Sampson
Boy name · #3386 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Sampson? In official American birth records, Sampson has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Sampson is currently the #3386 boy name in the United States — 34 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #2300, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 52,941 boys born in 2025 was named Sampson.
The 145-year story
Sampson first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2017, when 61 boys were named Sampson — good for #2186 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Sampson per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Sampson against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Sampson in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Sampson is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Sampson will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Sampson is most common
State-level data for Sampson is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Sampson
Statistically, parents drawn to Sampson tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Robinson, Hanson, Pearson, Thompson, and Davidson.
RobinsonHansonPearsonThompsonDavidsonJohnsonKelsonLarson
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Sampson | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34 | #3379 |
| 2024 | 34 | #3394 |
| 2023 | 38 | #3177 |
| 2022 | 42 | #2962 |
| 2021 | 46 | #2732 |
| 2020 | 57 | #2347 |
| 2019 | 41 | #2943 |
| 2018 | 50 | #2546 |
| 2017 | 61 | #2186 |
| 2016 | 51 | #2477 |
| 2015 | 57 | #2300 |
| 2014 | 42 | #2805 |
| 2013 | 39 | #2895 |
| 2012 | 38 | #3002 |
| 2011 | 35 | #3164 |
| 2010 | 31 | #3453 |
| 2009 | 34 | #3274 |
| 2008 | 40 | #2946 |
| 2007 | 43 | #2765 |
| 2006 | 37 | #2979 |
| 2005 | 35 | #2960 |
| 2004 | 29 | #3285 |
| 2003 | 34 | #2847 |
| 2002 | 35 | #2685 |
| 2001 | 31 | #2931 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Sampson?
In official American birth records, the name Sampson first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Sampson a popular boy name?
Sampson ranked #3386 among boys in 2025 with 34 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2300.
When was the name Sampson most popular?
Sampson peaked in 2017, when 61 American boys received the name (ranked #2186 that year). Since 2017 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Sampson?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 52,941 newborn American boys was named Sampson. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.