Fun Facts About the Name Samael
- 523 babies named Samael: U.S. records list 523 babies given the name Samael from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Samael Mean?
Samael (סַמָּאֵל) is a Hebrew name traditionally explained as "venom of God" or "poison of God." It joins sam (סַם), a word for a drug, poison, or venom, to El (אֵל), "God." Read literally, the name presents its bearer as a divine agent whose work is destructive or deadly.
A second, also traditional explanation takes the first element from Aramaic sama, "blind," giving "blindness of God" or "blind god." This reading fits ancient Gnostic use of the name for a creator who does not know of a higher God above him. Because the first element is a short word that can mean either poison or blindness, and because the texts that use the name rarely explain it, the exact derivation is disputed. Both explanations agree on the second element, the divine name El.
Samael Name History & Origins
Samael appears in Talmudic and midrashic literature as a heavenly prosecutor and an angel of death. Rabbinic sources call him the accusing angel and the guardian prince of Esau, and midrashic commentary identifies him with the angel Jacob wrestled with at the Jabbok. He is often linked with Satan, though the two are not identified in every text.
An older, non-Jewish use appears in Gnostic writing. In the Apocryphon of John, a second-century Greek work that survives in Coptic, Samael is one of three names of the demiurge, along with Yaldabaoth and Saklas. There the name belongs to a proud but ignorant creator who mistakes himself for the highest God.
In medieval Kabbalah the figure becomes larger. The Zohar, a central Kabbalistic work compiled in the thirteenth century, presents Samael as the chief power of the sitra achra, the "other side" of judgment and impurity, and as the consort of Lilith. He is cast as the angel of death and, in some passages, as the serpent who tempted Eve.
Later Jewish ethical and folk writings repeat these roles, and non-Jewish occult and demonological works sometimes list Samael among the leading demons, often equating him with Satan. Despite the echo of its name, Samael is a different figure from Shemihazah (Semyaza), the fallen angel named in the Book of Enoch; the two names have separate histories. Use of Samael as an ordinary personal name is rare, and it appears mainly in religious, mystical, and literary settings.
How Popular is the Name Samael?
Samael has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2022. Its best rank was #2,314 in 2022.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,366 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 2024 | #2,898 | 44 | 0.0026% |
| 2023 | #2,472 | 55 | 0.0032% |
| 2022 | #2,314 | 62 | 0.0036% |
| 2021 | #2,581 | 51 | 0.0029% |
| 2020 | #3,400 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2019 | #3,330 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 2018 | #4,325 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2017 | #3,965 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2016 | #6,002 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2015 | #7,432 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2014 | #13,701 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #5,870 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2012 | #8,032 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2011 | #11,997 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #5,982 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2009 | #12,206 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #10,816 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #6,542 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 2006 | #8,605 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #11,213 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #6,893 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2003 | #10,636 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #10,424 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #11,981 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #9,675 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #10,997 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore More Lists with Name Samael
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with S
How the Name Samael Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Samael's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Samael's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.