Samantha
Samantha is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Listener or told by God.
Origin and history
Samantha is traditionally understood as a feminine name of Aramaic or Hebrew origin, possibly derived from 'Shemu'el' combined with a feminine suffix or meaning 'listener'. Although overwhelmingly given to females, it has recorded rare male usage in U.S. history. Today, it remains extremely rare as a male name in the United States.
Popularity in the United States
1,205 babies in the United States have been named Samantha since 1880. It ranks #3492 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- CA (42.9 %)
- DC (19.2 %)
- NY (13.9 %)
- KY (9.8 %)
- TX (8.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 24 |
| 1970-1980 | 121 |
| 1980-1990 | 454 |
| 1990-2000 | 361 |
| 2000-2010 | 184 |
| 2010-2019 | 61 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Nicknames
Sam, Sammy
Fun facts
- The name gained widespread adoption in the 19th-century United States as an elaboration of Samuel.
- Its popularity surged dramatically in the late 20th century, influenced by iconic television characters.