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Samantha
Pronounced suh-MAN-thuh /səˈmæn.θə/High
Meaning: Possibly told by God; or a feminine form of Samuel (from Hebrew Shemuel, meaning God has heard)Medium
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
History & Origin
Samantha first appears in 18th-century American and Scottish records. Its etymology is debated; the most common interpretation treats it as a feminine form of Samuel, from the Hebrew Shemuel (God has heard), though no definitive connection is established.
Samantha was rare until the mid-20th century when the TV show Bewitched brought it to national attention. It climbed into the U.S. top 10 girls' names in the 1980s and 1990s and remains popular.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Samantha mean?
Samantha's exact origin is uncertain, but it is most often interpreted as a feminine form of Samuel, meaning 'God has heard' in Hebrew.
How do you pronounce Samantha?
It is said suh-MAN-thuh /səˈmæn.θə/ — three syllables, stress on the second.
Is Samantha a boy or girl name?
Samantha is used almost exclusively as a girl's name.
How popular is Samantha?
Samantha was a top-5 U.S. girls' name in the 1990s and remains in the top 100 today.