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Sam

Boy / Girl name · 4,202 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Sam: 4,202 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to both boys and girls, peaking at 214 births in 2004.

Sam started life as a friendly short form of Samuel or Samantha, but has long stood confidently on its own. Its Hebrew root, Shemu'el, carries the meaning "name of God" or "God has heard," giving it a quiet, grounded strength. Famous bearers range from Sam Houston, the towering Texas statesman whose name lives on in Houston and countless streets and schools, to playwright Sam Shepard and director Sam Mendes. Interestingly, the ancient city of Samarkand shares no etymological link—its name comes from Persian. In Scotland, Sam has been a consistently popular unisex choice, bridging tradition and modernity with ease.