Boy name · Hebrew
Samson
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: sunSamson is a boy's name that comes from Hebrew and means "sun". It is used in English and Hebrew.
- Meaning
- Sun
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #477 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Samson
As a boy's name, Samson comes from Hebrew and means "sun". It is used in English and Hebrew.
Samson is also a surname: the 2,944th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 11,963 people. See the most common last names.
Its meaning puts Samson on our names that mean sun list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Samson on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Samson on 2 lists.
“From Hebrew shemesh, sun; the strongman of the Book of Judges”
From Names that mean sun, boy names that mean sun
“Sun; Hebrew, the Bible's famous strongman”
From Strong boy names, strong biblical boy names
How popular is Samson?
- US rank in 2025
- #477
- 639 babies, 374 per million boys
- Best rank
- #477 in 2025
- 639 babies that year
- Babies since 1892
- At least 12,879
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 17 per million |
| 1900s | 13 per million |
| 1910s | 20 per million |
| 1920s | 15 per million |
| 1930s | 13 per million |
| 1940s | 10 per million |
| 1950s | 12 per million |
| 1960s | 13 per million |
| 1970s | 32 per million |
| 1980s | 51 per million |
| 1990s | 65 per million |
| 2000s | 96 per million |
| 2010s | 208 per million |
| 2020s | 309 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #577 | #602 | #546 | #573 | #566 | #590 | #585 | #565 | #522 | #477 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Samson
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- SassonJoy, gladness (Hebrew, boy)
- SimonHe has heard (Hebrew, boy)
- SemyonHe has heard (Hebrew, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- AftabSunshine, the sun (Persian, boy)
- HeliodoraGift of the sun (Greek, girl)
- HeliodoroGift of the sun (Greek, boy)
- ShamsSun (Arabic, unisex)
- ShamsuddinSun of the faith (Arabic, boy)
- SolSun (Latin, girl)
- SoleilSun (French, girl)
- SundayDay of the sun (Old English, unisex)
- AchiengBorn when the sun shines (Luo, girl)
- AdityaSon of Aditi; the sun (Sanskrit, boy)
- AnshumanFull of rays, the sun (Sanskrit, boy)
- AntimanCondor of the sun (Mapudungun, boy)
- AntinancoEagle of the sun (Mapudungun, boy)
- ArkaThe sun, a ray of light (Sanskrit, boy)
- AsahiMorning sun (Japanese, boy)
Middle names for Samson
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Hebrew
- AdamMan, humankind (Hebrew, boy)
- DavidBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
- DanielGod is my judge (Hebrew, boy)
- NoahRest, repose (Hebrew, boy)
- EliasMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- GabrielGod is my strength (Hebrew, boy)
- AxelMy father is peace (Hebrew, boy)
- BenjaminSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- IsaacHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)
- JanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- JonathanYahweh has given (Hebrew, boy)
- SamuelName of God (Hebrew, boy)
- AaronProbably Egyptian, meaning unknown; Hebrew theories say exalted (Hebrew, boy)
- AbelBreath (Hebrew, boy)
- BenSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- IbrahimFather of many nations (Hebrew, boy)
- JoelYahweh is God (Hebrew, boy)
- MichaelWho is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
Samson: common questions
What does the name Samson mean?
Samson comes from Hebrew and means "sun".
Is Samson a boy or girl name?
Samson is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Samson come from?
Samson comes from Hebrew and means "sun". Today it is used in English and Hebrew.
How popular is the name Samson?
Samson ranked #477 in the US in 2025, with 639 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Samson?
Names spelled like Samson include Sasson, Simon and Semyon.
What middle names go with Samson?
Middle names that flow well with Samson include Ethan, Finn, Grant, Henry and Jonah. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.