What Does the Name Samantha Mean?
Samantha is a girl's name of English origin meaning “uncertain; possibly a feminine form of Samuel.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Samantha |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | English |
| Meaning | uncertain; possibly a feminine form of Samuel |
| Variants | Sam, Sammy, Samanta |
| Popularity | A U.S. top 10 name in the 1990s and 2000s, now more moderate. |
The meaning and origin of Samantha
The name Samantha means “uncertain; possibly a feminine form of Samuel” and has English origins. An English name first recorded in the American South in the 18th century, perhaps a feminine elaboration of Samuel (Hebrew 'God has heard') combined with the suffix -antha. It became hugely popular after the 1960s TV show Bewitched.
Variants and related names
Samantha is related to several other names you may recognize: Sam, Sammy, Samanta. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Samantha?
A U.S. top 10 name in the 1990s and 2000s, now more moderate.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Samantha mean?+
The name Samantha means “uncertain; possibly a feminine form of Samuel” and is of English origin.
What is the origin of the name Samantha?+
Samantha originates from English.
Is Samantha a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Samantha has trended in the US over time.
Samantha by gender
More girl's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press