Samu

Samu is a masculine given name used primarily in Finland and among Finnish-speaking communities. It is the Finnish form of Samuel, which in turn derives from Hebrew Shemuel, meaning "God has heard." In everyday use, Samu can stand on its own or function as a shortened form of Samuel.

In Finland, Samu is common among boys and is typically pronounced as SAM-oo, with the final vowel pronounced as in standard Finnish. The name has spread to other Nordic and Baltic countries through cultural contact and migration, and it is sometimes adopted by families outside Finland who favor Nordic forms of Samuel.

Many Finnish figures in sports, music, and public life have been named Samu, reflecting its longstanding presence in Finnish naming practice. The name also appears in fiction and media, where characters named Samu are used to signal Finnish or Nordic background.

Because Samu is a form of Samuel, it shares the same etymological heritage as other related names such as Samuel, Samuele, and Samuelsson in different languages. Overall, Samu remains a straightforward, traditional given name within Finnish naming conventions.