Sam
#5,238 for girls in 2025, 24 births · #647 for boys in 2025, 428 births
Given to boys 98.8% of the time
Showing
- Peak · boys
- 1882 · 555 births
- Debut · boys
- 457 births
- In top 100 · boys
- 47 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · boys
- 127,234since 1880
Sam over time
boys
Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #5,238 | 24 | #647 | 428 |
| 2024 | #6,394 | 18 | #650 | 425 |
| 2023 | #8,989 | 11 | #676 | 403 |
| 2022 | #6,464 | 18 | #658 | 418 |
| 2021 | #6,174 | 19 | #658 | 412 |
| 2020 | #8,406 | 12 | #655 | 402 |
| 2019 | #7,716 | 14 | #614 | 443 |
| 2018 | #8,146 | 13 | #604 | 453 |
| 2017 | #8,776 | 12 | #537 | 528 |
| 2016 | #6,901 | 17 | #579 | 478 |
| 2015 | #8,931 | 12 | #546 | 523 |
| 2014 | #8,485 | 13 | #533 | 523 |
| 2013 | #8,135 | 14 | #552 | 480 |
| 2012 | #16,869 | 5 | #517 | 510 |
| 2011 | #8,196 | 14 | #481 | 546 |
| 2010 | #9,231 | 12 | #471 | 550 |
| 2009 | #8,058 | 15 | #468 | 582 |
| 2008 | #6,350 | 21 | #457 | 608 |
| 2007 | #11,630 | 9 | #451 | 615 |
| 2006 | #7,482 | 16 | #461 | 586 |
| 2005 | #8,883 | 12 | #460 | 557 |
| 2004 | #12,761 | 7 | #435 | 595 |
| 2003 | — | #436 | 577 | |
| 2002 | — | #442 | 561 | |
| 2001 | #9,351 | 10 | #437 | 554 |
| 2000 | #13,154 | 6 | #460 | 517 |
| 1999 | #12,688 | 6 | #459 | 498 |
| 1998 | — | #457 | 492 | |
| 1997 | #13,724 | 5 | #454 | 484 |
| 1996 | #9,581 | 8 | #428 | 527 |
| 1995 | — | #404 | 569 | |
| 1994 | — | #411 | 554 | |
| 1993 | #7,038 | 12 | #414 | 561 |
| 1992 | — | #400 | 575 | |
| 1991 | #10,271 | 7 | #383 | 591 |
| 1990 | #12,958 | 5 | #396 | 586 |
| 1989 | #12,362 | 5 | #414 | 503 |
| 1988 | #10,386 | 6 | #413 | 479 |
| 1987 | #9,825 | 6 | #392 | 483 |
| 1986 | #7,749 | 8 | #441 | 381 |
| 1985 | #6,031 | 11 | #461 | 348 |
| 1984 | #9,144 | 6 | #444 | 363 |
| 1983 | #5,824 | 11 | #434 | 360 |
| 1982 | #8,224 | 7 | #433 | 373 |
| 1981 | — | #424 | 384 | |
| 1980 | #5,544 | 12 | #429 | 364 |
| 1979 | #8,061 | 7 | #410 | 374 |
| 1978 | #7,649 | 7 | #377 | 417 |
| 1977 | #9,652 | 5 | #418 | 357 |
| 1976 | — | #388 | 397 | |
| 1975 | #5,984 | 9 | #376 | 421 |
| 1974 | #7,680 | 6 | #366 | 436 |
| 1973 | #7,435 | 6 | #351 | 476 |
| 1972 | #7,292 | 6 | #346 | 497 |
| 1971 | #5,136 | 10 | #340 | 541 |
| 1970 | #4,246 | 13 | #320 | 600 |
| 1969 | #5,456 | 8 | #318 | 583 |
| 1968 | #5,147 | 8 | #319 | 568 |
| 1967 | #4,053 | 11 | #299 | 607 |
| 1966 | #3,400 | 14 | #284 | 678 |
| 1965 | #3,149 | 16 | #267 | 774 |
| 1964 | #4,636 | 9 | #248 | 955 |
| 1963 | #4,539 | 9 | #236 | 1,017 |
| 1962 | #2,539 | 23 | #236 | 1,070 |
| 1961 | #3,060 | 17 | #229 | 1,194 |
| 1960 | #3,095 | 16 | #228 | 1,211 |
| 1959 | #3,436 | 13 | #214 | 1,298 |
| 1958 | #3,379 | 13 | #225 | 1,177 |
| 1957 | #3,930 | 10 | #232 | 1,069 |
| 1956 | #3,696 | 11 | #238 | 951 |
| 1955 | #3,571 | 11 | #238 | 874 |
| 1954 | #3,019 | 14 | #238 | 873 |
| 1953 | #3,269 | 12 | #229 | 880 |
| 1952 | #3,552 | 10 | #215 | 940 |
| 1951 | #2,694 | 15 | #201 | 1,034 |
| 1950 | #3,423 | 10 | #207 | 956 |
| 1949 | #3,892 | 8 | #188 | 1,104 |
| 1948 | #3,350 | 10 | #176 | 1,238 |
| 1947 | #4,007 | 8 | #169 | 1,416 |
| 1946 | #3,665 | 8 | #164 | 1,304 |
| 1945 | #3,676 | 7 | #161 | 1,137 |
| 1944 | #2,946 | 10 | #157 | 1,212 |
| 1943 | #2,352 | 15 | #153 | 1,322 |
| 1942 | #2,117 | 17 | #152 | 1,280 |
| 1941 | #2,532 | 12 | #150 | 1,191 |
| 1940 | #2,737 | 10 | #150 | 1,147 |
| 1939 | #2,922 | 9 | #145 | 1,121 |
| 1938 | #2,113 | 15 | #141 | 1,162 |
| 1937 | #2,317 | 13 | #132 | 1,213 |
| 1936 | #1,741 | 19 | #131 | 1,236 |
| 1935 | #2,731 | 10 | #126 | 1,364 |
| 1934 | #3,449 | 7 | #127 | 1,321 |
| 1933 | #1,835 | 18 | #121 | 1,351 |
| 1932 | #1,877 | 18 | #119 | 1,454 |
| 1931 | #1,750 | 20 | #118 | 1,460 |
| 1930 | #2,023 | 17 | #110 | 1,668 |
| 1929 | #1,393 | 30 | #104 | 1,730 |
| 1928 | #1,366 | 32 | #109 | 1,759 |
| 1927 | #1,771 | 23 | #102 | 1,904 |
| 1926 | #1,830 | 22 | #92 | 2,033 |
| 1925 | #1,700 | 25 | #91 | 2,092 |
| 1924 | #1,533 | 30 | #91 | 2,123 |
| 1923 | #1,736 | 24 | #89 | 2,204 |
| 1922 | #1,575 | 28 | #84 | 2,349 |
| 1921 | #1,668 | 26 | #85 | 2,367 |
| 1920 | #1,751 | 23 | #84 | 2,283 |
| 1919 | #1,270 | 36 | #75 | 2,384 |
| 1918 | #1,690 | 23 | #75 | 2,506 |
| 1917 | #2,316 | 14 | #72 | 2,454 |
| 1916 | #1,581 | 23 | #74 | 2,313 |
| 1915 | #1,367 | 27 | #68 | 2,339 |
| 1914 | #1,541 | 18 | #67 | 1,880 |
| 1913 | #1,151 | 23 | #65 | 1,527 |
| 1912 | #1,540 | 13 | #63 | 1,325 |
| 1911 | #2,191 | 6 | #47 | 928 |
| 1910 | #1,267 | 13 | #39 | 888 |
| 1909 | #1,607 | 8 | #44 | 700 |
| 1908 | #2,101 | 5 | #46 | 644 |
| 1907 | #1,512 | 8 | #43 | 631 |
| 1906 | #1,727 | 6 | #43 | 552 |
| 1905 | #1,420 | 8 | #39 | 620 |
| 1904 | #1,877 | 5 | #40 | 603 |
| 1903 | — | #41 | 552 | |
| 1902 | #1,438 | 7 | #41 | 559 |
| 1901 | #1,339 | 7 | #40 | 479 |
| 1900 | #1,171 | 11 | #34 | 821 |
| 1899 | — | #44 | 469 | |
| 1898 | — | #42 | 543 | |
| 1897 | #1,555 | 5 | #45 | 478 |
| 1896 | — | #43 | 518 | |
| 1895 | #1,592 | 5 | #43 | 487 |
| 1894 | #1,136 | 8 | #43 | 507 |
| 1893 | #1,175 | 7 | #43 | 481 |
| 1892 | — | #38 | 551 | |
| 1891 | — | #43 | 418 | |
| 1890 | #1,099 | 7 | #41 | 489 |
| 1889 | #1,147 | 6 | #40 | 486 |
| 1888 | #1,276 | 5 | #34 | 607 |
| 1887 | — | #38 | 463 | |
| 1886 | — | #34 | 519 | |
| 1885 | — | #35 | 492 | |
| 1884 | — | #33 | 533 | |
| 1883 | — | #33 | 476 | |
| 1882 | — | #30 | 555 | |
| 1881 | — | #31 | 481 | |
| 1880 | — | #36 | 457 | |
First appearance
1880
In the first year the SSA published name data, Sam was already there! It came in at #36, and was given to 457 baby boys.
Quietest stretch: 1972–1989, when fewer than 510 boys a year got the name.
Where Sam is popular in 1987
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
Top states · boys
- Minnesota#191 · 1 in 2,033
- Massachusetts#201 · 1 in 2,040
- Utah#264 · 1 in 1,981
- Oregon#276 · 1 in 2,535
- Wisconsin#276 · 1 in 3,240
Best ever in a state: #7 in Alaska, 1928.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | #191 | 15 | 1 in 2,033 |
| Massachusetts | #201 | 20 | 1 in 2,040 |
| Utah | #264 | 8 | 1 in 1,981 |
| Oregon | #276 | 7 | 1 in 2,535 |
| Wisconsin | #276 | 10 | 1 in 3,240 |
| Illinois | #287 | 35 | 1 in 2,334 |
| Arkansas | #291 | 6 | 1 in 2,493 |
| New Mexico | #291 | 6 | 1 in 1,898 |
| Washington | #295 | 11 | 1 in 2,884 |
| Michigan | #311 | 19 | 1 in 3,402 |
| California | #335 | 82 | 1 in 2,912 |
| Tennessee | #343 | 9 | 1 in 3,581 |
| Missouri | #345 | 9 | 1 in 3,971 |
| New York | #355 | 38 | 1 in 3,306 |
| Kentucky | #359 | 5 | 1 in 4,777 |
| Virginia | #366 | 10 | 1 in 3,943 |
| Indiana | #369 | 8 | 1 in 4,616 |
| North Carolina | #371 | 11 | 1 in 3,774 |
| Maryland | #392 | 6 | 1 in 4,851 |
| Florida | #394 | 21 | 1 in 3,787 |
| Ohio | #394 | 14 | 1 in 5,448 |
| Arizona | #396 | 8 | 1 in 3,548 |
| Mississippi | #406 | 5 | 1 in 3,274 |
| Texas | #406 | 41 | 1 in 3,498 |
| New Jersey | #413 | 10 | 1 in 4,991 |
| Georgia | #464 | 9 | 1 in 5,062 |
| Pennsylvania | #578 | 7 | 1 in 11,085 |
| Louisiana | #633 | 5 | 1 in 6,433 |
| Alabama | — | — | — |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Colorado | — | — | — |
| Connecticut | — | — | — |
| Delaware | — | — | — |
| District of Columbia | — | — | — |
| Hawaii | — | — | — |
| Idaho | — | — | — |
| Iowa | — | — | — |
| Kansas | — | — | — |
| Maine | — | — | — |
| Montana | — | — | — |
| Nebraska | — | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — |
| North Dakota | — | — | — |
| Oklahoma | — | — | — |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — |
| South Carolina | — | — | — |
| South Dakota | — | — | — |
| Vermont | — | — | — |
| West Virginia | — | — | — |
| Wyoming | — | — | — |
Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.
See more about Sam
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
- 3 spots since 2024 (#650 → #647)
- 8 spots since 2020 (#655 → #647)
- 101 spots since 2015 (#546 → #647)
- Biggest jump: 49 spots in 1987 (#441 → #392)
- Biggest drop: 67 spots in 2018 (#537 → #604)
Rise & fade · boys
2 yrs to peak
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1882 at #30 (555 births)
- Not yet halved from its peak
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 47 yrs
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: 47 yrs · run 1880–1926
- Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 183
- Highest: 1 in 183 boys born in 1900 were named Sam (0.55%)
- Latest: 1 in 3,991 boys born in 2025 (0.03%)
- Its best rank, #30 in 1882, was only 1 in 205 (0.49%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · boys
The 1920s
- 16.4% of all boys named Sam (20,844) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 5,069 | #30 (1882) | #34 |
| 1890s | 4,941 | #38 (1892) | #43 |
| 1900s | 6,161 | #34 (1900) | #41 |
| 1910s | 18,544 | #39 (1910) | #65 |
| 1920s | 20,844 | #84 (1922) | #93 |
| 1930s | 13,350 | #110 (1930) | #127 |
| 1940s | 12,351 | #150 (1941) | #162 |
| 1950s | 10,052 | #201 (1951) | #224 |
| 1960s | 8,657 | #228 (1960) | #266 |
| 1970s | 4,516 | #320 (1970) | #369 |
| 1980s | 4,038 | #392 (1987) | #429 |
| 1990s | 5,437 | #383 (1991) | #421 |
| 2000s | 5,752 | #435 (2004) | #451 |
| 2010s | 5,034 | #471 (2010) | #543 |
| 2020s | 2,488 | #647 (2025) | #657 |
All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.
Sam in 1987
girls
#9,825
6 births · 1 in 289,772 girls
boys
#392
483 births · 1 in 3,865 boys
Top girls' names in 1987
Top boys' names in 1987
More about 1987
girls
1,738,632 girls got a published name in 1987; 1 in 289,772 of them was named Sam, which outranked 25.9% of the 13,263 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 18.2% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Ranked beside Sam
- #8,778Zora7
- #8,778Zuleyma7
- #8,778Zuly7
- #9,825Sam6
- #9,825Abbigayle6
- #9,825Abibail6
- #9,825Abiola6
- #11,325Aarica5
- #11,325Abbigale5
- #11,325Abel5
Tied with 1,499 names at #9,825; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Biggest movers since 1986
Risers
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,866,984 boys got a published name in 1987; 1 in 3,865 of them was named Sam, which outranked 95.2% of the 8,152 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 21.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).