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Samson

Boy name · 23 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Samson: 23 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 4 births in 2017.

Born from the Hebrew name Shimshon, Samson means "sun" or "sun child," evoking warmth and strength. The most famous bearer is the biblical judge endowed with superhuman power, whose story of betrayal and redemption has resonated for millennia. In early Christian tradition, Saint Samson of Dol brought the name to Brittany and Wales, while later the name appeared in Scottish records as Sampson or Samsoun. A notable variant, Sampson, was particularly common in medieval Scotland, where it sometimes denoted a sturdy, reliable person. Today, the name carries a timeless, heroic feel—less common than in past centuries but still chosen by parents drawn to its bold, sunny meaning and biblical resonance.