And please tell me why : ) Thank you so much!
[name]Samuel[/name]! Because its handsome and I love it. 
I would love to see [name]Lev[/name] [name]Samuel[/name] or [name]Samuel[/name] [name]Lev[/name] though!
[name]Samuel[/name], hands down. A very handsome, timeless classic that works on a boy of any age
[name]Lev[/name] on its own reminds me of the [name]Peter[/name] Stormare character in Armageddon, with his butchered Russian accent 
I really like the name [name]Samuel[/name], and the nickname [name]Sam[/name]. (I wish I could put in on my own list, but DH doesn’t love it). It has fond associations with Dr. Seuss’ [name]Green[/name] Eggs and [name]Ham[/name] and [name]Sam[/name]'s dogged and happy determination that by trying a food, you might discover you love it! I’ve known cool people with this name, which also gives me positive associations. It’s easy to say and spell, yet isn’t excessively common.
[name]Lev[/name] on the other hand reminds me of the writer, Tolstoy. Feels a bit serious and ponderous to me because of that association. Also because it’s already so short, it feels like there are fewer options.
[name]Samuel[/name]. I like classic names like this. [name]Lev[/name] sounds unfinished to me somehow - like it’s a nickname for a longer name.
[name]Both[/name] are great names. [name]Samuel[/name] is a classic, [name]Lev[/name] is more recent. It would depend on your taste… The names are SO different.
[name]Samuel[/name]. [name]Lev[/name] is pretty cool, but [name]Samuel[/name] is such a strong, classic, and timeless name.
[name]Samuel[/name]. I just feel it provides more options than [name]Lev[/name] does, when he is an adult (i.e. [name]Samuel[/name] can go by [name]Sam[/name], [name]Mel[/name] etc. whereas [name]Lev[/name] can only go by [name]Lev[/name] really) Good luck - [name]Samuel[/name] would be a lovely choice.
Wow thank you for all your comments. I kinda knew [name]Samuel[/name] would be the more popular choice and they are very different; I’m torn between the two as they are both family names.
Also I do like that [name]Samuel[/name] seems more accessible but maybe it’s too common? We already know one couple in extended circle who named their kid that.
I love [name]Lev[/name], [name]Samuel[/name] has never been my thing.
Well, I will be the voice of dissent here. I like [name]Lev[/name] better. I adore [name]Sam[/name], but have never cared for [name]Samuel[/name]. I’m not sure why except I find it a bit hard to say. I also really like [name]Levi[/name].
I like [name]Lev[/name] a lot. It sounds like an intellectual’s name yet adorable for a little boy.
[name]Samuel[/name] is okay. I’m not too fond of it because it’s my dad’s name. So it’s a little tired for me.
I think [name]Samuel[/name] is very common and I tend to go for more adventurous names. I think that [name]Samuel[/name] is a classic though. It has different nn. options and is hardly teased.
[name]Lev[/name] is abrupt and short. There aren’t many options for nn. Also kind of reminds me of Lever, Level, levitate, etc.
What about:
Levant (Latin: rising)
Leverett (French: hare)
Leverton (English: from the rush town)
[name]Levi[/name] (Hebrew: joined, attached)
I also think of [name]Leif[/name] (Scandinavian: heir, descendent), [name]Loeb[/name] ([name]German[/name]: lion), [name]Loewy[/name] ([name]German[/name] nickname for a brave person).
[name]Leif[/name]>[name]Samuel[/name]>[name]Lev[/name]
FI have to say that both names are beautiful! It has to be a hard decision but I think [name]Lev[/name] is just “modern” enough (odd to say that since it is not a new name) to be hip and edgy, so I vote for [name]Lev[/name].
I also like the suggestion of [name]Levi[/name], but that is because I am a doting Bubbe and the most wonderful grandson in the world is named [name]Levi[/name] [name]Michael[/name]!
[name]Samuel[/name] is very common, the kind of name it’s hard not to like but also isn’t very distinctive (if that matters to you). It still gets my vote because to me [name]Lev[/name] feels unfinished. I knew a [name]Lev[/name], great guy, but he was Russian–and his name always felt awkwardly foreign in English (not cool foreign, which I like). [name]Levi[/name] isn’t my style, but it like it better because it feels finished to me.
I do think [name]Lev[/name] makes a great, distinctive mn. [name]Samuel[/name] [name]Lev[/name] is perfect!
I think [name]Samuel[/name] is a handsome name and I love [name]Sam[/name]. [name]Lev[/name] is much more distinctive. They’re both great choices and you can’t go wrong with either, but I think [name]Lev[/name] has the edge for me.
[name]Samuel[/name] would be my pick. I like [name]Levi[/name] but do not care for [name]Lev[/name].
Thank you all so much, this is incredible feedback! @bonnielyn you sound like an adorable bubbe : )
These are basically my reservations, the classical, easy-to-like but common name versus more distinct/edgy but “awkward foreign” (great way of putting it btw). I just don’t want other little kids to be like, ew I don’t want to play with [name]Lev[/name] (you know how kids can be) but also I don’t want him to be one of 2 or 3 [name]Sam[/name]/[name]Sammy[/name]/Samuels in the class. I’m also wondering, do you think people will change [name]Lev[/name] to [name]Leo[/name] and then my son would have to spend his time correcting everyone? I’m not considering the variations on [name]Lev[/name] as it’s a family name and I’d prefer to honor using the exact name, but thank you for those suggestions as well. I still have a few months to go so we will see. Definitely looking for more opinions if people have them. Thanks!
[name]Lev[/name] by far! It’s a fresh alternative to [name]Leo[/name], unusual but familiar. Plus, [name]Lev[/name] Tolstoy is a genius writer and a great namesake.
[name]Samuel[/name] is a good name too, but too popular for my taste. Anyway, go with the name YOU love more.