Sam
/sæm/
proper noun
Origin
Hebrew
שְׁמוּאֵל (Šəmûʾēl) — name of God / God has heard
Overview
Meaning Now
- A common English given name, typically used as a short form of Samuel or Samantha.
Literal older meaning
God has heard
Language path
Hebrew → Old French → English
Earliest form
Samuel
Earliest period
Middle Ages
Journey
The name originates from the prophet Samuel in the Hebrew Bible. As a nickname, 'Sam' became popular in the English-speaking world during the 18th century.
Evolution
- Biblical Hebrew
שְׁמוּאֵל
“God has heard”
- Ancient Greek
Σαμουήλ
“Samuel”
Septuagint transcription
- Middle English
Samuell
“Samuel”
Introduction via Anglo-Norman
- Modern English
Sam
“short form for Samuel/Samantha”
Common nickname usage
Connections
Related words
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Related to Sam
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.