שְׁמוּאֵל
Shmuel means “heard by God”
Shmuel is a boy's name of Biblical origin.
Samuel was the prophet who anointed Saul and David.
38,840 Jewish Israelis born since 1949 carry the name Shmuel.
- 5 of them are women and girls, and 38,835 are men and boys.
- 923 of them were born in 2018, more than in any other year.
- Carriers born 2020 to 2024: 4,141, against 3,105 born 2010 to 2014, so its share of births is growing.
- The total includes the other Hebrew spellings the register counts separately: סמואל. The chart shows the spelling שמואל alone.
Central Bureau of Statistics register, April 2025. People who changed their name are counted under the one they carry now, and a year with fewer than five shows as zero.
This is how Shmuel is counted in each population group.
These are the people born 1949 to 2024 who carry the spelling שמואל today, in each population group and sex the register lists for it. The rank counts the names given in 2024, and 1 is the most given. A count under 5 is not published, so the table says “fewer than 5”, and 0 means nobody.
| Population group | Carriers | Born in 2024 | Rank in 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish girls | 5 | 0 | – |
| Jewish boys | 37,625 | 774 | 21 of 541 |
| Muslim boys | 6 | 0 | – |
| Christian Arab boys | 9 | fewer than 5 | – |
In 2024, Shmuel ranked 21 of 541 among the names given to Jewish boys.
Source: the Central Bureau of Statistics table of current first names of people born 1949 to 2024, by sex and population group (release 391/2025 of 8 December 2025, read on 2 November 2026). Groups and sexes with no row for this spelling are left out.
These six names are close to Shmuel in theme or origin.
These are the questions people ask about the name Shmuel.
What does the name Shmuel mean?
Shmuel means “heard by God”. Shmuel is a boy's name of Biblical origin. Samuel was the prophet who anointed Saul and David.
Is Shmuel a boy's name or a girl's name?
Shmuel is mainly a boy's name. Of the 38,840 Jewish Israelis born since 1949 who carry it, 5 are women and girls and 38,835 are men and boys.
How do you write Shmuel in Hebrew?
Shmuel is written שמואל in Hebrew. With vowel points it is written שְׁמוּאֵל. The register also counts these other Hebrew spellings: סמואל.
How many people in Israel are named Shmuel?
38,840 Jewish Israelis born 1949 to 2024 carry Shmuel today. The most were born in 2018. In 2024, Shmuel ranked 21 of 541 among the names given to Jewish boys.
Counts are Jewish Israelis born 1949 to 2024 who carry the name today, from the Central Bureau of Statistics register of April 2025. Meanings follow the standard etymologies of Hebrew name references, and where nobody can be sure the page says so.