Samuel is a name of Hebrew origin that means "name of God" or "God hears." It is derived from the Hebrew words shem (name) and El (God). In the Old Testament, Samuel was a prophet who played a crucial role in the establishment of the Kingdom of Israel. He was born to Hannah, who had dedicated him to serve God at a young age. Samuel anointed King David and served as a judge over Israel for many years. The name Samuel has been popular among Jewish families for centuries and has since become a common name in many other cultures as well. It is often shortened to Sam or Sammy.
The name Shemuel has seen a varied trend of popularity over the past three decades in the United States. Between 1993 and 2023, there have been a total of 122 babies named Shemuel born in the US.
In 1993, there were 6 births, and after a period of lower occurrences, the name gained some popularity around the late 90s and early 2000s. The year 1998 saw 7 births, followed by fluctuations ranging from 5 to 7 births per year until 2013.
The peak of Shemuel's popularity was reached in 2014 with 11 births, indicating a notable increase in parents choosing this name for their newborn sons. This high level of popularity persisted into the following years, with 9 births in 2015 and 8 births in both 2016 and 2019.
Recently, the trend has somewhat decreased, with 5 births each in 2017, 2018, and 2023. However, it remains relatively consistent, with 8 births in 2021 and 7 births in 2022. Overall, while Shemuel's popularity has ebbed and flowed over the years, it continues to be a distinctive choice among American parents.