BabyNameScore

Samson

SAM·sən · Biblical Hebrew, from Shimshon. · 2 syllables

Samson feels distinctive without creating everyday friction in daily use.

91/100

Strong Practical Fit

Balanced across pronunciation, everyday use, lifetime fit and international use.

Name Profile

  1. Pronunciation & Spelling

    Effortless

    A documented English pronunciation is on file: SAM-sən.

    91/100

  2. Everyday Use

    Low risk

    Shortens naturally in everyday use, with two established short forms.

    95/100

  3. Growing Up

    Strong lifetime fit

    Works comfortably across child and adult settings.

    82/100

  4. International Use

    Broad international fit

    Works cleanly across the assessed languages and writing systems.

    85/100

NAME DETAILS

COMMON FORMS
Sammie
Sammy
CLOSE SPELLINGS
Sampson
ORIGIN & HISTORY

About the name

From Hebrew Shimshon, derived from shemesh, meaning 'sun.'

  1. שִׁמְשׁוֹן (Shimshon, Hebrew). Normans popularized the name in medieval England after encountering the cult of Saint Samson, a 6th-century Welsh (Celtic) bishop who founded monasteries in Brittany and Normandy; his Celtic name was likely rendered as Samson. The name remained common through the Middle Ages and is currently most prevalent in parts of Africa, particularly former British colonies.
  2. Mythological and religious contextSamson is the final judge of ancient Israel described in the Book of Judges (chapters 13-16). Consecrated as a Nazirite from birth (forbidden wine, never cutting his hair), he performed feats of God-given superhuman strength, including killing a lion bare-handed and defeating a Philistine force with a donkey's jawbone. Betrayed by Delilah, who had his hair cut while he slept after Philistine leaders bribed her to learn the secret of his strength, he was captured, blinded, and imprisoned; brought to the Temple of Dagon with his strength returned as his hair regrew, he pulled down the temple's two central pillars, killing himself and thousands of Philistines.
POPULARITY

Samson over time

United States
#477RANK

Rank #477 gives national context, not a classroom forecast.

Uncommon in current U.S. usage. Ranked #477 in the U.S., 2025.

SourceU.S. Social Security Administration · 2025 release

Pronunciation & Forms

SAY IT

SAM·sən

STRESS ON THE FIRST SYLLABLE

COMMON FORMS
  • Sammie
  • Sammy
CLOSE SPELLINGS
  • Sampson

Cultural Footprint

TRACEABLE ORIGIN
  1. Samson, judge of ancient IsraelBook of Judges
  2. Saint Samson of Dol (6th century)Era

More about Samson

FORMALITY

Formal biblical name with common informal short forms Sammie/Sammy.

EDITORIAL SYNTHESIS

The Decision

Samson is spelled without unusual letter patterns, and it holds up in everyday use. Surname-dependent compatibility remains unassessed until a surname is added.

STRENGTH

A documented English pronunciation is on file. Uses standard characters that systems widely handle cleanly.

BEST FIT

Everyday Use is the strongest-scoring part of this name — no obvious nickname traps, rhymes, or initial issues detected.

FULL-NAME CHECK

See how it works with a surname.

Samson