The first name Shmuel
A boy’s name from Hebrew.
1 syllable Male
Meaning and origin
Hebrew origin
Borrowed from Yiddish שמואל (Shmuel), from Hebrew שְׁמוּאֵל (šəmūʾḗl).
A form of Samuel.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 19 boys were named Shmuel, making it the 1,406th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2015, with 22 births (#1,186).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Shmuel with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Shmuel at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 256 boys born in the United States were named Shmuel, the 923rd most popular boys’ name that year.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Nicknames and spellings
Nicknames for Shmuel
- Shmuley
Famous people named Shmuel
3 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Shmuel WosnerAustrian Haredi Rabbi (1913–2015)
- Shmuel KamenetskyAmerican rabbi, born 1924
- RashbamFrench rabbi, 1080–1158
More Hebrew boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Shmuel mean?
- Borrowed from Yiddish שמואל (Shmuel), from Hebrew שְׁמוּאֵל (šəmūʾḗl).
- What is the origin of the name Shmuel?
- Borrowed from Yiddish שמואל (Shmuel), from Hebrew שְׁמוּאֵל (šəmūʾḗl).
- How popular is the name Shmuel?
- In 2025, 19 boys born in England and Wales were named Shmuel, ranking 1,406th. Its peak was 2015, with 22 births.
- What are nicknames for Shmuel?
- Common nicknames for Shmuel include Shmuley.
- Is Shmuel a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 5,972 US babies named Shmuel since 1880 were boys.
- When was Shmuel most popular?
- 2025 in the United States, when 256 babies were named Shmuel, its highest rank at 923rd.
- What name is Shmuel a form of?
- Shmuel is a form of Samuel.