Samuel
/ˈsæm.ju.əl/noun
A male given name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'God has heard'.
Did you know?In Hebrew tradition, Samuel is revered not just as a prophet, but also as a key figure in the establishment of monarchy in ancient Israel, embodying the connection between divine will and human governance.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Semitic
šmʕl
“Name meaning 'God hears' or 'heard by God', reflecting divine communication.”
Ancient Hebrew
Hebrew
שְׁמוּאֵל (Shmuel)
“Directly translates to 'God has heard'.”
Greek
Greek
Σαμουήλ (Samouēl)
“Adopted form of the Hebrew name in the Septuagint, maintaining the meaning.”
Latin
Latin
Samuel
“The name carried into Latin texts, preserving the biblical significance.”
Middle English
Middle English
Samuel
“Used in medieval texts, continuing to represent the biblical prophet.”
Modern English
English
Samuel
“A common male given name, still rich with its historical and spiritual significance.”