The nameSam
Sam is a short boy's name of Hebrew origin, a pet form of Samuel. Friendly and simple, it is also used for girls as a short form of Samantha.
- Boy's name
- Hebrew
Meaning
Sam is a diminutive of Samuel, "name of God" or "God has heard".
Origin
Hebrew, through English.
History
Sam reached the top 50 in England and Wales and the American top 30. Uncle Sam is the symbol of the United States, and Samwise Gamgee the loyal friend of The Lord of the Rings.
Famous people named Sam
- Sam Smith, singer
- Sam Mendes, film director
- Sam Shepard, playwright
- Samwise Gamgee, The Lord of the Rings character
Popularity of the name Sam
Sam in the United States
Sam was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 21,107 births over the decade, 16% of all recorded babies named Sam. Half of all babies named Sam in the United States were born before 1935, so it is mostly a great-grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 427 births a year.
Sam in the United Kingdom
Sam was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 12,238 births over the decade, 52% of all recorded babies named Sam. Half of all babies named Sam in the United Kingdom were born before 2005, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 199 births a year on average, against 342 in the five years before.
Sam in Ireland
Sam in France
Sam in Belgium
Sam in Switzerland
Sam in Austria
Sam in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Sam
Names from the same generation as Sam, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Sam? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Sam with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Sam side by side with the name of your choice.
Sam in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sam mean?
Sam is a diminutive of Samuel, "name of God" or "God has heard".
What is the origin of the name Sam?
Hebrew, through English.
Is Sam a girl's or a boy's name?
Sam is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Sam?
In 2024, Sam was the 650th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 423 births.
What are the variants of the name Sam?
Variants and related names of Sam include Samuel.
What are good sibling names for Sam?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Marie, Lea, Madeleine and Anika for a sister, Nathanael, Noé, Aron and Emanuel for a brother.
Who are famous people named Sam?
Sam Smith, singer; Sam Mendes, film director; Sam Shepard, playwright; Samwise Gamgee, The Lord of the Rings character.