Sam

Meaning of Sam

Sam is a shortened version of Samuel, meaning "God has heard" or "Name of God".

Sam has Hebrew roots — browse every Hebrew baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Sam

Sam has held fairly steady, sitting around #647 in 2025 after peaking at #436 in 2003.

Notable people named Sam

• Samuel L. Jackson
  Prolific American actor
• Sam Smith
  English singer and songwriter
• Sam Mendes
  English film and stage director
• Sam Rockwell
  American actor
• Sam Walton
  Founder of Walmart

More Hebrew names

Questions about the name Sam

What does the name Sam mean?

Sam means sam is a shortened version of samuel, meaning "god has heard" or "name of god", and it comes from Hebrew origins.

Is Sam a boy's or a girl's name?

Sam is most commonly used as a boy's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Sam?

In 2025, Sam ranked #647 for boys, up from #651 the year before.

When was Sam most popular?

Sam peaked at #436 in 2003.