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Samuel

Hebrew
"told by God"
Pamela Redmond
By Pamela Redmond
Updated Mon Sep 02 2024

Samuel Origin and Meaning

The name Samuel is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning "told by God".

Samuel has been so popular for so long that it's hard to believe it's still climbing, at its highest point since the 1890s.

This biblical name's popularity is somewhat propelled by the likability of the friendly nickname Sam, which returned to favor along with fellow former Grandpa names like Max and Gus. Sam is now often used on its own, for girls as well as boys.

Samuel is derived from the Hebrew name Shemu’el, meaning "told by God." In the Old Testament, Samuel was one of the great judges and prophets of the Israelites, destined for a holy life from birth. He established the Hebrew monarchy, anointing both Saul and David as kings.

High-profile celebs who have chosen Samuel for their sons include Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck, Jack Black, and Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber, and Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys.

# 20 in the US

Samuel Rank in US Top 1000

# 93 on Nameberry

Samuel Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Samuel Popularity

Famous People Named Samuel

  • Samuelfather of Abiah, of the tribe of Levi (1 Chr. 6:28)
  • Samuel GortonAmerican settler and civic leader in Rhode Island
  • Samuel JohnsonEnglish poet and author
  • Samuel AdamsAmerican revolutionary leader
  • Samuel "Sam" HoustonAmerican politician, 7th governor of Texas
  • Samuel Finley Breese MorseAmerican inventor
  • Samuel Langhorne Clemensbirth name of Mark Twain, American novelist
  • Samuel ColtAmerican firearm inventor
  • Samuel Chandler CraftsU.S. Senator and 12th Governor of Vermont
  • Samuel Louis "Sam" WarnerPolish,American film producer of Warner Bros.
  • Samuel Moore "Sam" WaltonAmerican founder of Wal,Mart Stores
  • Samuel George "Sammy" Davis Jr.American singer, actor, dancer
  • Samuel Andrew "Sam" Donaldson Jr.American news anchor
  • Samuel Pack "Sam" ElliottAmerican actor
  • Samuel Leroy JacksonAmerican actor
  • Samuel Alexander Joseph "Sam" WestEnglish actor
  • Samuel PepysEnglish diarist and politician
  • Samuel HearneEnglish explorer
  • Samuel Chao Chung TingAmerican physicist and Nobel prize winner
  • Samuel Barclay BeckettIrish novelist and playwright
  • Samuel John Everett "Sam" LoxtonAustralian cricketer
  • Samuel Eto'o (Fils)Cameroonian footballer
  • Samuel Jackson "Sam" SneadAmerican golfer
  • Samuel BarnettEnglish actor
  • Samuel "Sam" Shepard (Rogers)American playwright and actor
  • Samuel Henry John "Sam" WorthingtonAustralian actor
  • Samuel Atkinson "Sam" WaterstonAmerican actor
  • Samuel Michael "Sam" SimonAmerican TV producer and director
  • Samuel "Sam" RockwellAmerican actor
  • Samuel "Sam" CookeAmerican singer,songwriter
  • Samuel Dale "Sam" BrownbackAmerican politician, governor of Kansas
  • Samuel M "Sam" RaimiAmerican film director and writer
  • David Samuel "Sam" PeckinpahAmerican film director
  • Samuel Alexander "Sam" MendesEnglish stage and film director
  • Samuel Cohenbirth name of Sammy Cahn, American songwriter
  • Samuel Roy "Sammy" Hagarleader singer of American band Van Halen
  • Samuel Kelvin "Sammy" Peralta SosaDominican baseball player
  • Samuel E. Feinbergbirth name of Sammy Fain, American composer
  • Samuel Anthony "Sam" MikulakAmerican artistic gymnast
  • Samuel Adrian "Sammy" BaughAmerican football player
  • Samuel Paul "Sammy" KershawAmerican country music singer
  • Samuel ZarnocayJr., birth name of Sammy Kaye, American bandleader
  • Samuel Baxter "Sammy" McIlroyNorthern Irish footballer
  • Samuel Lee "Sammy" GreenAmerican football player
  • Samuel de Luque aka Vegetta777Spanish YouTuber
  • Samuel Kim ArredondoKorean,American pop singer based in South Korea; former member of the duo 1Punch
  • Samuel UmtitiFrench professional footballer
  • Samuel Ludwik TwardowskiPolish poet
  • Samuel SeaburyAmerican bishop and author
  • Samuel "Sam" Irons (b. 1978)English actor and photographer; son of actors Jeremy Irons and Sinéad Cusack
  • Samuel Patrickson of American actor Robert Patrick
  • Samuel Wyatt Cohn (b. 2006)son of American television journalist Elizabeth Vargas
  • Samuel Jason "Sammy" Black (b. 2006)son of actor/musician Jack Black
  • Samuel Kai Schreiber (b. 2008)son of actors Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts
  • Samuel Garner Affleck (b. 2012)son of actors Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck
  • Samuel Hawke Turner (b. 2014)son of country music singer Josh Turner
  • Samuel Joseph (b. 2016)son of Savannah Mooney of TV's "16 and Pregnant"
  • Samuel Thomas Lowe (b.2016)son of reality TV personalities Sean and Catherine Lowe
  • Samuel Scott Dillard (b.2017)son of reality TV stars Jill (Duggar) and Derick Dillard
  • Samuel George "Sam" ClaflinEnglish actor

Samuel in Pop Culture

  • Samuel Llewellyn Cornickcharacter in Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs
  • Samuel "Sam" Drakecharacter from the Uncharted game series
  • Samuel "Sam" Templemain character in Michael Grant's Gone series
  • Samuel "Sam" Winchestercharacter on TV's Supernatural
  • Samuel "Sam" Whiskeymain character in the Transformers franchise
  • Samuel "Sam/Quinn" Quinncharacter in the Blackwood Security series by Elise Noble
  • Samuel OakKanto professor in video game "Pokémon".
  • Samuel "Sam" Healycharacter on TV series "Orange is the New Black"
  • Samuel "Sam" Alexanderaka Nova, character from Marvel Universe
  • Samuel Thomas "Sam" Wilsonaka Falcon, character from Marvel Universe
  • Samuel Zachary "Sam" Guthrieaka Cannonball, character from Marvel Universe
  • Samuel "Sammy" Liebermancharacter on TV series "Dance Academy"
  • Samuel Norbert Averydeceased son of April Kepner and Jackson Avery on "Grey's Anatomy"
  • Samuel J. Sullivanaka "Nugget", the main character from "The 5th Wave" book series by Rick Yancey
  • Samuel Joseph "Sam" Scudder aka Mirror Mastercharacter from DC Universe
  • Samuel Ratchett aka Lenfranco Cassetticharacter from Hercule Poirot series
  • Samuel AdamsAmerican beer brand named after the revolutionary
  • Samual Vanderboomcharacter in Rusty Lake: Roots
  • Samuel "Sam" Malonemain character in "Cheers"
  • Samuel "Sam" Rothcharacter in Maggie Stiefvater's "Shiver" trilogy

Samuel in Nameberry Blog Posts