The Baby Name Wizard

Reader Contributions

Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Samuel!

Comments and insights on the name Samuel: | Edit

I love this name -- it is solid and friendly.
A likely reason for this Biblical name's popularity is that it is spelled the same in English, French, Hungarian, Spanish, Portuguese and Polish.
The name evoke in me good and safe feelings. Once I would like to have little Sam and little Anna - both hebrew names.

Personal experiences with the name Samuel: | Edit

When I was pregnant with my second son, I shared some of my baby name choices with friends. When Samuel was suggested, it was unanimously declared a "friendly, smart, reliable" name. One friend even said they could picture people saying "That Sam, he's one heck of a guy!".
Since friendly, smart, and reliable are three of the traits I try to bring out in my children, Samuel was definitely the winner.

Nicknames for Samuel: | Edit

Sam, Sammy, Shmuel, Samski, Samuella, Sammich, Sam-Sam, Samay

Meanings and history of the name Samuel: | Edit

Samuel does not mean "name of God, his name is God" like the above states. It means "God Heard" or "God Hears".

Samuel has the specific meaning "Asked of God", relating to 1 Samuel, when Hannah asked God for a son and he heard her request. My mother had a similar situation surrounding my birth: she did not know if they would be able to conceive and prayed, and then had me. Originally I was going to be Michael but then she changed it, and I have forever been grateful for my name!

Famous real-life people named Samuel: | Edit

Samuel Adams, founding father
Samuel Beckett, playwright
Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain's real name)
Sammy Sosa, baseball player
Sammy Davis, Jr., Rat Pack entertainer
Samuel L. Jackson, actor
Samuel Affleck, son of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner

Samuel in song, story & screen: | Edit

Uncle Sam, symbol of the United States
sir Samuel Vimes, City Watch - character of Terry Pratchett's Discworld
Sam-I-Am, character in Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss
Sam Winchester, a character from the TV series Supernatural - played by Jared Padalecki
Sam Malone, lead character on the classic TV show Cheers played by Ted Danson