Shmuel
Boy name · #921 in 2025 · Uniqueness 54/100
In 2025, 256 baby boys were named Shmuel, placing it at #921 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1016, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 7,031 boys born in 2025 was named Shmuel.
Babies named Shmuel per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 72-year story
Shmuel first appears in the Social Security records in 1953, when 7 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 256 babies and a rank of #920. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Shmuel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Shmuel in class?
Shmuel scores 54 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 Shmuel is most common
Geography matters for names, and Shmuel is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Shmuels were NJ (114), NY (90), MD (10), CA (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Shmuel
Statistically, parents drawn to Shmuel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Yisroel, Mikael, Immanuel, Shmiel, and Yadiel.
YisroelMikaelImmanuelShmielYadielAnselOzielIsael
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Shmuel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 256 | #920 |
| 2024 | 234 | #967 |
| 2023 | 246 | #927 |
| 2022 | 253 | #913 |
| 2021 | 205 | #1046 |
| 2020 | 200 | #1029 |
| 2019 | 203 | #1023 |
| 2018 | 198 | #1029 |
| 2017 | 222 | #940 |
| 2016 | 204 | #999 |
| 2015 | 200 | #1016 |
| 2014 | 165 | #1147 |
| 2013 | 187 | #1031 |
| 2012 | 147 | #1212 |
| 2011 | 142 | #1229 |
| 2010 | 182 | #1056 |
| 2009 | 135 | #1298 |
| 2008 | 141 | #1233 |
| 2007 | 142 | #1237 |
| 2006 | 128 | #1294 |
| 2005 | 108 | #1381 |
| 2004 | 108 | #1349 |
| 2003 | 90 | #1451 |
| 2002 | 93 | #1406 |
| 2001 | 96 | #1345 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Shmuel a popular boy name?
Shmuel ranked #921 among boys in 2025 with 256 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1016.
When was the name Shmuel most popular?
Shmuel peaked in 2025, when 256 American boys received the name (ranked #920 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Shmuel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 7,031 newborn American boys was named Shmuel. It scores 54/100 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.