Name meaning & stats
Sam
Sam (English origin). 59,188 US babies since 1940, peak 1947. Notable Sams are 1.8× over-represented as footballers.
What it means
No agreed meaning on record
English
A short form of Samuel.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1947
59,188 US babies were named Sam between 1940 and 2025. Sam is often a nickname, so many people called Sam are registered under a longer name.
Where Sams end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Footballer | 1.8× | High · 135 people |
| Actor | 1.4× | High · 93 people |
| NFL-style footballer | 1.2× | High · 85 people |
| Politician | 0.9× | High · 77 people |
Among notable men who are footballers, Sams show up 1.8× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Sam has a surprise career: 2.9×
Name twins (peaked around 1947)