Find out how popular the first name Shamshon has been for the last 6 years (from 2018 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Shamshon by gender

Based on the last 6 years of data, Shamshon is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Shamshon.

The history of the first name Shamshon

The name Shamshon is derived from the Hebrew shemesh, meaning "sun," and the suffix "-on," which is a common ending for masculine names in Hebrew. The name can be traced back to ancient Israel and is found in the Old Testament of the Bible.

Shamshon is better known by its Anglicized form, Samson, which is the name of a famous biblical figure known for his immense strength. According to the Book of Judges, Samson was a Nazirite born to a barren couple and was bestowed with supernatural strength by God. He is renowned for slaying a lion with his bare hands and defeating the Philistines through various feats of strength, including famously bringing down a temple by pushing against its pillars.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Shamshon can be found in the biblical text, where it is used to refer to the legendary Israelite warrior. Outside of religious literature, there are few notable historical figures with this name until modern times.

However, a few individuals throughout history have borne the name Shamshon. One was Shamshon Hirschhorn (1903-1935), a Polish-born Jewish writer and Zionist activist who was active in pre-World War II Palestine. Another was Shamshon Gershuni (1906-1993), an Israeli painter and sculptor known for his abstract and modernist works.

In the realm of sports, Shamshon Stein (1952-2021) was an Israeli basketball player who represented his country in the 1976 and 1980 Summer Olympics. Shamshon Levy (born 1957) is an Israeli former professional soccer player who played as a defender and represented Israel's national team.

Shamshon Hareven (1932-2022) was an Israeli author and playwright best known for his novels that explored themes of identity, memory, and the complexities of modern Israeli society.

These are a few notable individuals who have borne the name Shamshon throughout history, but its most significant association remains with the biblical figure of Samson, whose legendary strength and exploits have made him an enduring cultural icon.

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 Shamshon was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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