samuel

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Origin, Meaning, And History of Samuel

Samuel is a male name and surname of Hebrew origin derived from the Hebrew word “Shemu’el,”which means “God has heard” or “the name of God.” It is composed of two elements: “shem”meaning “name” and “el” meaning “God.”

Irrespective of its origin, Samuel has multiple variations in other languages too. Some of them are Ishmael, Saamuel, Sâmo’el, Saimu’ala, Samouí̱l, Samu, Samuil, Kamuela, Shemu’el, and Shmuel. People also use nicknames such as Sam, Sammie, Sammy, Samson, Sampson, and Yule.

Samuel is the masculine form of the female names Samuelle, Samantha, and Samuela. The name Samuel can be traced back to the Old Testament of the Bible, where Samuel was a religious hero of the Israelites and was venerated as a prophet in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The prophet Samuel was the son of Elkanah and Hannah, the last judge of the Israelites, and the first prophet after Moses. From that time onwards, Samuel was adopted as a name by the Christians and gained popularity after the Protestant Reformation, a religious movement. He is revered as a prophet in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as he was the prophet who anointed David as the King of Israel.

Samuel is quite a popular name in every culture exposed to the Old Testament. It goes without saying that in countries such as France, Germany, Spain, Ireland, England, Portugal, Scotland, Poland, and the Czech Republic, Samuel is a commonly used name.

Samuel Gerardis a fictional character who was a Deputy US Marshal in the 1993 film “The Fugitive” played by Tommy Lee Jones.Yosemite Samis a fictional cartoon character from the popular “Looney Tunes” series.He has been named after Yosemite National Park and is an adversary of Bugs Bunny.Sam Carmichaelis another fictional character in the musical film “Mamma Mia.” He is depicted as a dashing Irish architect who falls in love with Donna Sheridon.

Samuel

heart image
Name of God
Boy
Hebrew
8
Two
1 word, 6 letters, 3 vowels, 3 consonants
Medium length and easy to pronounce

How To Pronounce Samuel?

Pronounced assam-yoo-el

The way you pronounce a name can make all the difference.

Listen to the sound of the name Samuel in English.

Famous People With The Name Samuel

  • Samuel BeckettIrish novelist, best known for his play “Waiting For Godot”
  • Samuel JohnsonEnglish writer, known for compiling A Dictionary for the English Language
  • Samuel Taylor ColeridgeEnglish poet and one of the founders of the Romantic Movement in England
  • Samuel AdamsAmerican statesman and a Founding Father of the US
  • Samuel ClemensAmerican writer, known by his pen name “Mark Twain”
  • Samuel MorseAmerican inventor and painter who invented the single-wired telegraph
  • Samuel PepysEnglish diarist and naval administrator, known for his Diary
  • Samuel JacksonAmerican actor and producer, known for his role in “Pulp Fiction”

Samuel On The Popularity Chart

The meaningful name Samuel has seen a rise and fall between the 1980s and 2000s. Check the graphical representation to understand the trend over the years.

Popularity Over Time

The name took a steady rise in popularity from 1986 and peaked in 2001 when 14,808 babies per million were named Samuel. However, it gradually dropped in popularity after 2005, with only 8501 babies per million named Samuel in 2021. The graph below will provide you with the details.

来源:Social Security Administration

Rank Over Time

Samuel was a top-ranking name till 1983, after which it slowly declined in popularity and lost its ranking. However, after 2007, it slightly improved in ranking, making its way among the top 20,000 names. Check the graph below to understand more.

来源:Social Security Administration

Names With Similar Sound As Samuel

The refreshing sound of Samuel may be what you are looking for, but do you still want more options? Check out the suggestions below.

Popular Sibling Names For Samuel

If you are looking for some matching sibling names that resonate with Samuel, check our suggestions here.

Boy Sibling Names For Samuel

Find matching brother names for Samuel and create a wonderful team of siblings.

Saamelheart image Samaelheart image Samalyaheart image Samilheart image Samlainheart image Sammuelheart image Samoelheart image Samualheart image Samueleheart image Samuellheart image

Girl Sibling Names For Samuel

Looking for some suitable sister names for Samuel? Check out our collection of beautiful and unique names.

Samalheart image Samalaheart image Samaliheart image Samuellaheart image Seemalheart image Semeleheart image Smillaheart image Somalakshmiheart image Somilaheart image Sumlheart image

Other Popular Names Beginning With S

寻找更多的婴儿名字开始er S to resonate with your family’s naming tradition or to rhyme with the sibling names? Find a range of alternative names starting with this letter.

Names With Similar Meaning As Samuel

In case you are looking for more names with Biblical ties other than Samuel, check the list below.

Infographic: Know The Name Samuel‘s Personality As Per Numerology

name-numerology-for-samuel-boy

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

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How To Communicate The Name Samuel In Other Languages

In Nautical Flags

samuel

In Sign Language

samuel

In Braille Alphabet

samuel

In Morse Code

samuel

Name Numerology For Samuel

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the meaning of the name Samuel?

The name Samuel means ‘God has heard.’

2. What is the origin of the name Samuel?

Samuel has a Hebrew origin.

3. How to pronounce the name Samuel?

Samuel is pronounced as sam-yoo-el.

4. Can Samuel be used as a unisex name, or is it primarily for boys?

Samuel is a name and surname typically given to boys. It comes from the Hebrew word ‘Shemu’el,’ which means ‘God has heard’ or ‘the name of God.’ Although Samuel is recognized as a masculine name in most English-speaking nations, its gender-neutral variants Samuela and Sammy, could be preferred for girls.

5. What are some middle names that go well with Samuel?

Choosing middle names for the given name Samuel from biblical references can be an excellent approach. You may consider popular names such asThomas(meaning ‘twin’),Jacob(meaning ‘supplanter’),Noah(meaning ‘rest’),Elijah(meaning ‘Lord is my God’), andJohn(meaning ‘graced by God’). These names have gained popularity due to their appearances in the Bible and will make a remarkable combination with Samuel.

6. Is Samuel a popular choice for baby boys?

Samuel has maintained consistent popularity since it debuted on the SSA charts. The name’s popularity peaked in 2022 when 8342 babies were named Samuel (1).

References:

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  1. Popularity of name Samuel.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
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