Sam
Sam is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
God has heard.
Origin and history
Sam is traditionally a short form of Samuel, derived from the Hebrew name Shemu'el, meaning 'God has heard' or 'name of God'. It has been widely used as an independent given name for centuries across the English-speaking world. In the United States, it remains a timeless classic that is often chosen as a standalone name.
Popularity in the United States
127,234 babies in the United States have been named Sam since 1880. It ranks #263 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #636.
States where it is most popular
- NY (10.1 %)
- TX (8.2 %)
- CA (7.1 %)
- IL (6 %)
- MS (4.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 5,069 |
| 1890-1900 | 4,941 |
| 1900-1910 | 6,161 |
| 1910-1920 | 18,544 |
| 1920-1930 | 20,844 |
| 1930-1940 | 13,350 |
| 1940-1950 | 12,351 |
| 1950-1960 | 10,052 |
| 1960-1970 | 8,657 |
| 1970-1980 | 4,516 |
| 1980-1990 | 4,038 |
| 1990-2000 | 5,437 |
| 2000-2010 | 5,752 |
| 2010-2019 | 5,034 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,488 |
Famous people named Sam
- Sam Cooke: singer, songwriter
- Sam Rockwell: actor
- Sam Shepard: playwright, actor
Fun facts
- Although traditionally a diminutive of Samuel, Sam has frequently appeared as an independent given name on official birth records for over a century.
- Sam is the name of iconic characters across media, including Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings and Uncle Sam as a national personification of the U.S.