i really like
Samuel, and would use it if it weren't so common. though i personally haven't met any Samuels that come to mind, it's one of those names I just hear is super common and I see in media a lot.
another thing that holds me back is that the nn
Sam reminds me of the movie I Am
Sam. i haven't seen all of it, so i don't know if it's good or w/e, but i first heard it from a teacher who worked with special ed students and showed it in class. she described it in That Voice she used which i hated. she was a super super patronizing "ally" to say the least, and I had a few unpleasant confrontations with her about it that she never learned from. so it reminds me a bit of her, which is so annoying and silly because it's such a common name. hopefully i'll have a stronger personal or at least fictional experience with it.