Samson is a name of Hebrew origin and means "strong" or "sun". It was originally given to the biblical figure Samson in the Old Testament, who was known for his great physical strength due to a vow he made not to cut his hair.
The name Samson first appears in the Bible, where it is associated with the story of Samson and Delilah. According to this tale, Samson was born to a childless woman and had his hair grow long from birth. His parents were told that their son would be a Nazirite, which meant he would live according to certain dietary restrictions and never cut his hair.
As an adult, Samson used his strength to defend his people against their enemies, the Philistines. However, he eventually fell in love with Delilah, who betrayed him by cutting off his hair while he slept, causing him to lose his strength. Despite this setback, Samson was able to regain his power long enough to bring down the temple where his enemies were gathered.
Today, Samson is still a popular name among people of Jewish faith, but it has also become more widely used in other cultures as well. It remains associated with strength and perseverance, reflecting the qualities of its biblical namesake.
Based on the statistics provided, we can observe a fascinating trend regarding the number of births given the name Samson in the United States over the years.
Initially, from 1892 to 1950, the annual number of births with the name Samson fluctuated between 8 and 25. However, it's worth noting that there were several years where only a single-digit number of newborns received this name.
Starting in 1956, we begin to see an increase in the popularity of the name Samson. This year marked a significant shift, with 30 births compared to the previous years' averages. This trend continued into the late 1960s and early 1970s, with the number of births rising steadily each year.
The 1970s were a pivotal decade for the name Samson. The number of newborn boys named Samson grew from 48 in 1971 to 87 in 1980. This was a considerable increase compared to previous decades and indicates that the name began to gain traction among parents during this time.
The trend continued into the 1980s, with the number of births surpassing 100 for the first time in 1985 (109 births). The peak of this trend occurred in the early 1990s, with 131 births in 1994 and a record-breaking 155 births in 1999.
However, starting from the late 1990s to the present day, we observe another shift in popularity for the name Samson. Although it remained relatively consistent throughout the early 2000s (ranging between 158 and 183 births per year), there was a noticeable decline starting around 2005.
From 2005 onwards, the number of newborn boys named Samson decreased significantly each year until reaching its lowest point in recent history, with only 471 births in 2021. This marks an interesting contrast to the mid-90s peak and demonstrates how tastes and trends change over time.
In conclusion, while the name Samson experienced periods of popularity during the late 1800s through the early 1900s, it wasn't until the mid-to-late 20th century that it began to truly gain traction among American parents. The name peaked in popularity around the turn of the millennium but has since seen a steady decline in usage. Despite this decrease, it remains an enduring and strong choice for many parents who appreciate its historical significance and timeless appeal.
Total births with the name Samson in the United States: 11644