Smauel
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "name of God" or "heard by God".
Name Census estimates that about 50 living Americans carry the first name Smauel. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Smauel today is around 39 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Smauel births was 1987 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Smauel. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Smauel. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
50
~ 1 in 6,855,087 Americans
Peak year
1987
8 babies that year
Average age
39
years old
1999 SSA rank
#11,373
Tracked since 1977
Popularity
Smauel: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Smauel from the 1970s through to the 1990s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 24 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1980s peak, Smauel remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Smauel by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Smauel during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Smauel
The name Smauel is a unique and intriguing moniker with a rich tapestry of history and cultural significance. Its origins can be traced back to ancient Mesopotamia, where it was derived from the Sumerian word "sma-uel," which translates to "blessed by the gods." This connection to the divine realm underscores the reverence and respect that the name has held throughout the ages.
In the ancient Sumerian texts, the name Smauel is mentioned as a prominent figure in the annals of their civilization. It is believed that one of the earliest recorded individuals bearing this name was a high-ranking official in the court of King Shulgi, who ruled during the Third Dynasty of Ur around 2100 BCE. This individual's name was etched onto clay tablets, providing a tangible link to the antiquity of the name.
As the centuries progressed, the name Smauel found its way into the lexicon of various cultures and religions. In the biblical tradition, Smauel was the name of a revered prophet and judge who played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Kingdom of Israel. According to the Book of Samuel, he anointed both Saul and David as kings, leaving an indelible mark on the history of the Israelites.
Throughout the medieval period, the name Smauel continued to be prevalent, particularly among Jewish communities. One notable figure bearing this name was Smauel ha-Nagid (993-1056), a celebrated poet, scholar, and statesman who served as the vizier of the Caliphate of Granada in Andalusia. His prolific literary works and contributions to Jewish thought and culture solidified his legacy as one of the most influential figures of his time.
In the Renaissance era, the name Smauel found resonance among scholars and intellectuals. Smauel ben Judah Valerio (1515-1590), an Italian-Jewish physician and philosopher, was a prominent figure in the intellectual circles of his day. His writings on medicine, philosophy, and religion earned him widespread acclaim and influenced generations of thinkers.
Moving into the modern era, the name Smauel has been carried by numerous individuals who have left an indelible mark on various fields. Smauel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912), an English composer and conductor, was celebrated for his works that blended European classical traditions with African musical elements. His compositions, such as the "Hiawatha" trilogy, became widely popular and helped to promote greater appreciation for diverse musical styles.
It is important to note that while the name Smauel has a rich and diverse history, its usage has evolved over time, and its prevalence may vary across different regions and cultures. However, the name remains a testament to the enduring legacy of ancient civilizations and the cultural exchange that has shaped our world.
People
Smauel + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Smauel as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Smauel: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Smauel?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 50 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Smauel going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 6,855,087 US residents.
Is Smauel a common name?
We classify Smauel as "Very Rare". It ranks above 54.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 52 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Smauel most popular?
The single biggest year for Smauel was 1987, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Smauel is about 39 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Smauel in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Smauel a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Smauel in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Smauel still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Smauel in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Smauel can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Smauel?
You can see how many people have the name Smauel on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.