Sam is a given name as well as a nickname, often used by people named Samuel, Sameer, Samira, Samson, and Samantha, Samjhana.

A

• Sam Abbas (born 1993), Egyptian film producer and director
• Sam Adams (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Adekugbe (born 1995), Canadian soccer player
• Sam Albatros, Greek writer
• Sam Allardyce (born 1954), English football manager and player
• Sam Altman (born 1985), American entrepreneur
• Sam Anderson (born 1945), American actor
• Sam Arday (1945–2017), Ghanaian football coach
• Sammy Arnold (born 1996), English-born, Irish rugby union player

B

• Sam Babcock (1901–1970), American football player
• Sam Baker (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Balter (1909–1998), American basketball player
• Sam Bankman-Fried (born 1992), American entrepreneur and suspected fraudster
• Sam Barkas (1909–1989), English football player and manager
• Sam Barlow (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Bass (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Beal (born 1996), American football player
• Sam Beeton (born 1988), British singer-songwriter and musician
• Sam Bennett (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Bith (c. 1933–2008), Cambodian guerrilla commander and convicted murderer
• Sam Bohne (1896–1977), American Major League Baseball player
• Sam Born (1891–1959), American businessman, candy-maker and inventor
• Sam Bottoms (1955–2008), American actor and producer
• Sam Boyd (1910–1993), American businessman and casino manager and developer
• Sam Bradford (born 1987), American football player
• Sam Brittleton (1885–1951), English footballer
• Sam Brown (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Brownback (born 1956), American politician, governor of Kansas
• Sam Brunelli (born 1943), American football player
• Sam Burgess (born 1988), English Rugby League player
• Sam Bush (born 1952), American bluegrass mandolin player

C

• Sam Cassell (born 1969), American basketball player and assistant coach
• Sam Carter (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Carey (disappeared 1903), American fugitive
• Sam Chisholm (1939–2018), New Zealand-born media executive
• Sam Clemons (born 1978), American football player
• Sam Clark (born 1987), Australian actor, singer and songwriter
• Sam Clay (born 1993), American baseball player
• Sam Collier (1912–1950), American advertising entrepreneur
• Sam Collins (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Concepcion (born 1992), Filipino singer
• Sam Cooke (1931–1964), American singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur
• Sam Coonrod (born 1992), American baseball player
• Sam Cooper (American football) (1909–1998), American football player
• Sam Coslow (1902–1982), American songwriter, singer and film producer
• Sam Cosmi (born 1999), American football player
• Sam Crawford (1880–1968), American baseball player
• Sam Cunningham (1950–2021), American football player

D

• Sam Daly (born 1984), American actor
• Sam Darnold (born 1997), American football player
• Sam Dastyari (born 1983), Iranian-born Australian Senator representing New South Wales
• Sam Davies (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Davis (1842–1863), Confederate soldier and spy
• Sammy Davis Jr. (1925-1990), American singer, actor, comedian and dancer
• Sam Day (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam De Grasse (1875–1953), Canadian actor
• Sam Delaplane (born 1995), American baseball pitcher
• Sam Demel (born 1985), American baseball pitcher
• Sam Denby (born 1998), American YouTuber
• Sam Donaldson (born 1934), American reporter and news anchor
• Sam Duncan, Westmeath Gaelic footballer
• Sam Dunell (born 1990), Australian rules football player

E

• Sam Ehlinger (born 1998), American football player
• Sam Elliott (born 1944), American actor
• Sam Ermolenko (born 1960), American speedway rider
• Sam Ervin (1896–1985), American politician
• Sam Eyde (1866–1940), Norwegian engineer and industrialist

F

• Sam Faber (born 1987), American ice hockey player
• Sam Farr (born 1941), American politician from California
• Sam Fatu (born 1965), American professional wrestler
• Sam Feldt (born 1993), Dutch DJ and music producer
• Sam Peter Christopher Fernando (1909-after 1962), Sri Lankan Sinhala lawyer, diplomat, and politician
• Sam Fisher (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Fletcher (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Francis (1923–1994), American painter and printmaker
• Sam Franklin (American football) (born 1996), American football player
• Sam Fuld (born 1981), American major league baseball outfielder and general manager

G

• Sam Gagner (born 1989), Canadian ice hockey centre
• Sam George (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Giammalva (born 1934), American tennis player
• Sam Giancana (1908–1975), Italian-American mobster, boss of the Chicago Outfit
• Sam Gibson (disambiguation), multiple people
• Samuel Goldwyn (1882–1974), Polish-American film producer
• Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885), American Civil War general and president of the United States

H

• Sam Haggerty (born 1994), American baseball player
• Sam Hanks (1914–1994), American racecar driver
• Sam Harding (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Harris (born 1967), American author, neuroscientist and philosopher
• Sam Harrison (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Hartman (born 1999), American football player
• Sam Hentges (born 1996), American baseball player
• Sam Hentges (ice hockey) (born 1999), American ice hockey player
• Sam Heughan (born 1980), Scottish actor
• Sam Hill (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Hilliard (born 1994), American baseball player
• Sam Holmes (sailor), American sailor and YouTuber
• Sam Hornish Jr. (born 1979), American stock car racing driver
• Sam Houser (born 1971), English-American video game producer and developer
• Sam Houston (1793–1863), American politician and soldier
• Sam Howard (born 1993), American baseball player
• Sam Howell (born 2000), American football player
• Sam Hubbard (born 1996), American football player
• Sam Huff (1934–2021), American football player
• Sam Huff (baseball) (born 1998), American baseball player
• Sam Hui (born 1948), Hong Kong musician, singer, songwriter and actor
• Sam Hunt (born 1984), American singer and songwriter

I

• Sam Irwin-Hill (born 1990), American football player

J

• Sam Jackson (footballer) (born 1998), Liberian footballer
• Sam Jaffe (1891–1984), American actor, teacher and engineer
• Sam Jaffe (producer) (1901–2000), American film producer, agent and studio executive
• Sam Johnson (1930–2020), American politician and U.S. Air Force officer and fighter pilot
• Sam Johnstone (born 1993), English footballer
• Sam E. Jonah (born 1949), Ghanaian businessman
• Sam Jones (disambiguation), multiple people

K

• Sam Kamara (born 1997), American football player
• Sam Kasiano (born 1990), New Zealand Rugby League player
• Sam Katz (born 1951), Canadian politician, mayor of Winnipeg
• Sam Katzman (1901–1973), American film producer and director
• Sam Keith (1921–2003), American author
• Sam Kendricks (born 1992), American track and field athlete
• Sam Kennedy (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Kerr (born 1993), Australian football player
• Sam Kerr (born 1999), Scottish football player
• Sam Kieth (born 1963), American comic book writer and illustrator
• Sam Kinison (1953–1992), American stand-up comedian and actor
• Sam Knox (1910–1981), American football player
• Sam Kong, Hawaiian politician
• Sam Koch (born 1982), American football punter

L

• Sam Lanin (1891–1977), American jazz bandleader
• Sam LaPorta (born 2001), American football player
• Sam Leach (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Lee (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Little (golfer) (born 1975), English professional golfer
• Sam Lloyd (1963–2020), American character actor and musician
• Sam Long (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam LoPresti (1917–1984), American ice hockey goaltender
• Sam Low (born 1970), American businessman and member of the Washington State House of Representatives
• Sam Loxton (1921–2011), Australian cricketer, footballer and politician

M

• Sam Mac, Australian radio and television personality
• Sam Macaroni (born 1975), American actor, film director, and writer
• Sam Maceo (1894–1951), Sicilian-American businessman and organized crime boss
• Sam Mackinnon, Australian basketball player
• Sam Manekshaw (1914–2008), Field Marshal of the Indian Army
• Sam Mangubat (born 1990), Filipino singer
• Sam Manning (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Match (1923–2010), American tennis player
• Sam Mayes (born 1994), Australian rules footballer
• Sam McCullum (born 1952), American football player
• Sam McDowell (born 1943), American baseball pitcher
• Sam McIntosh (born 1990), Australian parathlete
• Sam McKendry (born 1989), New Zealand Rugby League player
• Sam Mele (1922–2017), American baseball right fielder, manager, coach and scout
• Sam Mendes (born 1965), English stage and film director
• Sam Mewis (born 1992), American soccer player
• Sam Milby (born 1984), Filipino-American actor and singer
• Sam Mitchell (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Moa (born 1986), Tongan-New Zealand Rugby League player
• Sam Moll (born 1992), American baseball player
• Sam Montgomery (born 1990), American football player
• Sam Moran (born 1978), Australian entertainer
• Sam Moskowitz (1920–1997), American science fiction writer, critic, and historian
• Sam Mustipher (born 1996), American football player
• Sam Myhrman (1912–1965), Swedish Air Force major general
• Sam Mvimbi (born 1999), South African field hockey player

N

• Sam Neill (born 1947), New Zealand actor
• Sam Newfield (1899–1964), American film director
• Sam Newman (born 1945), Australian rules football player and television personality
• Sam Nixon (born 1986), English singer and television presenter
• Sam Nogajski (born 1979), Australian cricket umpire
• Sam Nunn (born 1938), American lawyer and politician from Georgia

O

• Sam Okuayinonu (born 1998), Liberian-American football player
• Sam Okyere (born 1991), Ghanaian television personality

P

• Sam Paulescu (born 1984), American football punter
• Sam Pease, English-born New Zealand author, television presenter, journalist and television host
• Sam Peckinpah (1925–1984), American filmmaker and screenwriter
• Sam Perrett (born 1985), New Zealand Rugby League player
• Sam Perrin (1901–1998), American Emmy Award-winning screenwriter
• Sam Phillips (1923–2003), American record producer
• Sam Pollock (1925–2007), Canadian sports executive
• Sam Posey (born 1944), American racecar driver and sports broadcast journalist
• Sam Prekop (born 1964), American rock/pop musician
• Sam Presti (born 1977), general manager of the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder since 2007
• Sam C. Pointer Jr. (1934–2008), American attorney and federal judge

Q

• Sam Qualiana (born 1986), American filmmaker and actor
• Sam Querrey (born 1987), American tennis player

R

• Sam Raben (born 1997), American soccer player
• Sam Raimi (born 1959), American film director, producer, actor and writer
• Sam Rayburn (1882–1961), American politician from Texas
• Sam Register (born 1969), American television producer and businessman
• Sam Rice (1890–1974), American baseball pitcher and right fielder
• Sam Riegel (born 1976), American voice actor, writer and director
• Sam Rivers (jazz musician) (1923–2011), American jazz musician and composer
• Sam Robards (born 1961), American actor
• Sam Roberts (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Robertson (born 1985), Scottish actor
• Sam Rockwell (born 1968), American actor
• Sam Roddick (born 1971), British entrepreneur, founder of Coco de Mer
• Sam Rogers (fullback) (born 1995), American football player
• Sam Rosen (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Rothschild (1899–1987), Canadian ice hockey player
• Sam Russell (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Ryan (born 1969), American sportscaster

S

• Sam Samore, American artist
• Sam Schachter (born 1990), Canadian Olympic beach volleyball player
• Sam Schwartzstein (born 1989), American football player
• Sam Sebo (1906–1933), American football player
• Sam Selman (born 1990), American baseball player
• Sam Shaw (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Shendi Egyptian-born British sculptor
• Sam Shepard (1943–2017), American playwright, actor, author, screenwriter, and director
• Sam Shepherd (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Shilton (born 1978), English footballer
• Sam S. Shubert (1878–1905), American producer and theatre owner and operator
• Sam Simmons (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Simon (1955–2015), American television producer and writer, developer of The Simpsons
• Sam Singer (1912–2001), American animator and animation producer
• Sam Singer (basketball) (born 1995), American-Israeli basketball player for Israeli team Bnei Herzliya
• Sam Sloma (born 1982), English football player
• Sam Sloman (born 1997), American football player
• Sam Smith (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Snead (1912–2002), American professional golfer
• Sam Sneed (born 1968), American producer and rapper
• Sam Sodje (born 1979), Nigerian footballer
• Sam Sparro (born 1983), Australian singer, songwriter, and producer
• Sam Spiegel (1901–1985), Austrian-born American independent film producer
• Sam Sullivan (born 1959), Canadian politician
• Sam Sweeney (born 1989), English folk musician

T

• Sam Tamburo (1926–1998), American football player
• Sam Tanenhaus (born 1955), American historian, biographer, and journalist
• Sam Taylor-Johnson (born 1967), English filmmaker, photographer and visual artist
• Sam Tecklenburg (born 1997), American football player
• Sam Thaiday (born 1985), Australian rugby league footballer
• Sam Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Tillen (born 1985), English footballer
• Sam Torrance (born 1953), Scottish golfer
• Sam Trammell (born 1969), American actor

V

• Sam Vincent (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Virgo (born 1985), Australian rules footballer

W

• Sam Walton (1918–1992), American businessman and entrepreneur
• Sam Walton (American football) (1943–2002), American football player
• Sam Wang (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Warburg (born 1983), American tennis player
• Sam Warner (1887–1927), American film producer, co-founder and chief executive officer of Warner Bros. Studios
• Sam Waterston (born 1940), American actor, producer and director
• Sam Watson (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Watters (born 1970), American songwriter and record producer
• Sam Weaver (1909–1985), English footballer
• Sam Weaver (baseball) (1855–1914), American baseball player
• Sam Webb (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Webster (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Weir (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Weller (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Welsford (born 1996), Australian racing cyclist
• Sam Whiteman (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Wiglusz (born 1999), American football player
• Sam Wilder (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Williams (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Winnall (born 1991), English footballer
• Sam Wood (1883–1949), American film director and producer
• Sam Worthington (born 1976), Australian actor
• Sam Wright (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Wyly (born 1934), American entrepreneur, businessman, philanthropist, and campaign contributor

Y

• Sam Yorty (1909–1998), American politician from California
• Sam Young (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sam Younger (born 1951), British media and charity manager

Z

• Sam Zell (1941–2023), American billionaire businessman and philanthropist
• Sam Zvibleman, American television writer

Fictional characters

• Cavity Sam, a patient man from HASBRO's Operation
• Long Sam, American comic strip character
• Yosemite Sam and Sam Sheepdog, two Looney Tunes characters
• Maggie & Sam, two Woody Woodpecker characters.
• Sam, a character in the 1988 American drama movie Another Woman
• Sam, a character in the 1993 American romantic comedy-drama movie Benny & Joon
• Sam, a character in the 2000 American fantasy-comedy TV movie Life-Size
• Sam, a character in the American 2009 comedy television film Mr. Troop Mom
• Sam, one of the two main characters in the 2022 American comedy movie Sam & Kate
• Sam, a character in the 2023 independent movie Close to You
• Sam Bains, a character from the movie Back to the Future
• Samantha Carter, in the TV show Stargate SG-1
• Sam Crenshaw, a character in the 1980s Canadian children's television program Today's Special
• Samuel "Sam" Drake, from Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
• Sam Porter Bridges, the protagonist of Death Stranding
• Samuel "Sam", a character from Total Drama: Revenge of the Island
• Sam Eagle, from The Muppet Show
• Sam Emerson, a character from the film The Lost Boys
• Sam Fisher, protagonist of the Splinter Cell video game series
• Sam Flusky, protagonist of the novel and film Under Capricorn
• Sam Flynn, protagonist of the film Tron: Legacy
• Samwise Gamgee, in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium
• Samantha "Sam" Giddings, one of eight protagonist in the survival horror game Until Dawn
• Sam Gideon, the main character in Vanquish
• Sam Gillman, a younger boy from Ruby Gillman
• Sam Hell, the main character in the 1988 and 1993 American science fiction action movies Hell Comes to Frogtown and Return to Frogtown
• Samantha "Sam" Kanisky, a character on the American television sitcom Gimme a Break
• Detective Sam Keith, a character from the 1980 New Zealand docu-drama feature movie Beyond Reasonable Doubt
• Sam Klieber, a character in the 2009 American romantic comedy-drama movie Adam
• Sam Loomis, character in the novel and film Psycho
• Sam Malone, character on the American sitcom television series Cheers
• Samantha "Sam" Manson, cartoon character in the TV series Danny Phantom
• Sam McKinney, a character in the American television sitcom Diff'rent Strokes
• Samantha "Sam" Micelli, a character in the TV show Who's the Boss?
• Samantha "Sam" Milano, a character in the TV sitcom Step by Step
• Samantha "Sam" Montgomery, in the film A Cinderella Story
• Samantha "Sam" Moore, a character in the 1989 action movie No Holds Barred
• Sam Puckett, in the TV show iCarly, who is the same Sam Puckett in the TV show Sam & Cat
• Samuel "Jetstream Sam" Rodrigues, a character in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
• Sam Seaborn, on the TV series The West Wing portrayed by Rob Lowe
• Sam Sharp, The Loud House character
• Sam Smythe, a character played by Les Lye in the 1983 Nickelodeon production UFO Kidnapped
• Sam Snow, a character in The Creature Cases
• Sam Spade, protagonist in the novel and film The Maltese Falcon
• Sam Sparks, a character in Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
• Sam Sullivan, character in The 5th Wave
• Samwell Tarly, in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice book series, and the TV show Game of Thrones adapted from the same series
• Sam Tucker, a character in the 1937 British musical movie Song of the Forge
• Sam Uley, a character in the novel and movie Twilight
• Sam Vimes, is a fictional character in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series
• Sam Wilson, Marvel superhero the Falcon/Captain America
  • Sam Wilson (Marvel Cinematic Universe), the primary film/television adaptation of the character
• Sam Winchester, one of the two protagonists of the American drama television series Supernatural
• Sam Witwicky, protagonist of the first three Transformers films; portrayed by Shia LaBeouf
• Toucan Sam, cartoon mascot for Kellogg's Froot Loops breakfast cereal
• Uncle Sam, a personification of the United States government
• Sam, a character in the film Casablanca
• Sam, a bartender in the comic book series Kingsman: The Red Diamond
• Sam, an onion farmer in the novel Holes and its film adaptation
• Sam, a character in the novel and film The Magnificent Ambersons
• Sam, of the American comic character duo Sam & Max
• Sam-I-Am, a character in the Dr. Seuss book Green Eggs and Ham
• Sam (Totally Spies), main character in the French animated show Totally Spies!
• Sam, the title character in Fireman Sam
• Sam Lawton, the protagonist in Final Destination 5
• Pajama Sam, protagonist of the adventure series "Pajama Sam" by Humongous Entertainment
• Peter Sam and Sam, two locomotives from Thomas & Friends
• Sam, the title character on Sam and Friends
• SAM or S.A.M., a character from The Outer Worlds