Samuel

Samuel is a Hebrew name, from Shemu'el, most likely meaning either "name of God" or "God has heard," combining the elements shem (name) or shama (to hear) with el (God). The name is borne in the Hebrew Bible by the prophet and judge Samuel, who anointed the first kings of Israel, making it one of the most enduring names in the Abrahamic traditions. It has been widely used across Europe and beyond since the early Christian era, carried by saints, scholars, and statesmen, and remains common throughout the English-speaking world and beyond. Closely related forms include Samuël in Dutch, Sámuel in Hungarian, and the feminine variants Samuela and Samuelle, while the short form Sam is ubiquitous as an independent name.