“Samuel”

In the Book of Mormon story, we encounter a character named "Samuel" (Helaman 13:2) who preaches to the Nephites during the final years of the reign of the judges (Helaman 13-15), and prophesies of the coming of the King of Israel (Christ) to the Nephites.

It is interesting that in the Old Testament, we find the prophet Samuel providing the transition from the era of the judges to the period of the Monarchy, or to the King of Israel (see 1 Samuel---2 Samuel). He died in Ramah and was buried there (1 Samuel 25:1). (Tyndale House, The Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Vol. 3, pp. 1384-1385)

Does the historical significance of the name "Samuel" have anything to do with the prophet Samuel in the Book of Mormon? Perhaps the name "Samuel" and the role the character plays in the Book of Mormon is a coincidence, or perhaps this is an example of Metonymic naming (after-the fact editorial naming) by Mormon. [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes] [See the commentary on Metonymic naming in 1 Nephi 3:3]