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Samuel as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Samuel

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The baby name Samuel is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈsæm.ju.əl/ (SAM-yoo-əl).

Samuel is Hebrew in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 3.0
Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: /ˈsæm.ju.əl/ (SAM-yoo-əl)

What is the meaning of the name Samuel ?

The baby name Samuel is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈsæm.ju.əl/ (SAM-yoo-əl).

Samuel is Hebrew in Origin.

Samuel derives from the Hebrew Shemu'el, commonly interpreted as “God has heard” (from shama‘, “to hear,” + El, “God”), though some read it as “name of God.” In the Hebrew Bible, Samuel is the revered prophet and judge who anoints Saul and David, giving the name early religious weight. Through Jewish and Christian usage, it entered Greek and Latin as Samuel and became established across medieval Europe; Puritans helped fix it in English naming traditions, where it has remained steady from the 17th century onward.

Variants include Shmuel (Hebrew/Yiddish), Sámuel (Hungarian), Samuil (Slavic), Samuele/Samuela (Italian masculine/feminine), Samuel (Spanish, French, Portuguese; unchanged), and Samuël (Dutch). Diminutives span Sam, Sammy, and Samu. The name’s durability owes to its concise sound, cross-linguistic familiarity, and the consoling sense of an awaited child - an “answer to prayer” - embedded in its primary meaning.

Samuel has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Samuel

Samuel L. Jackson Actor · Born 1948 · United States Samuel L. Jackson is an American actor and producer best known for his memorable roles in films like Pulp Fiction, Jurassic Park, and The Avengers. Born on December 21, 1948, he has become one of the most recognizable actors of his generation. Samuel de Champlain Politician · Born 1574 · Kingdom of France Samuel de Champlain was a French explorer best known for founding Quebec City and helping establish New France as a permanent French colony in North America. He was also a navigator, cartographer, soldier, diplomat, and chronicler who made many voyages across the Atlantic during the early 1600s. Samuel Adams Politician · Born 1722 · United States Samuel Adams was best known as a Founding Father of the United States and an influential leader in the American Revolution. He was an American statesman and political thinker who helped shape early American independence.
Samuel Pepys Politician · Born 1633 · Kingdom of England Samuel Pepys is most famous for the diary he kept for nearly ten years, which gives a vivid firsthand account of life in 17th-century England, including the Great Fire of London and the Great Plague of London. He was also an English writer, a Tory politician, and an important official in the Navy Board. Samuel Doe Politician · Born 1951 · Liberia Samuel Kanyon Doe was a Liberian politician and military officer best known for serving as the 21st president of Liberia. He first led the country as chairman of the People's Redemption Council from 1980 to 1986, then became Liberia’s first native president, serving from 1986 until he was executed in 1990. Samuel Aba Royal · Born 990 · Hungary Samuel Aba was best known as King of Hungary, ruling from 1041 to 1044. He was born before 990 or around 1009 and died on 5 July 1044.

Celebrity babies named Samuel

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Samuel Sagan Ann Druyan journalist ★★★★★ Carl Sagan television presenter ★★★★★
Samuel Black Tanya Haden singer ★★★★★ Jack Black film director ★★★★★
Samuel Goldwyn Jr. Samuel Goldwyn film producer ★★★★★
Samuel West Prunella Scales television actor ★★★★★ Timothy West television actor ★★★★★

Samuel – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2025 #1 — 836
Germany Boys 2025 #1 — 423
GH Boys 0 #3 7,421 8,138
GH 0 #3 1,264 5,396
NG 0 #3 857 5,926
ET 0 #5 2 246
FJ 0 #6 1 374
NG Boys 0 #6 32,050 16,906
BI 0 #8 5 425
SV 0 #8 4 283
New Zealand Boys 2010 #9 282 99
ET Boys 0 #9 21 678
HT Boys 0 #12 24 903
CM 0 #14 43 2,592
BW 0 #15 5 960
NL Boys 2014 #16 194 79
FJ Boys 0 #16 2 603
United States Boys 2024 #17 8,310 7,044
CM Boys 0 #17 3,575 12,054
HN 0 #18 5 704
MV 0 #19 1 644
NA Boys 0 #19 551 6,830
SV Boys 0 #20 9 352
BI Boys 0 #21 23 917
BW Boys 0 #21 227 4,685
Austria Boys 2024 #23 321 60
Switzerland Boys 2024 #23 162 1,769
HT Girls 0 #23 1 950
NA 0 #23 11 2,537
Canada Boys 2024 #24 723 2,588
BF Boys 0 #26 1 439
KR Boys 0 #27 1 897
ZA Boys 0 #29 11,547 25,619
BN 0 #31 2 2,297
ID 0 #31 9 2,238
HN Boys 0 #33 20 749
AO 0 #36 42 2,729
DJ Boys 0 #36 1 657
EE 0 #37 1 1,051
PR 0 #37 19 1,497
AO Boys 0 #41 414 5,568
MT 0 #41 3 1,767
IT Boys 2024 #42 839 47
MO 0 #42 11 2,706
PR Boys 0 #42 264 2,508
France Boys 2021 #46 1,301 2,865
BR Boys 0 #47 11,163 12,213
LU 0 #51 16 2,830
MU Boys 0 #52 757 8,477
GT Boys 0 #56 2,089 7,625
PA Boys 0 #56 2,286 9,305
CO Boys 0 #57 26,069 15,656
ID Boys 0 #57 80 4,130
PT Boys 0 #59 2,284 7,951
CY 0 #60 1 1,632
Norway Boys 2025 #62 93 444
AL 0 #62 14 2,372
BO Boys 0 #62 4,233 9,244
JM 0 #66 22 3,714
PA 0 #67 65 3,797
Sweden Boys 2022 #68 159 1,509
CN 0 #68 18 3,857
Spain Boys 0 #68 10,663 5,610
IN 0 #68 4 2,963
HK Boys 0 #69 2,399 12,905
JP 0 #70 8 4,057
MV Boys 0 #72 8 3,375
Belgium Boys 2024 #74 122 401
GT 0 #75 340 5,948
AF 0 #76 1 1,883
MX Boys 0 #76 15,005 16,355
SI 0 #80 1 1,612
MD Boys 0 #81 1 756
BG 0 #82 1 1,799
BO 0 #83 492 6,868
CL Boys 0 #84 5,967 13,390
RS 0 #84 1 923
TW 0 #85 16 4,523
PE Boys 0 #86 7,828 14,506
QA 0 #86 15 7,011
SD 0 #88 13 2,130
SG Boys 0 #88 1,700 17,960
LU Boys 0 #89 157 4,970
EC 0 #90 26 2,502
MO Boys 0 #90 158 5,842
SD Boys 0 #90 864 10,523
SG 0 #93 210 11,010
CZ Boys 0 #95 466 6,530
Finland Boys 2026 #96 6,149 3,552
MT Boys 0 #98 88 4,064
MU 0 #99 39 3,613
OM 0 #99 18 6,215
PH 0 #102 9 5,607
BR 0 #104 346 5,969
GE Boys 0 #107 4 2,055
CN Boys 0 #108 300 9,639
Finland Boys 0 #109 887 2,041
HK 0 #112 329 8,483
EE Boys 0 #113 13 2,087
JM Boys 0 #113 221 6,876
TW Boys 0 #113 154 7,111
BN Girls 0 #114 1 5,459
EC Boys 0 #114 197 3,322
KW 0 #114 8 5,216
BN Boys 0 #115 19 6,332
CY Boys 0 #120 10 3,473
AL Boys 0 #126 211 5,122
GR 0 #133 3 3,911
CR 0 #135 24 5,526
Austria Boys 0 #138 592 2,180
JO 0 #139 2 2,158
AE 0 #140 38 10,220
PT 0 #143 125 4,161
AR Boys 0 #146 944 7,628
BW Girls 0 #146 6 4,216
RS Boys 0 #149 6 2,277
HU Boys 0 #151 24 3,954
MT Girls 0 #153 1 3,773
CR Boys 0 #154 679 10,188
PH Boys 0 #160 273 11,440
IT Boys 0 #162 12,750 10,046
MX 0 #166 314 8,339
PR Girls 0 #167 1 3,171
PE 0 #168 156 6,350
ZA 0 #171 302 14,421
CZ 0 #172 14 3,154
AR 0 #177 10 2,915
UY 0 #178 5 2,477
PS 0 #179 40 5,692
HR 0 #180 2 2,081
Austria 0 #181 33 850
NG Girls 0 #181 1,852 15,093
Spain 0 #182 376 2,326
DK 0 #183 21 5,198
UY Boys 0 #184 406 5,922
PL Boys 0 #185 184 6,459
DK Boys 0 #187 150 7,401
CO 0 #190 468 7,768
LU Girls 0 #190 1 4,850
JP Boys 0 #192 110 7,909
EG Boys 0 #193 2,563 15,035
RU 0 #193 2 3,641
AO Girls 0 #199 11 4,575
CL 0 #199 273 6,867
MY 0 #199 138 12,352
SI Boys 0 #199 11 3,402
AL Girls 0 #202 21 4,141
PL 0 #203 10 2,600
NA Girls 0 #205 20 7,146
BG Boys 0 #213 8 3,850
IR 0 #213 17 4,221
GH Girls 0 #215 121 6,973
IL 0 #215 60 6,291
HR Boys 0 #217 42 3,997
IL Boys 0 #227 617 10,983
PS Boys 0 #234 461 10,655
Finland 0 #236 72 830
GR Boys 0 #236 32 6,912
IR Boys 0 #236 532 10,162
MY Boys 0 #236 1,963 25,439
BD 0 #239 3 5,992
GR Girls 0 #248 2 6,293
QA Boys 0 #253 618 18,093
EC Girls 0 #256 3 3,650
EG 0 #261 164 6,387
MO Girls 0 #261 3 7,056
AF Boys 0 #270 5 3,535
SA 0 #270 26 10,560
JM Girls 0 #275 4 7,507
KZ Boys 0 #280 10 6,578
TW Girls 0 #288 2 8,139
Canada Girls 2005 #294 6 2,598
Germany Boys 0 #303 1,242 5,697
SD Girls 0 #324 22 7,678
DK Girls 0 #328 2 7,429
NL Boys 0 #328 1,087 5,873
KZ Girls 0 #332 1 5,862
NL 0 #333 59 2,481
QA Girls 0 #337 7 15,378
JO Girls 0 #339 1 7,570
LY 0 #343 204 12,703
JO Boys 0 #346 32 7,057
CZ Girls 0 #348 4 5,378
MU Girls 0 #356 7 8,539
CN Girls 0 #357 3 8,829
PL Girls 0 #363 2 5,096
Germany 0 #366 73 2,542
YE 0 #371 11 8,639
IT 0 #374 452 4,183
France Girls 2004 #393 3 2,919
RU Boys 0 #402 104 12,621
BH 0 #420 134 17,937
OM Girls 0 #423 2 15,987
KW Boys 0 #424 374 18,755
PH Girls 0 #427 3 13,098
AE Boys 0 #450 900 22,615
CM Girls 0 #451 90 11,671
PA Girls 0 #458 24 9,861
PT Girls 0 #466 6 7,952
GT Girls 0 #479 27 7,500
KW Girls 0 #495 21 19,177
BD Boys 0 #519 58 10,045
RU Girls 0 #522 2 11,913
UY Girls 0 #532 5 6,731
AE Girls 0 #537 17 20,968
IR Girls 0 #543 3 8,334
PS Girls 0 #543 5 10,981
OM Boys 0 #557 348 17,948
CR Girls 0 #569 5 11,342
SG Girls 0 #572 15 18,916
BO Girls 0 #573 39 9,488
AR Girls 0 #584 16 8,289
HK Girls 0 #599 17 16,104
LB 0 #602 57 13,263
IN Girls 0 #621 11 13,121
IQ Boys 0 #629 39 13,071
IN Boys 0 #639 390 16,750
IL Girls 0 #641 5 11,648
SY 0 #697 32 11,684
Finland Girls 2026 #720 19 3,895
CO Girls 0 #733 378 16,140
TN 0 #757 73 13,765
SA Boys 0 #787 1,124 28,008
ZA Girls 0 #794 364 25,928
CL Girls 0 #809 43 14,098
Germany Girls 0 #827 12 4,949
BR Girls 0 #833 109 12,708
PE Girls 0 #888 56 14,861
Spain Girls 0 #893 91 5,561
SA Girls 0 #893 43 25,931
MA 0 #901 229 20,986
United States Girls 2024 #910 7 8,487
EG Girls 0 #934 26 14,742
NL Girls 0 #939 17 5,933
MY Girls 0 #960 35 24,821
DZ 0 #1,038 139 20,130
TR 0 #1,069 143 19,440
MX Girls 0 #1,076 108 17,781
IT Girls 0 #1,318 129 9,415

Samuel is popular in 99 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Norway
Ireland
NL
Scotland, United Kingdom

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Samuel

Samuel is predominantly a boy's name.
Samuel is a 3 syllable name, pronounced /ˈsæm.ju.əl/ (SAM-yoo-əl).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Sam, Sammy, Sammie, Samy, Shmuel and Shemuel.
Across languages, Samuel has these equivalents: {'Hebrew': "שְׁמוּאֵל (Shemu'el), 'Yiddish': 'שמואל (Shmuel), 'Arabic': "سموئيل (Samū'īl), 'Russian': 'Самуил (Samuil), 'Armenian': 'Սամվել (Samvel).
Yes, very popular — Samuel ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 16 countries.
Samuel ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Samuel's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #1 in 2015 to #1 in 2025 in Ireland.
Yes — 12 notable people named Samuel are in our database, including Samuel L. Jackson (Actor), Samuel de Champlain (Politician), Samuel Adams (Politician).
Yes — at least 4 celebrity couples have chosen Samuel for their child, including Ann Druyan and Carl Sagan.