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.
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–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Sam.
- Worth knowing
The biblical strongman undone by Delilah.
Spelling variants
- Sampson
- Shimshon
Names with the same feeling
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