SAMANTHA  

Gender: F
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: "told by God"

Popularity in 2008: #11

Long-popular feminization of Samuel, just dropped from the Top 10 but finally fading after overuse; originally inspired by the nose-twitching heroine of TV's Bewitched.

Variations:
Semantha, Samentha, Samanthy, Smantha, Samanth, Samanthi, Samanithia, Sammi, Samanta, Samanthe, Sammanth, Sammey, Samanath, Sammantha, Samanthia, Simantha, Samatha, Sammee, Symantha, Semanntha, Sammy, Sami, Samanitha, Samanatha, Samana, Samey, Sammie, Sam

International Variations:
Samanthée (French)

Samantha is being discussed in our message boards:

• Best of British - some Telegraph birth announcements
• New Poll...She'll be here tomorrow!
• Names of my Students
• Absurdly Long Baby Name Game=)!!!!!!
• Samantha?

Read Nameberry blog posts about Samantha:

• BOYS' NAMES FOR GIRLS: A Key To Success?
• JUST JOSIES: Nickname names--are they enough?
• GIRLY NAMES WITH TOMBOY NICKNAMES
• UNDERRATED NAMES
• NEW ROUTES TO OLD NICKNAMES