Fun Facts About the Name Samiel
- 121 babies named Samiel: U.S. records list 121 babies given the name Samiel from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Samiel Mean?
Samiel is a variant spelling of Samael, a name from Hebrew, and its usual meaning is given as "venom of God." That reading divides the name into Hebrew sam (סַם), meaning "venom," "poison," or "drug," and El (אֵל), meaning "God." A second, also traditional explanation takes the first element from Aramaic sama, "blind," and produces "blindness of God" or "the blind one of God." Because the two roots look identical once transliterated and the name occurs in texts from different periods, no single derivation has been settled on; the "venom" and "blindness" readings both circulate.
The identical English word samiel, an old term for a hot desert wind, comes from Arabic samūm and is unrelated to the personal name.
Samiel Name History & Origins
Samiel belongs to the same group of spellings as Samael, a figure in Jewish literature portrayed as a heavenly being of judgment. In rabbinic and later kabbalistic writing, Samael is described as the accuser or prosecuting angel, as an angel of death, and in some passages as a consort of Lilith; a few texts associate him with Satan. These are religious and symbolic portraits rather than records of an actual person.
The spelling Samiel moved through European languages, especially German and English. It is best known today from Carl Maria von Weber's opera Der Freischütz (1821), where Samiel is the sinister spirit who provides the magic bullets and is called on with the cry "Samiel, hilf!" ("Samiel, help!"). This is a famous literary use, not the name's origin; the form was already current in European occult and folklore traditions before the opera. In German-speaking areas the name afterward served as a familiar term for a demonic or devilish figure. Its path into English is mainly literary and occult rather than a long record of ordinary given-name use.
How Popular is the Name Samiel?
Samiel 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 #3,679 in 1914.
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 | #9,556 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2024 | #8,817 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2023 | #13,808 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2022 | #7,665 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2021 | #8,713 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #11,759 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #8,099 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2015 | #13,693 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #13,896 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #14,122 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #10,818 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #8,796 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #9,755 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #7,261 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #6,113 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1919 | #4,696 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1914 | #3,679 | 5 | 0.0008% |
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.
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How the Name Samiel 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 are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Samiel's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Samiel's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.