What Does the Name Samuel Mean?
Samuel is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning “God has heard.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Samuel |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Hebrew |
| Meaning | God has heard |
| Variants | Sam, Sammy, Samuele, Samuil |
| Popularity | A consistent US top 50 boys' name for decades, peaking in the top 25 in the 1990s-2000s. |
The meaning and origin of Samuel
The name Samuel means “God has heard” and has Hebrew origins. From the Hebrew Shemu'el, borne by the biblical prophet who anointed Saul and David as kings of Israel. A perennially popular choice across Jewish and Christian cultures.
Variants and related names
Samuel is related to several other names you may recognize: Sam, Sammy, Samuele, Samuil. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Samuel?
A consistent US top 50 boys' name for decades, peaking in the top 25 in the 1990s-2000s.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Samuel mean?+
The name Samuel means “God has heard” and is of Hebrew origin.
What is the origin of the name Samuel?+
Samuel originates from Hebrew.
Is Samuel a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Samuel has trended in the US over time.
Samuel by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press