Samuel is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "name of God". It is derived from the Hebrew word "shama" which means "to hear or to listen".
The name Samuel first appears in the Old Testament of the Bible, where he is introduced as the last judge of Israel and the prophet who anointed King David. In the biblical story, Hannah, his mother, prayed for a son and promised God that if her prayer was granted, she would dedicate him to serve God. When Samuel was born, Hannah fulfilled her promise by taking him to the Temple at Shiloh where he served under Eli the priest.
Over time, the name Samuel has been popular in many cultures around the world. It has been used by numerous notable figures throughout history including Samuel Adams, one of the founding fathers of the United States, and Samuel Beckett, an Irish playwright who won the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Today, Samuel continues to be a popular name for boys, ranking among the top 100 names in many countries. Despite its biblical origins, the name Samuel has transcended religious boundaries and is now associated with a wide range of cultural and historical figures. Its meaning "name of God" may also have contributed to its enduring popularity as it signifies a connection to something greater than oneself.
The name Samuel has a long and varied history of popularity in the United States. From 1880 to 1959, the number of babies named Samuel fluctuated greatly, with a peak of 4710 births in 1960. After that, the popularity of the name steadily increased until it reached its peak in 2003 with 14681 births.
However, since 2003, the popularity of the name Samuel has been declining. In 2022, there were only 7973 babies named Samuel, a significant decrease from its peak 19 years earlier. Despite this decline, Samuel remains a popular and enduring name choice for boys in the United States.
Overall, from 1880 to 2022, a total of 803262 babies were named Samuel in the United States. This makes Samuel one of the most popular boys' names in American history.