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Sampson Name Meaning, Origins & History

Sampson

Pronunciation: SAMP-sun

Meaning Sun Origin Hebrew Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#3,435
TREND
63
Peak Years
2017, 2015, 2020
Lowest Years
1880, 1891, 1887
Energy Archetype
Original & Spiritually Intense

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Sampson in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Sampson

  • More than 3 thousand babies named Sampson: U.S. records list 3,900 babies given the name Sampson from 1880 through 2025.

What Does the Name Sampson Mean?

Sampson is a spelling variant of Samson, a name from the Hebrew Bible. It comes from the Hebrew Shimshon, which is commonly understood as a diminutive formed from shemesh, the Hebrew word for "sun." The literal sense is therefore something like "little sun" or "sun-child," and the customary meaning given is "sun" or "like the sun."

The derivation is not entirely settled. The sun connection is the traditional and most widely repeated explanation, but some scholars have proposed links to other Hebrew roots, including one related to "service," and no single explanation commands full agreement. The -p- spelling of Sampson reflects the Greek form Sampsōn (Σαμψών), while Samson follows the Latin spelling used in the Vulgate.

Sampson Name History & Origins

The name belongs to the biblical judge Samson, whose story is told in the Book of Judges, chapters 13 through 16. He is described as an Israelite from the tribe of Dan, set apart as a Nazirite from birth, and remembered for his strength. In the Hebrew text his name appears as Shimshon.

When the Hebrew scriptures were translated into Greek, the name was rendered Sampsōn (Σαμψών), which keeps a -p- sound between the two syllables. The New Testament also uses this Greek form. The Latin Bible, by contrast, used Samson, and that spelling passed into most English Bibles and became the dominant English form.

Sampson is an established English variant that follows the Greek-influenced spelling rather than the Latin one. It is also long established as an English surname, and it has been used as a given name in the English-speaking world. The two spellings, Samson and Sampson, have existed side by side in English, with Samson more common as a first name and Sampson more common as a family name.

How Popular is the Name Sampson?

Sampson recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2017. Its best rank was #415 in 1898.

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.

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 Sampson 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 very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.

✦ Sampson's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Sampson's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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