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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Traditionally glossed as 'God has heard', though the Bible's own account (1 Samuel 1:20) frames the name through a wordplay meaning 'asked of God'
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- Pronunciation
- SAM-yoo-el
Samuel is a Hebrew name traditionally glossed as "God has heard," pronounced SAM-yoo-el. You may have also heard it explained as meaning "asked of God" — that reading comes from a wordplay in the Bible's own account of the name at 1 Samuel 1:20, not a settled linguistic derivation, so both glosses are best treated as traditional rather than fixed fact. It carries an old-fashioned, classic feel while still being a name parents choose today.
Meaning & Origin of Samuel
Meaning: Traditionally glossed as 'God has heard', though the Bible's own account (1 Samuel 1:20) frames the name through a wordplay meaning 'asked of God'.
Origin: Hebrew.
A common claim: Widely said to mean "asked of God" Actually: This is a folk-etymological wordplay from 1 Samuel 1:20, not a certain linguistic derivation. The more traditional gloss, "God has heard," should also be treated as traditional rather than settled fact.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Samuel
SAM-yoo-elIPA /ˈsæmjuəl/
Popularity of Samuel
Samuel ranked #17 in 2024, given to 8,310 boys — exactly matching its earlier peak of #17 back in 1880, when 1,024 boys received the name. SSA records for Samuel span 1880 through 2024.
Names Like Samuel
These names share Samuel’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Samuel mean?
Traditionally glossed as ‘God has heard’, though the Bible’s own account (1 Samuel 1:20) frames the name through a wordplay meaning ‘asked of God’. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Samuel?
Samuel is pronounced SAM-yoo-el (IPA: /ˈsæmjuəl/).
Is Samuel a popular name right now?
Samuel is near its all-time peak (#17 in 1880), ranked #17 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Samuel Name Art
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