Samuel
Peaked at #17 nationally in 1880, based on real US Social Security Administration birth records.
Girls vs. boys, all-time
Since 1880, Samuel has been recorded <1% of the time for girls and >99% of the time for boys.
Meaning & origin
Samuel is Hebrew for "God has heard" or "name of God," the name of the Old Testament prophet and judge who anointed both Saul and David as kings of Israel.
Notable people & culture
Samuel shows one of the most stable rankings of any name in SSA data — its 1880 rank (17th) matches its 2024 rank exactly, a rare consistency across nearly a century and a half of American naming; author Samuel "Mark Twain" Clemens and diarist Samuel Pepys are notable historical bearers.
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Samuel — Girls (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#1316
in 1891
Current rank
#13186
in 2024
Years tracked
120
1890–2024
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1890, Samuel reached its peak popularity for girls in 1891, ranking #1316 nationally with 6 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #8417 (2014) to #13186 (2024) — a 36% drop.
As of 2024, Samuel ranks #13186 nationally for girls, with 7 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #13,186 | 7 |
| 2023 | #10,178 | 10 |
| 2022 | #12,062 | 8 |
| 2021 | #14,959 | 6 |
| 2020 | #7,894 | 14 |
| 2019 | #10,345 | 10 |
| 2018 | #9,059 | 12 |
| 2017 | #7,379 | 16 |
Samuel — Boys (United States)
RisingPeak rank
#17
in 1880
Current rank
#17
in 2024
Years tracked
145
1880–2024
Trend
Rising
Samuel was already at its most popular for boys in 1880 (the earliest year in this data, ranked #17), with 1,024 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has climbed from #23 (2014) to #17 (2024) — a 26% improvement.
As of 2024, Samuel ranks #17 nationally for boys, with 8,310 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #17 | 8,310 |
| 2023 | #19 | 8,019 |
| 2022 | #19 | 8,414 |
| 2021 | #23 | 8,573 |
| 2020 | #25 | 8,585 |
| 2019 | #22 | 9,321 |
| 2018 | #21 | 9,850 |
| 2017 | #21 | 10,447 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, National Data, 1880–2024.
Similar trajectory
Other names that peaked around the same era and rose or fell on a comparable curve.
Based on US data — boys' names only.
Common Questions
When was Samuel most popular?
Samuel was most popular in 1880, when it ranked #17 nationally for boys — the highest rank it has reached in this data.
Is Samuel becoming more or less popular?
For girls, it's currently falling; for boys, it's currently rising, based on the last decade of SSA data.
How many babies have been named Samuel?
At least 814,600 babies have been recorded with the name Samuel in the US since 1880, according to Social Security Administration birth records.
Looking for more name ideas like Samuel? Try the Baby Name Generator or compare it against other names on the Name Trends hub.