Spelling Variants
Sam vs Sami: Which Spelling?
Sam and Sami are both diminutives of Samuel in English and Finnish, respectively.
Global Rank #13
Sam
Origin: English
Sam is a diminutive of Samuel, derived from the Hebrew name Sh'muel (שְׁמוּאֵל), meaning "God has heard" or "God's name." The name combines the Hebrew elements *shem* (name) and *el*…
Global Rank #33
Sami
Origin: Finnish
Sami is a Finnish and Scandinavian short form of Samuel, derived from Hebrew "Shemu'el", meaning "God has heard" or "name of God." The name Sami is also independently used in…
Which is more popular? Based on real registry rankings, Sam currently ranks higher globally. Popularity can vary a lot by country — check each name's own page for a full regional breakdown.