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Samaria

♀ Girl

Pronounced suh-MEHR-ee-uh /sə.ˈmɛɹ.i.ə/Medium

Meaning: A biblical place name, the capital of the ancient northern Kingdom of Israel, from Hebrew 'Shomron', linked to the root meaning 'to watch, to guard'.Medium

In 30 seconds: Samaria is a biblical place name, the capital of the ancient northern Kingdom of Israel, from Hebrew 'Shomron' and a root meaning 'to watch' or 'to guard'.
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Origin MediumHebrew
MeaningA biblical place name, the capital of the ancient northern Kingdom of Israel, from Hebrew 'Shomron', linked to the root meaning 'to watch, to guard'.
U.S. rank (2024)#1719 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births118 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2007
Total births (all-time)≈ 4,406

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200719522024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Samaria takes its name from the city of Shomron, capital of the old northern Kingdom of Israel. The Hebrew root behind it carries the idea of watching or guarding, fitting for a fortified hilltop city. As a given name it draws on that scriptural and geographic weight.

Its flowing four syllables give it a lyrical, place-name grandeur, and its biblical setting keeps it tied closely to Hebrew tradition.

Did you know? Samaria appears in the Old Testament, which helped preserve it across centuries of Jewish and Christian naming traditions.
Overall data confidence 62%
Behind the Name - Samaria — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Samaria…

Samara— a near-twin in sound, one syllable shorter, often linked to the same biblical landscape
Maria— shares Samaria's closing -aria sound and biblical heritage

Frequently Asked

What does the name Samaria mean?

Samaria is usually explained as meaning 'to guard, to keep' and is most often linked with New Testament place tradition.

How do you pronounce Samaria?

It's commonly said suh-MEHR-ee-uh /sə.ˈmɛɹ.i.ə/.

Is Samaria a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Samaria is used as a girl name.

How popular is Samaria?

In 2024, Samaria ranked #1719 in the U.S. for girls, with 118 births recorded.