Find out how popular the first name Sam has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Sam by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Sam is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 98% of people named Sam being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 403 male babies and 11 female babies born with the name Sam.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 11 baby girls were named Sam in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Sam

The name Sam is a diminutive form of the Hebrew name Samuel, which means "name of God" or "heard by God." The name has its roots in ancient Israelite culture and can be traced back to the biblical figure Samuel, who was a prominent prophet in the Old Testament's books of Samuel.

In the Bible, Samuel was born to Elkanah and Hannah in the late 11th century BCE. He was dedicated to God's service from a young age and became a significant figure in the establishment of the Hebrew monarchy, anointing both Saul and David as kings of Israel.

The name Samuel gained popularity among Jews and Christians due to its biblical significance. Over time, the diminutive form Sam emerged as a shortened version of the name. One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Sam can be found in the writings of the English playwright William Shakespeare, who featured a character named Sam in his play "The Merry Wives of Windsor," written around 1597.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Sam. One of the most famous was Samuel Clemens (1835-1910), better known by his pen name Mark Twain, an American writer and humorist who authored classic works such as "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."

Another notable Sam was Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1903), an American businessman and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Virginia and was the older brother of Mark Twain.

In the field of science, Samuel Morse (1791-1872) was an American inventor and painter who pioneered the development of the telegraph and the Morse code system of communication.

In the realm of sports, Sam Snead (1912-2002) was an American professional golfer who won a record 82 PGA Tour events, including seven majors, and is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the game.

During the American Civil War, Samuel Jones (1819-1887) was a Confederate Army officer who served as a brigadier general and played a significant role in several battles, including the Battle of Chickamauga.

These are just a few examples of prominent figures throughout history who have borne the name Sam, a name that has its roots in ancient Israelite culture and has endured as a popular diminutive form of the biblical name Samuel.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Sam was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Sam, please contact us.

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