Samuel
Boy name · #18 in 2025 · Uniqueness 36/100
Samuel is currently the #18 boy name in the United States — 8,334 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #23, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 216 boys born in 2025 was named Samuel.
The 145-year story
Samuel first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 1,024 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2001, when 14,813 boys were named Samuel — good for #26 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Samuel per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Samuel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Samuel in class?
Samuel scores 36 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Samuel is most common
Geography matters for names, and Samuel is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Samuels were TX (987), CA (821), FL (521), NY (374), NC (334). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Samuel
Statistically, parents drawn to Samuel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Gabriel, Daniel, Miguel, Angel, and Manuel.
GabrielDanielMiguelAngelManuelEmmanuelEthanDylan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Samuel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8,334 | #18 |
| 2024 | 8,355 | #17 |
| 2023 | 8,038 | #19 |
| 2022 | 8,427 | #19 |
| 2021 | 8,580 | #23 |
| 2020 | 8,594 | #25 |
| 2019 | 9,322 | #22 |
| 2018 | 9,854 | #21 |
| 2017 | 10,449 | #21 |
| 2016 | 10,621 | #21 |
| 2015 | 10,905 | #23 |
| 2014 | 11,029 | #23 |
| 2013 | 11,141 | #25 |
| 2012 | 11,470 | #25 |
| 2011 | 11,366 | #26 |
| 2010 | 11,971 | #24 |
| 2009 | 12,181 | #24 |
| 2008 | 12,774 | #27 |
| 2007 | 13,367 | #25 |
| 2006 | 13,652 | #25 |
| 2005 | 14,271 | #21 |
| 2004 | 14,131 | #23 |
| 2003 | 14,691 | #23 |
| 2002 | 14,579 | #25 |
| 2001 | 14,813 | #26 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Samuel a popular boy name?
Samuel ranked #18 among boys in 2025 with 8,334 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #23.
When was the name Samuel most popular?
Samuel peaked in 2001, when 14,813 American boys received the name (ranked #26 that year). Since 2001 the name has recovered some ground.
How rare is the name Samuel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 216 newborn American boys was named Samuel. It scores 36/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.