How to say it
SAM · yoo · ul
ˈsæm.ju.əl
Masculine
Samuel
Heard by God
What it means
From the Hebrew Shemu'el, meaning 'heard by God' (shema = heard, el = God), or possibly 'name of God' (shem = name). The biblical version draws on both readings.
Samuel in the Bible was the last judge and first prophet of Israel, the one who anointed Saul and David as the first kings. His mother Hannah prayed for him and named him 'because I asked the Lord for him.' The name carried through Jewish tradition continuously, and American Puritans used it heavily in the 17th century. Spanish Samuel is widespread in Latin America (pronounced sah-moo-EL). Currently US top thirty for boys. Common short forms: Sam, Sammy.
How to spell Samuel
The standard spelling is Samuel. Common variants include Shemuel, Samuele, Samvel, but Samuel is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #17 in 1880, currently #18 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Sam covers almost everything; Sammy is the childhood form. Some Sam-shortened-from-Samuel adults prefer to keep it Sam in professional contexts.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Samuel (Bible) Prophet who anointed kings Saul and David
- Samuel L. Jackson Actor, Pulp Fiction and the Marvel films
- Samuel Beckett Irish playwright, Waiting for Godot
Spelling variants
- Shemuel
- Samuele
- Samvel
Names with the same feeling
See Samuel from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Samuel mean?
- From the Hebrew Shemu'el, meaning 'heard by God' (shema = heard, el = God), or possibly 'name of God' (shem = name). The biblical version draws on both readings.
- What does Samuel mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Samuel means "Heard by God." Samuel in the Bible was the last judge and first prophet of Israel, the one who anointed Saul and David as the first kings. His mother Hannah prayed for him and named him 'because I asked the Lord for him.' The name carried through Jewish tradition continuously, and American Puritans used it heavily in the 17th century. Spanish Samuel is widespread in Latin America (pronounced sah-moo-EL). Currently US top thirty for boys. Common short forms: Sam, Sammy.
- How do you pronounce Samuel?
- Samuel is pronounced ˈsæm.ju.əl. Say it as SAM-yoo-ul, with the stress on the "sam" syllable.
- How do you spell Samuel?
- The standard spelling is Samuel. Common spelling variants include Shemuel, Samuele, Samvel.
- Is Samuel a boy or girl name?
- Samuel is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Samuel?
- Samuel ranked #18 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.