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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.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
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.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- ★Samantha Fox (1966-)English singer and former glamour model
- ★Samantha Bee (1969-)Canadian-American comedian and television host
- ★Samantha Morton (1977-)English actress and director
- ★Samantha Mathis (1970-)American actress
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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.