Shmuel
Borrowed from Yiddish שמואל (Shmuel), from Hebrew שְׁמוּאֵל (šəmūʾḗl).
Every Shmuel since 1953 — 5,972 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Shmuel
Shmuel is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #923 in 2025 with 256 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1953, 5,972 American babies have been named Shmuel. Its peak came in 2025, when 256 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 Shmuel stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Shmuel year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 256 | #923 |
| 2024 | 234 | #968 |
| 2023 | 246 | #927 |
| 2022 | 253 | #919 |
| 2021 | 205 | #1,048 |
| 2020 | 200 | #1,029 |
| 2019 | 203 | #1,027 |
| 2018 | 198 | #1,032 |
| 2017 | 222 | #942 |
| 2016 | 204 | #1,005 |
| 2015 | 200 | #1,016 |
| 2014 | 165 | #1,150 |
| 2013 | 187 | #1,034 |
| 2012 | 147 | #1,215 |
| 2011 | 142 | #1,234 |
| 2010 | 182 | #1,058 |
| 2009 | 135 | #1,301 |
| 2008 | 141 | #1,239 |
| 2007 | 142 | #1,244 |
| 2006 | 128 | #1,299 |
| 2005 | 108 | #1,389 |
| 2004 | 108 | #1,355 |
| 2003 | 90 | #1,463 |
| 2002 | 93 | #1,412 |
| 2001 | 96 | #1,348 |
| 2000 | 84 | #1,476 |
| 1995 | 79 | #1,325 |
| 1990 | 55 | #1,545 |
| 1985 | 49 | #1,410 |
| 1980 | 32 | #1,800 |
| 1975 | 31 | #1,655 |
| 1970 | 20 | #2,046 |
| 1965 | 10 | #2,753 |
| 1960 | 11 | #2,665 |
| 1955 | 5 | #4,319 |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Shmuel
- Shmuel Yosef Agnon Writer · 1888–1970
- Shmuel Rosenthal Soccer player · b. 1947
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Shmuel mean?
Borrowed from Yiddish שמואל (Shmuel), from Hebrew שְׁמוּאֵל (šəmūʾḗl).
How popular is the name Shmuel in 2025?
Shmuel ranked #923 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 256 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Shmuel?
5,972 babies have been named Shmuel in the United States since 1953, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Shmuel most popular?
Shmuel peaked in 2025, when 256 newborns received the name.
Is Shmuel a boy or girl name?
Shmuel is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Shmuel rising or falling?
Shmuel is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Shmuel?
Well-known people named Shmuel include Shmuel Yosef Agnon (writer), Shmuel Rosenthal (soccer player).