Samar
From Spanish Sámar, from Waray-Waray samad.
Every Samar since 1972 — 2,385 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Samar
Samar is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,329 in 2025 with 60 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1972, 2,385 American babies have been named Samar — about 54% boys and 46% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2021, when 117 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Samar stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Samar year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 29 | #4,736 | 60 | #2,329 |
| 2024 | 27 | #5,006 | 62 | #2,309 |
| 2023 | 27 | #4,975 | 56 | #2,432 |
| 2022 | 24 | #5,439 | 92 | #1,790 |
| 2021 | 32 | #4,394 | 85 | #1,836 |
| 2020 | 22 | #5,634 | 67 | #2,110 |
| 2019 | 30 | #4,635 | 73 | #2,014 |
| 2018 | 28 | #4,868 | 76 | #1,955 |
| 2017 | 28 | #4,905 | 72 | #1,998 |
| 2016 | 31 | #4,613 | 67 | #2,106 |
| 2015 | 29 | #4,833 | 62 | #2,204 |
| 2014 | 28 | #5,008 | 60 | #2,249 |
| 2013 | 21 | #6,211 | 46 | #2,617 |
| 2012 | 22 | #6,075 | 36 | #3,160 |
| 2011 | 15 | #8,131 | 32 | #3,417 |
| 2010 | 33 | #4,479 | 31 | #3,513 |
| 2009 | 17 | #7,628 | 17 | #5,508 |
| 2008 | 18 | #7,352 | 24 | #4,241 |
| 2007 | 16 | #8,024 | 26 | #3,979 |
| 2006 | 13 | #9,180 | 25 | #3,975 |
| 2005 | 18 | #6,766 | 37 | #2,890 |
| 2004 | 22 | #5,720 | 22 | #4,109 |
| 2003 | 27 | #4,790 | 9 | #7,717 |
| 2002 | 26 | #4,737 | 12 | #6,005 |
| 2001 | 17 | #6,574 | 16 | #4,851 |
| 2000 | 29 | #4,271 | 5 | #11,812 |
| 1995 | 21 | #4,811 | 6 | #8,688 |
| 1990 | 21 | #4,655 | 7 | #7,037 |
| 1985 | 17 | #4,606 | — | — |
| 1980 | 13 | #5,478 | 6 | #6,109 |
| 1975 | 8 | #6,993 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Samar mean?
From Spanish Sámar, from Waray-Waray samad.
How popular is the name Samar in 2025?
Samar ranked #2,329 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 60 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Samar?
2,385 babies have been named Samar in the United States since 1972, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Samar most popular?
Samar peaked in 2021, when 117 newborns received the name.
Is Samar a boy or girl name?
Samar is used for both: about 46% of babies named Samar have been girls and 54% boys.
Is the name Samar rising or falling?
Samar is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.