name Shemu'el.
How Do You Pronounce Samuel?
PronunciationSAM-yoo-əl
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Samuel?
- History
- The name Samuel appears in biblical texts as the name of a significant prophet and judge in ancient Israel. Its use as a personal name has persisted across centuries and cultures.
Samuel 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 | 8 | #10,917 |
| 2025 | Boys | 8,334 | #18 |
| 2024 | Girls | 7 | #12,161 |
| 2024 | Boys | 8,355 | #17 |
| 2023 | Girls | 10 | #9,616 |
| 2023 | Boys | 8,038 | #19 |
| 2022 | Girls | 8 | #11,231 |
| 2022 | Boys | 8,427 | #19 |
| 2021 | Girls | 6 | #13,464 |
| 2021 | Boys | 8,580 | #23 |
| 2020 | Girls | 14 | #7,559 |
| 2020 | Boys | 8,594 | #25 |
| 2019 | Girls | 10 | #9,736 |
| 2019 | Boys | 9,322 | #22 |
| 2018 | Girls | 12 | #8,617 |
| 2018 | Boys | 9,854 | #21 |
| 2017 | Girls | 16 | #7,092 |
| 2017 | Boys | 10,449 | #21 |
| 2016 | Girls | 16 | #7,230 |
| 2016 | Boys | 10,621 | #21 |
| 2015 | Girls | 12 | #8,931 |
| 2015 | Boys | 10,905 | #23 |
| 2014 | Girls | 14 | #8,053 |
| 2014 | Boys | 11,029 | #23 |
When Was Samuel 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.
2001 · Boys
14,813 recorded births
National rank #26
2003 · Boys
14,691 recorded births
National rank #23
2002 · Boys
14,579 recorded births
National rank #25
2005 · Boys
14,271 recorded births
National rank #21
Where Samuel 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 |
|---|---|---|
| AL | #7 | 199 |
| WA | #9 | 246 |
| DC | #10 | 33 |
| IN | #12 | 192 |
| AR | #12 | 99 |
| NC | #13 | 334 |
| OK | #13 | 120 |
| TN | #14 | 249 |