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How Many People Are Named Sam?
Estimated people named Sam living in the U.S. today
50,541
Gender distribution
99% male · 1% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 128,347
- Peak year: 1918 (2,528 births)
- Estimated living today: 50,541
Sam by age group — who carries the name today?
Sam popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Sam
Sam has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 128,347 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 50,541 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 6,763 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Sams you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Sam in the US?
An estimated 50,541 people named Sam are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Sam rare — about 1 in 6,763 Americans.
Is Sam a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Sam is 99% male and 1% female, so it is predominantly a male name.
When was Sam most popular?
Sam peaked in 1918, when 2,528 babies were given the name. Its current trend is declining compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Sam?
Sam ranks #902 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 45 out of 100 (higher means rarer).