Calling all Americans - advice please on the name "Sam Hill"

[InTheZenGarden]

We are due a DS, our surname is Hill and the only name we can agree on is Sam. I was really happy with this, but then DH googled it, just to see who any famous Sam Hills might be..... and apparently it is a slang American term, and a euphemism for hell or the devil!? i.e. what the Sam Hill is going on?

We live in the UK, and have never heard of this over here, so have no concerns with it in day to day use. And without wanting to look too far ahead in our son's future, we also don't want to lumber him with a name that meant that should he wish to work in the US, he would have a name that would be ridiculed.

So, is it the equivalent of calling him "Gordon Bennett"? Or is it a quite unused/unheard of slang name?

Thanks :)

[ValiumSingleton]

I hadn't heard that before, I'm not American either, but having Wiki'd it...... I wouldn't use it.

Sounds like it's a bit John Doe/Gordon Bennett alright.

[Skyrg]

Not American (UK) but just wanted to say I've heard of it, and that's what I thought of when I saw this post.
Seen on all kinds of US TV programmes.

[featherblue]

I'm American, and I don't think it would be a problem. I've definitely heard the expression, but only really from my elderly Southern relatives. Actually before this post I thought the expression was 'What in Sam Hell...'

I don't think many people would automatically think of the expression when introduced. And even if they did, I doubt they would think less of him for the association, if that makes sense.

[InTheZenGarden]

Really Skyrg? I clearly don't watch the right TV shows!
Featherblue - yes, I could kind of imagine it in a southern drawl... :)

Oh, I don't know what to do!

[Skyrg]

Are you planning on Sam or Samuel? Because Samuel Hill sounds fine, and presumably if you used Samuel you'd introduce him as Samuel Hill, rather than Sam Hill. If it was just used as a nickname, I doubt many people would put it together and notice.
I agree with feather, that people probably wouldn't think less of him for the association.

Tbh I'd look at alternatives, but if this is the one you agree on and you both love it, it's probably worth looking past the associations.

[MrsKitty]

Have heard it in lots of US tv shows/films. Can actually hear some old bloke with a southern accent saying "What in the Sam Hill's going on here...?" but can't place where I know it from.

Don't think it'd be a major issue in the UK, but might get a few looks if you're planning lots of US holidays

[cloudydays]

I'm American and I agree with featherblue. I had to read your full post before I got the problem - when I saw the title of your thread, the phrase "what in sam hill..." didn't even enter my mind. Once I read it, I thought, "oh yeah, I've heard that before" but it's so rarely used that I really, really don't think it would be a problem, even if your ds decided to relocate to the States some day.

And the whole devil / hell connection must be known only to etymologists and cultural historians - I doubt that anyone associates the expression with anything evil or dark these days. I would just associate it with old western movies.

I think because both "Sam" and "Hill" are very recognizable names and used pretty regularly (I'm trying not to say "common" because I know that means something more loaded to you Brits than it does to us!), that old expression isn't the first thing that comes to mind.

I know it's a different situation because it's both first and last name, but the closest comparison I can think of is "Oh for Pete's sake". Everyone's heard the phrase but it's not the first thing you think of when you meet someone named Pete. This is the same kind of name, IMO.