Samuel is a name of Hebrew origin that means "name of God" or "God hears". It has been a popular name throughout history and has been borne by several notable figures.
The name Samuel first appears in the Hebrew Bible, where he is introduced as the last judge of ancient Israel and prophet who lived around 1056-970 BCE. According to the story, Samuel was born to Hannah and Elkanah, who had longed for a child but were unable to conceive. After Hannah prayed fervently for help at the temple in Shiloh, she became pregnant with Samuel and gave birth to him. She then took him to the temple to be raised as a servant of God.
As a boy, Samuel grew in favor with God and the people, and he was eventually anointed by the prophet Eli to become the next king of Israel. He went on to serve as a judge for many years, during which time he helped to unite the twelve tribes of Israel into a single nation.
Throughout history, several other notable individuals have borne the name Samuel. These include:
* Saint Samuel, who was martyred in the 3rd century CE and is now venerated by the Catholic Church.
* Samuel Pepys (1633-1703), an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament who kept a famous diary chronicling his life during the Restoration period.
* Samuel Morse (1791-1872), an American inventor best known for developing the Morse code system of telegraphy.
Today, Samuel remains a popular name in many parts of the world. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, it has consistently ranked among the top 500 names for boys since records began in the late 19th century. Variations of the name include Sam, Sammy, and Sami.
The name Samul has been given to a total of 226 babies in the United States over the past century, according to the statistics provided. The number of births varied greatly over the years, with peaks occurring in the early 1920s and again in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
In 1882 and 1927, only five babies were named Samul, while in 1923 and 1925, there were eleven and thirteen births respectively. The most popular years for the name appear to be 1921 and 1926, with ten births each year.
After a decline in popularity during the late 1940s and early 1950s, the number of babies named Samul began to rise again, reaching its peak in 1957 and 1959 with six births each year. However, by 1971, the name had once again fallen out of favor, with only five births recorded that year.
Overall, while Samul was not one of the most popular names during any given year, it has maintained a consistent presence in the United States over time, with a total of 226 babies receiving the name since 1882.