Sam
Say it: SAM/ˈsæm/
BoyMeans short form of Samuel3 letters1 syllable
#50
in Ireland (2025)
#52 with spellings combined
106
babies in 2025
#38
best rank (2015)
4,155
babies since 1983
Down 14
10-year rank change
Sam through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 106 | #52 |
| 2024 | 105 | #54 |
| 2023 | 129 | #45 |
| 2022 | 125 | #53 |
| 2021 | 161 | #40 |
| 2020 | 117 | #54 |
| 2019 | 155 | #44 |
| 2018 | 183 | #39 |
| 2017 | 165 | #46 |
| 2016 | 190 | #41 |
| 2015 | 190 | #38 |
| 2014 | 195 | #42 |
| 2013 | 166 | #51 |
| 2012 | 183 | #46 |
| 2011 | 196 | #45 |
| 2010 | 210 | #41 |
| 2009 | 204 | #43 |
| 2008 | 155 | #57 |
| 2007 | 138 | #59 |
| 2006 | 128 | #58 |
| 2005 | 134 | #59 |
| 2004 | 132 | #59 |
| 2003 | 93 | #70 |
| 2002 | 88 | #71 |
| 2001 | 63 | #89 |
| 2000 | 54 | #94 |
| 1999 | 57 | #87 |
| 1998 | 46 | #92 |
| 1997 | 34 | #129 |
| 1996 | 35 | #130 |
| 1995 | 44 | #111 |
| 1994 | 32 | #129 |
| 1993 | 28 | #135 |
| 1992 | 28 | #141 |
| 1991 | 34 | #130 |
| 1990 | 22 | #155 |
| 1989 | 6 | #232 |
| 1988 | 6 | #235 |
| 1987 | 4 | #272 |
| 1986 | 4 | #283 |
| 1985 | 4 | #269 |
| 1984 | 3 | #318 |
| 1983 | 3 | #330 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Sam mean?
Short form of Samuel
Hebrew, a short form of Samuel, and sometimes of Samson or Samantha.
Say it right
SAM
The story of Sam
Sam is a short form of Samuel, and sometimes of Samson or, for girls, Samantha. Samuel is the Hebrew Shemuel, the prophet who in the Bible guides Israel from the time of the judges to its first kings. The meaning is debated. It is often given as God has set, while the Bible itself links the name to a phrase meaning asked of God.
In Ireland the name has a second life. Sam, or the Sam, is what everyone calls the Sam Maguire Cup, the trophy for the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.
Sam reached the CSO list as a name of its own in 1983. It peaked in 2010 with 210 babies. Its best rank was number 38 in 2015. In Northern Ireland it has been less common, with a best of 44th in 2005.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Sam (English proper noun)
- Wiktionary: Samuel (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Sam (given name)
- Wikipedia: Sam Maguire Cup
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
Sammy
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Sam | 106 | 4,155 |
In Northern Ireland
#149 in 2025 with 15 babies. Best rank #44 (2005); 1,104 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.
Sam is also given to girls: 3 since 2016.