Samson ranks #211 with 511 entries, and the name carries an obvious biblical anchor (the long-haired strongman of Judges 13-16) that pet owners draw on knowingly. The name is almost always given to dogs that are physically large or visibly powerful, which makes it one of the more breed-correlated picks in this rank tier.
The biblical strongman framing
Owners who pick Samson are usually leaning into the strongman reading. The name pairs unusually well with mastiffs, Great Danes, German Shepherds, and other physically imposing breeds. There is a quiet humor in giving the name to a tiny dog as well, and that ironic usage exists, but the dominant register is sincere muscle.
One counter-reading: the name's age means it can feel slightly heavy for a young puppy. Some owners shorten to Sam in daily use, which softens the register but loses the distinctive long-form dignity. The shortening is common enough that the full Samson tends to come out for vet visits and formal moments.
Breed fit and sound
Two syllables with a strong S-opener and an N-stop ending (SAM-suhn) — recall performance is solid across distance. The name carries especially well outdoors, which fits the breeds that tend to wear it. Owners cross-shopping powerful biblical names often consider Moose and Zeus before settling on Samson, and the human Samson page shows a steady but small SSA presence. For owners drawn to the older-testament register, the name pool at pet-names is worth browsing. Gender skew is strongly male, and the name's biblical formality means Samson rarely shortens to anything other than Sam in informal settings.