How to say it
SAM · son
ˈsæm.sən
Masculine
Samson
Sun
What it means
Hebrew, 'sun'; the name of the legendary biblical strongman.
Samson comes from the Hebrew Shimshon, rooted in shemesh, 'sun.' In the Bible he is the long-haired strongman whose power lived in his hair until Delilah cut it. The name carries that mix of light and might, and it shares the friendly short Sam with Samuel. Bold and storied. Said SAM-son.
How to spell Samson
The standard spelling is Samson. Common variants include Sampson, Shimshon, but Samson is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #477 in 2025, currently #477 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed August 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Sam.
- Worth knowing
The biblical strongman undone by Delilah.
Who's worn it
- Samson Old Testament judge in the Book of Judges famed for his God-given strength
Spelling variants
- Sampson
- Shimshon
Names with the same feeling
See Samson from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Samson mean?
- Hebrew, 'sun'; the name of the legendary biblical strongman.
- What does Samson mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Samson means "Sun." Samson comes from the Hebrew Shimshon, rooted in shemesh, 'sun.' In the Bible he is the long-haired strongman whose power lived in his hair until Delilah cut it. The name carries that mix of light and might, and it shares the friendly short Sam with Samuel. Bold and storied. Said SAM-son.
- How do you pronounce Samson?
- Samson is pronounced ˈsæm.sən. Say it as SAM-son, with the stress on the "sam" syllable.
- How do you spell Samson?
- The standard spelling is Samson. Common spelling variants include Sampson, Shimshon.
- Is Samson a boy or girl name?
- Samson is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Samson?
- Samson ranked #477 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.